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Morning

Before a day of shopping, begin with a bit of history at the Library of Congress , a handsome example of the Italian Renaissance style, with unsurpassed interiors. The first tour is at 10:30am.

Turn right to East Capitol Street, right again, and continue one block to the Folger Shakespeare Library and Theater . The Elizabethan theater is enchanting, and the material displayed is both rare and fascinating.

Walk east to 7th Street and turn right. A little over two blocks farther on is Eastern Market . On weekends it is surrounded by arts and crafts vendors and flower stalls. The Market Lunch inside is a great choice for lunch.

Afternoon

If you visit the market on a Saturday, spend the afternoon at the Capitol Hill Flea Market, across the street from Eastern Market. It features 100 or more vendors selling antiques, Oriental rugs, fabrics, fine art photographs, jewelry, and other items. If the flea market is closed, walk a block south of Eastern Market and visit Woven History and Silk Road (311–5 7th St, SE Map Q4 202-543-1705 Open 10am–6pm daily) for its fabrics, rugs, and crafts from Asia and South America.

To return home, turn right and the Eastern Market metro stop is straight ahead of you.

Morning

Begin your day with a tour of Decatur House , a gorgeous Neo-Classical mansion. After the tour, turn left and walk to the end of the block; turn left onto 17th St, NW, and continue one block to Pennsylvania Ave. The Renwick Gallery is on the corner. Don’t miss the luxurious ballroom on the second floor.

Continuing east on Pennsylvania, you can view the renowned north portico of The White House on your right. Reverse direction, return to 17th St, and turn left to take in the ornate Executive Office Building (see Eisenhower Executive Office Building).

A block south is the Corcoran Gallery of Art with its superb American and European art. Have lunch at the Café des Artistes , in its Beaux Arts atrium.

Afternoon

After leaving the Corcoran, turn right and continue down 17th Street one block, to D Street. Turn right, and almost at the end of the block is the entrance of the Daughters of the American Revolution. In addition to the fascinating period rooms, the gift shop is a treat for anyone with an interest in quilting, samplers, or porcelain.

End your day by hailing a taxi on 17th Street to the Kennedy Center and enjoy dinner at the Roof Terrace Restaurant , with its stunning river views.

Morning

Begin at Christ Church (118 N Washington St Open 9am–4pm Mon–Sat, 2–4pm Sun Donation), a handsome Georgian-style building completed in 1773. George Washington’s box pew has been preserved. Then turn right onto Cameron Street toward the harbor. Continue three blocks and turn right onto North Royal Street. The two buildings on your right comprise Gadsby’s Tavern Museum . The half-hour tours are a fascinating introduction to colonial life in the city.

Head back to the harbor, turn left just before the Chart House Restaurant, and continue a half block to the Torpedo Factory Food Pavilion, with its Italian and Oriental specialties, and coffee bar. Take-out food can be eaten on the Pavilion’s deck with its river views, or, a few steps upriver, in the lush Founder’s Park.

Afternoon

Heading out of the Food Pavilion, directly ahead is the ticket booth for the Potomac Riverboat Company, which operates the Admiral Tilp. It provides a narrated 40-minute tour of the waterfront and nearby points of interest.

To the right of the tour boat kiosk is the Torpedo Factory (see Torpedo Factory Art Center). It takes at least an hour for even a quick inspection of the studios of the over 164 artists here, so take a leisurely late afternoon deciding which piece you’d like to take home.