What are the best activities for a weekend getaway to dc. Places, restaurants, etc?

This is a tough one and depends on what you like to do.



If you don't mind putting up with a lot of tourists, you can visit the National Mall (the Smithsonian) where all the monuments are and the White House, the Capital, etc. There's also the zoo which is a metro ride away from there where you can see the new baby panda! :)



Other than that, if you want to do some walking, this time of year (this week and such) is the best time to see the cherry blossoms.



You can also head out to Alexandria, VA to Mount Vernon where George Washington lived...you have to drive or take a cab there though.



Restaurants will vary depending on your taste and how much you want to spend. Some areas to check out are Dupont Circle (I recommend Bistro Au Coin for light French food or Bucco di Beppo). Others are the Oval Room, which is really expensive and requires formal attire to be seated. Just above the zoo is Tenley which has a bunch of great restaurants including Mexican, Thai, and others. Another spot is Adams Morgan (a long walk from the Metro or take a cab). They have a ton of great restaurants and nightspots and the culture is quite diversed.



Hope this helps. For the weekend though, I'd recommend doing the national mall in the morning and going out to Dupont or Adams Morgan in the evening on Saturday.What are the best activities for a weekend getaway to dc. Places, restaurants, etc?
I would say take all in dc... it is so much absorb whatever you like....What are the best activities for a weekend getaway to dc. Places, restaurants, etc?
There's so much to do if it's your first time in DC. If I only had a weekend, I'd definitely see all the monuments and maybe a museum or two for a quick run-through. The cherry blossoms are beautiful right now but expect crazy crowds. The National Zoo is nice, maybe you'll get to see the new panda cub.



For hot spots, go to Georgetown, Adams Morgan, Dupont Circle, Penn Quarter. There are tons of bars and restaurants, you really can't find bad food.