With the diversity of people and places all within a 25 mile radius, the hard thing is to narrow down what you can see during your short stay, rather than finding things to do. Here are a few things that might get you started in your exploration of our Nation's Capital.

For more information on how to get around DC, vist our travel page or download a PDF which has tips on how to get around DC.

ATTRACTIONS

National Mall (Smithsonian Metro Station - Blue and Orange Lines)
Visit the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, WWII Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and Jefferson Memorial, just to name a few.

White House (McPherson Square Metro Station - Blue and Orange Lines; Farragut North - Red Line)
What trip to DC can be complete without a visit to the White House, the home of our commander in chief? Located about two miles from the conference, the cornerstone residence of our government is surely something you won't want to miss.

Public tours of the White House are available for groups of 10 or more people. Requests must be submitted through one's Member of Congress and are accepted up to six months in advance. These self-guided tours are available from 7:30 am to 12:30 pm Tuesday through Saturday (excluding federal holidays), and are scheduled on a first come, first served basis approximately one month in advance of the requested date. You are encouraged to submit your request as early as possible since a limited number of tours are available. All White House tours are free of charge. For the most current tour information, call the 24-hour line at (202) 456-7041. Please note that White House tours may be subject to last minute cancellation.

U.S Capitol (Capitol South - Orange and Blue Lines)
See the home of our legislative branch by touring the Capitol and the office space of your representative and senator. The Capitol Guide Service offers a free 45-minute guided tour. Tours are from 9:00 am until 4:30 pm Monday through Saturday. Free tickets can be obtained on a first-come, first-served basis at the Capitol Guide Service Kiosk located at First Street and Independence Avenue SW. Ticket distribution begins at 9:00 am.

Make this trip truly memorable by making an appointment with your local elected representatives and tell them what you think about the current state of financial aid and what they should be doing to make it better.

Supreme Court (Capitol South - Orange and Blue Lines; Union Station - Red Line)

Our nation's highest bench, the Supreme Court determines the correct interpretation of our laws. While recently it has been known to cause huge political stalemates through recent confirmation hearings, this court will give you a glimpse of the legal system of our country.

Smithsonian Museums (mostly located at Smithsonian Metro Station - Blue and Orange Lines, but will depend upon the actual museum you want to visit)
The Smithsonian Museum collection ranges from the sciences, to transportation, to history and to art. Since it is impossible to visit all of the 14 museums in a single visit, pick a few and save the rest for your next trip. Recent openings include the National Museum of the American Indian and the National Portrait Gallery.

The Smithsonian Museums include the following:
African Art Museum
Air and Space Museum and Udvar-Hazy Center
American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery
American Indian Museum
Anacostia Community Museum
Arts and Industries Building
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum
Freer and Sackler Galleries
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
National Zoo
Natural History Museum
Portrait Gallery
Postal Museum
Smithsonian Institution Building, the Castle (visitor information)

Rock Creek Park (Walking Distance)
Take a nature walk, bike, hike, or enjoy a leisurely drive through this scenic natural reserve, a unique city-park meandering through the Northwest section of this bustling city. Emerging from the Potomac River in Georgetown, the rushing stream and dramatic gorge of Rock Creek extends the entire length of Northwest Washington and into Maryland.

Within the Rock Creek Historic District, created in 1890, lies the National Zoological Park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Other historic sites include the 1823 Peirce-Klingle Mansion, a large stone farmhouse, headquarters for the park's superintendent, and Peirce Mill, an 1820 mill about to be restored to its original working condition through the efforts of the Friends of Peirce Mill. In addition, the whole family will enjoy a visit to the Nature Center and Planetarium.

NEIGHBORHOODS

Adams Morgan (Walking Distance; Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan Metro Station - Red Line)

The intersection of 18th Street and Columbia Road is where this buttoned-up city goes to let its hair down. Long a multicultural hub, today its restaurant scene is a veritable global village ranging from Ethiopian and Thai to Mexican and Indian. By day, urban adventurers leisurely stroll the heritage trail and take in colorful mural art while ducking into present-day coffee shops, boutiques and bookstores. By night, festive crowds that get younger as the evenings get older fill the streets, nightclubs and bars.

