“10 Best Things About Washington, D.C.”

by Carlton Smith, Travel Editor

Address: 1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004

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10Best Description: Stately and opulent, this Beaux Arts hotel is within walking distance of the White House, local shops, and museums. A frequent host of American presidents, it boasts a rich history and a magnificent lobby. Hotel amenities include room service, a restaurant, fitness center, business center, ... More info »

Address: 1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW, The Willard Hotel, Washington, DC 20004

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10Best Description: The Round Robin Bar has been popular with the in-crowd for decades. Among the familiar faces who have frequented the establishment in past decades are Mark Twain, Walt Whitman and Abraham Lincoln. The tradition continues today with a new roster of celebrities. Drinks, although pricey, are ... More info »

Address: Wisconsin Ave NW and Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016-5098

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10Best Description: Started in 1907 and completed in 1990, this Gothic cathedral is the sixth largest in the world. It sits on 57 acres and towers over the city. Approximately one-tenth of a mile long, the cathedral contains more than 200 stained-glass windows and has a central tower 301 feet tall. Teddy Roosevelt was ... More info »

Address: 5037 Connecticut Ave, Washington, DC 20008

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10Best Description: Clever decor, from ping-pong topped dining tables to oversized white balls illuminating the space, gives this outstanding pizza joint an appealing rec room theme.

Address: 1073 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007

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10Best Description: Although this club may be a little pricey for some, it presents top-name jazz artists in an intimate setting. A roster of past performers includes Dizzy Gillespie and Wynton Marsalis. While you groove to the rhythms, take advantage of their great Creole dinners, or enjoy a well-mixed cocktail. A ... More info »

Address: 405 8th St NW, Café Atlántico, 2nd floor, Washington, DC

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10Best Description: Call at least a month a head to hold a space at this six-person bar, where guests savor the tasting menu's fabulous Latin-inspired eats with intriguing flights of wine. Prix fixe $120/person. METRO: Archives/Naval Memorial

Address: 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024

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10Best Description: Step out of the modern world and into a lush paradise, where controlled climates allow plants to thrive as they would naturally. Since the mid-1800s, a wide variety of specimens has been acquired for conservation efforts, including medicinal plants and rare and exotic flora from the tropics. After ... More info »

Address: 2461 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

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10Best Description: Madam's Organ will definitely provide you with an interesting night out! All patrons attempt to squeeze onto the tiny dance floor and enjoy the blues, R&B and bluegrass music you will find here. There are pool tables, too, if you are up for some competition. One fair warning: this party can get ... More info »

Address: 2453 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

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10Best Description: Housed in a former auto shop, this 24-hour eatery has been spruced up with fresh yellow paint and sporty red booths. A wide variety of menu choices ranging from omelets to meatloaf to pasta keeps hungry patrons filing in all night long. The spicy carrot cake topped with rich cream cheese icing wins ... More info »

Address: 555 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

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10Best Description: From notorious scandals to unsolved mysteries to triumphs and glories, this inventive museum focuses on America's most newsworthy people and events. Its galleries feature photos, article clippings, artifacts and multimedia exhibits that document famous stories and examine the news media's processes ... More info »

Address: 17th St to West Potomac Park, Washington, DC

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10Best Description: From the 555-foot obelisk dedicated to George Washington to the Jefferson Memorial serenely situated on the Tidal Basin's south shore, monuments and memorials have long made Washington one of the world's most attractive capitals. Today, these and the hallowed Lincoln Memorial share space with sites ... More info »