Use Metro or other people. I tried to drive in DC once and spent four days and nights trying to get across an intersection. Finally I just turned around and drove the block back to the house.

Pennsylvania and Constituion Avenues are REALLY screwed up because of terrorist paranoia. Nor can you get near the Capitol unless you have a special permit. What I'm trying to say is, bring comfortable shoes, 'cause brother, you're gonna WALK!

Now -- stuff to see.

Arlington National Cemetery: there are little tour buses or you can walk. OR if you have a relative buried there you can drive in an a permit -- these are issued in advance, so you have to find someone who has one. While they are theoretically issued so you can go to the family gravesite, you can actually drive around without hinderance, including up to the graves of the "Unknowns" (you DO have to park and walk a short distance!). If you do go up there, you'll appreciate the fact that the mast sticking up is from the battleship "Maine", as are the cannon around it (I have it on good authority that if you loaded one of the cannons you could drop a shell in the middle of the Pentagon).

The Mall: is surrounded by Smithsonian museums. There is a metro stop, "Gallery Place" I think it is, near them.

The White House: contact your congressperson, you might be able to get a ticket permitting you to tour this joint. Well, actually only part of it, and you won't see Big George. But the East Room is quite nicely done, and the collection of dishes is also pleasant. Be aware that you will be THOROUGHLY checked, so don't take a gun or anything that might be vaguely construed as weapon-like. If you have metal implants, like an artificial hip, have a doctor's letter.

The Library of Congress: do.

The Folger Shakespeare Library: A cool place with its own scaled down version of the Globe Theatre where they put on plays. They won't let you flip through the First Folios, however.

Sunset Parade: at the Marine Corps barracks, but I don't know if it'll be on in April. Precision drill and all sorts of showing off. Ladies with reserved seats are "handed" to their seat by NCOs in dress blues wearing white gloves.

The Botanical Gardens: near the Capitol and a "must-see" if you like plants. It's a lot better than you might think!

Silver Hill: This is outside town, but it's where the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum stores and restores aircraft. I saw the Enola Gay, as well as other aircraft here. Tours are by reservation, but aircraft nuts guide you.

National Spy Museum: there are a couple of museums dealing with espionage. The Spy museum is downtown and I don't think it's associated with the Smithsonian. The Cryptologic Museum is in Laurel, near NSA (who runs it) and Ft. Meade and is definitely a visitable spot.

Fort Washinton: On the Maryland side of the Potomac, a star-shaped fort built too late for the War of 1812. It's across the river from

Mt. Vernon: GO! By all means, go!

Ford's Theatre: "Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"

The Wall: The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial. Go. It's one of the most powerful, if not THE most powerful, memorials in town. It's also near the Lincoln Memorial (also powerful!), the Washington Monument, the Korean War Memorial, and the Mall.

WW2 Memorial: I haven't been there, but I hear that it's well worth a visit. Likewise the Roosevelt Memorial.

BRING AT LEAST TWO PAIRS OF COMFORTABLE SHOES and good socks. Tell Jacqui that this place is BIG and you'll both be walking A LOT.