How to Time Your Trip to Washington, D.C.

As the nation's capital, Washington, DC, encompasses both the confidence and the despair of contemporary America. And like the rest of the country, Washington is a mix of local and international, rich and poor, careerism and nonprofit institutions. For travelers, Washington is a treasure trove of history, politics, culture and learning.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Travel Clothes
• Maps
• Airline Tickets
• Travel Services
• Cameras
• Film
• Maps
• Cameras
• local guidebooks to Washington, D.C.

Attractions and Seasonal Events

1. Witness one of America's most venerable institutions at work. The Supreme Court allows observers while in session October until April; call [phone].

2. Learn about the struggles of Blacks in America during Black History Month in February; call [phone]. The third Monday in January is Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday commemoration. Call [phone] for more info.

3. See and touch and smell 3,700 Japanese cherry trees in full bloom at the cherry blossom events. With parades, concerts and celebrities, this is Washington's most famous event and takes place at the end of March or early April; call [phone].

4. Experience our nation's rich traditions at the Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife. Held outdoors on the Mall for about a week close to July 4th, this gala of exhibitions, concerts, games and food is not to be missed.

5. Catch a midsummer evening's play at Shakespeare Theatre Free for All. It's a two-week run in mid-June at the Carter Barron Amphitheater; call [phone] for required (free) tickets.

6. Tour the prodigious buildings that symbolize and sustain the American democratic system. Find a map and start with the White House, the Capitol, the Supreme Court, the Renaissance-style Library of Congress and the Washington Monument.

7. See American tax dollars at work at The National Mall, a dozen or so stately museums with vast and diverse exhibits, all free. If this doesn't wear you out, there are many more scattered around Washington, most notably the Phillips Collection with its Impressionist and modern art.

8. Study the venues of international diplomacy on Embassy Row, blocks of stately old mansions occupied by foreign governments. Start at Dupont Circle and walk northwest on Massachusetts Avenue.

General Considerations

9. Expect erratic weather in Washington from year to year. Some winters get snow, and some summers get hot and humid, but there is no precise weather pattern. The average high in July is 87 degrees F and the average low in January is 30 degrees F.

10. Check out what festivals, expositions, and live performances are happening.

11. Take care of your flight, transportation and accommodations (see Related eHows).

12. Check the weather forecast for DC shortly before leaving, and pack accordingly.

Tips & Warnings

• For more information, try the Washington Post's "Weekend" section of the Friday paper, or contact The Smithsonian Information Center at [phone].
• Try to avoid driving during Washington's notorious rush hours, which peak from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.