The sheer number of things to see and do in Washinggton, D.C., can be overwhelming—you could spend all week at the Smithsonian museums, for example, and still not see everything, much less the rest of the city. So you need a plan. Assess the interests of your group—U.S. history, art, natural history, nature, food and drink, kid-friendly, etc. etc. etc.—and finetune your itinerary that way. First-timers will want to highlight the top-tier sights, including the Smithsonian museums, U.S. Capitol, and White House, but limit your time in each place to a morning or afternoon, or you will be zapped. Don’t forget D.C.’s booming neighborhoods, possibly for a meal. And remember: Whatever you don’t see this trip can wait until next time.

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Driving (and parking) in the nation’s capital is, to put it bluntly, a nightmare. Fortunately, the efficient Metro system can transport you about town, including to/from Dulles International Airport (thanks to the recently added Silver Line). While you’ll be walking a lot around the National Mall and all of the famous sights there, you can take the Metro to other interesting sights. For example, the Red Line’s Cleveland Park stop brings you to the National Zoo. The Blue Line whisks you to the gates of Arlington National Cemetery. And the Green Line’s U Street/African-American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo stop opens up funky U Street, including the world-famous Ben’s Chili Bowl.

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There’s more than politics going on in the nation’s capital. D.C. is a city of neighborhoods, each one with its own restaurants, small museums, unique shops, and personality. You have the old-timey ones, including classic Georgetown; bohemian Adams Morgan; and family-friendly Capitol Hill. But there are new vibrant ones as well, including hip Shaw, food-trendy NoMa, and the glitzy Southwest Waterfront. As tempting as it is to stay around the National Mall, you’ll get a more rounded trip (and better meals) if you venture beyond, where the locals go.

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Arts in Washington, D.C.? Yes! Top-tier theaters include the Kennedy Center and Shakespeare Theatre Company, but there are also experiential theaters pushing the limits, including Arena Stage and Woolly Mammoth. Visual arts are booming, in museums such as the National Gallery of Art and the Phillips Collection, as well as murals and galleries sprinkled throughout the city, including U Street and Georgetown respectively. And if you’re into music, U Street is called the historic Black Broadway, where Duke Ellington once performed, and Chuck Brown invented go-go music. Put 9:30 Club, The Anthem, and Black Cat on your list for starters.

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Sure, you can stay in a plethora of lookalike chain hotels, but D.C. boasts a mosaic of unique hotels that promise a memorable stay. A retinue of historic hotels, for example, including the Mayflower, Hay-Adams, and Willard, are full of tales of the city’s past. Some have more recent history, including the Watergate, which plays up the infamous break-in to perfection in its decor. And then there are the whimsical ones, including Mansion on O Street, a labyrinth of uniquely decorated rooms that has been called the coolest place in D.C.

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