Beyond politics, Washington DC makes for a great weekend getaway (or a bit longer as there is plenty to see and do). There are plenty of free museums to take advantage of but the real draw here are the memorials and monuments dedicated to great American leaders.

There are plenty of hotels, in all price ranges to choose from, however I prefer staying in Old Town Alexandria, VA. The Metro system is reliable, inexpensive and the best way to visit the city.

Our go to is the Hilton Alexandria Old Town which is across the street from the Metro (in about 15 minutes you are in the heart of DC and it is only two stops from Reagan National Airport – until the new metro line to Dulles is in place, Reagan is the best airport to fly into). There are plenty of restaurants and neat little shops on King Street. All the way on the bottom of the street you can pick up boat ferries.