What a wonderful tourist spot!  I haven't been in DC since JFK was in the White House, and there was so much that was new and exciting..

I stayed at the  IC Willard, a grand old historic hotel,, recently renovated,  and a favorite of Lincoln. Location is excellent, on Pennsylvania Avenue, a block from the White House and walkable to   many historic sites and good restaurants.

I paid for one night,  used points and vouchers for three more.  As an Ambassador, I got  an upgraded huge room, with a view,  and the amenity was bottled water and a fruit platter.

The restaurant is  very French,  very good, but  somewhat limited, though  fine for bvreakfast.  Next  door , walking to right of entrance is the  Occidental Restaurant,  with a more diversified menu,  and the best crabcakes in town. the  Occidental is  on the PC Dining  Program, so as a member of that , I got 8 PC points per dollar. of total bill include tip and tax.

All the guidebooks and concierge  will tell you how to arrange capital  and white house tours,.tickets to baseball games, the Kennedy Center  and all the important museuems and historic sites,  I like the Frommer's guide, but there are many other good ones. 

Here are some must sees:

The Neuseum - (Not a typo error)-  a 6  story builing `focusing on  news and how it gets from the happening to the public. It includes  all media -for the last 500 years. including  newspapers, radio, magazines , tv and the internet. Who choose the news, how accurate, etc is shown with lots of interactive state of the art activities.  Don't miss this one.

The Smithsonian, 19 museums all in one area and free (like the Island in Berlin). You can't go to all or cover even one fully.So pick and choose before you go.   Start out in the Smithsopnian Castle, an information  building where you can sort out and plan your day. 

My faves,   at Smithsonian, are the American  Indian (gorgeous archecture, interesting exhibits,) The Hirschorn Sculpture Garden, and the American  History Museum (see Dorothy's ruby red slippers, Archie Bunkers Chair, Seinfeld leather jacket, and  more, more, more more.   Next door it the Museum of Natural History,  where the Hope diamond is displayed (think   blue doorknob; that's what it looks like)).

DC is a beautiful city,  with broad  boulevards like Paris, and no matter  how long your vist is, you will wish you had just a few more days.

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