[Capriole]

1. Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, just across the Potomac from DC. Gorgeous, historic, and easy to walk around. You can eat dinner by candlelight at Gadsby's Tavern, where George Washington used to dine, and go to services at Christ Episcopal Church, where he bought a pew; you can walk along the Potomac, visit Lee's house, and pop into fascinating shops.

2. A short, scenic drive down the road from Old Town is Mount Vernon, which every American should visit.

3. Take a boat ride on the Potomac from Alexandria down to Mount Vernon or upriver past the great monuments.

4. Do Not Miss Arlington. (My father will be buried there the first weekend in May.) Arlington is very beautiful and moving. It's crowned on Arlington Heights by Robert E. Lee's house which is worth a visit.

5. Annapolis, Maryland, another short drive.

6. The battlefields of the Civil War--all of Northern Virginia is one big battlefield but there are strip malls on most of it except Manassas. If you can spare a day for it, every American should visit Gettysburg, which is 2 (scenic) hours away.

7. A self-tour starting on upper Connecticut Avenue at the Washington Cathedral, proceeding to the gardens of Dumbarton Oaks, in Kalorama, and then down to the shops and lovely houses of Georgetown.

8. The Library of Congress--gorgeous!

[John H K]

6. The battlefields of the Civil War--all of Northern Virginia is one big battlefield but there are strip malls on most of it except Manassas. If you can spare a day for it, every American should visit Gettysburg, which is 2 (scenic) hours away.

Gettysburg is sorta ruined for me by all the statues every few feet. Antietam (even closer than Gettysburg) looks 10 times better with 1/10th the crowds.