Capitol Hill (Capitol South/Eastern Market Metro Station - Orange and Blue Lines; Union Station - Red Line)
If you're addicted to C-SPAN or Sunday morning talk shows, chances are you've heard of "the Hill." Though the neighborhood itself may bear the name of the Capitol building, it stretches to include a residential district of Victorian rowhouses, parks and tree-lined streets as well as the Library of Congress, Supreme Court building, Folger Shakespeare Library, National Postal Museum and Union Station. Eastern Market (the oldest operating public market in the city) thrives on Saturdays and Sundays, Barracks Row along 8th Street SE is dotted with shops, restaurants and bars, and the Washington Nationals call RFK stadium home.

Dupont Circle/Kalorama (Walking Distance; Dupont Circle Metro Station - Red Line)
Named for the circle where Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire Avenues meet with P and 19th Streets, Dupont Circle itself is the meeting place for this cosmopolitan neighborhood. It's perfect for people-watching, playing a pick-up game of chess or sipping a latte or chai while sitting on the edge of the fountain. Arts and entertainment collide with an impressive mix of restaurants, shops, hotels, quaint B&B's, galleries and museums (The Phillips Collection, The Textile Museum, Woodrow Wilson House and National Geographic Society's Explorers Hall to name a few). Embassy Row radiates from the circle with the largest concentration of the city's 150 international embassies.

Georgetown (bus route from Foggy Bottom Metro and Rosslyn Metro Stations - Orange and Blue Lines)

One of the original municipalities in what is now Washington, DC, this area has become a major shopping and historical area. The beautiful waterfront area will allow you to have a nice lunch or dinner while overlooking the Potomac. Shopping occurs throughout Wisconsin Ave. and M St. This is also the perfect opportunity to walk some of the historic neighborhoods where current politicians live. Appropriate sites include www.shopsatgeorgetownpark.com and www.georgetowndc.com. Look for information on the latter site for the Georgetown Metro Connection to get you there.

Mount Pleasant (walking distance)

With its main streets and town square, Mount Pleasant still feels like the village it once was. But it has also seen lives as a fashionable streetcar suburb, a solid working-class neighborhood, and an enclave of counterculture politics. Today, Mount Pleasant is best known for its vida, beckoning with authentic Salvadoran pupusas, mariachi bands, genuine bodegas, and restaurants bringing the sabor of Central America to the nation’s capital. Architecture buffs will find that Mount Pleasant’s trademark rowhouses and apartment buildings have survived remarkably intact. In fact, the entire neighborhood is protected as a historic district. Mount Pleasant Street is most lively on Saturdays, when shoppers clog the weekly farmers’ market (May through November) or load up on everything from masa harina to tofu at bustling bodegas that line the commercial strip

Southwest/Waterfront (Waterfront-SEU - Green Line)
South of the National Mall is a neighborhood home to the award-winning Arena Stage (the first theater company to be awarded a Tony Award outside of New York), Benjamin Banneker Circle and Fountain, the Titanic Memorial and L'Enfant Plaza. The scenic waterfront area features a shimmering array of piers, sailboats, yachts, fishing boats, seafood markets, and restaurants. Sightseeing cruises depart from the marina regularly. Though once a working-class, immigrant neighborhood Southwest was revitalized through early urban renewal programs in the 1950s. Revitalization has come to the waterfront once again, with the opening of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and the Portals, a luxury office and condominium development.

U-Street/ Cardozo (U St./African-American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Station Metro Station - Green Line)

This neighborhood, famous for its influence in jazz culture (and the birthplace of Duke Ellington), is undergoing revitalization. Jazz clubs still abound with a number of great music selections every night. A growth in shops (upscale, cultural, you name it - you're sure to find it) has made this area a must see regardless of your tastes. And while you're visiting this area, make sure and stop for food at the famous Ben's Chili Bowl. Tons of information on this neighborhood can be found at http://www.rawdc.org/dc/ustreet.html.

Woodley Park/Cleveland Park/Connecticut Ave. Corridor (Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan and Cleveland Park Metro Stations - Red Line)
These charming residential neighborhoods are located in upper northwest Washington, DC. This part of town is family-friendly - boasting the vast and leafy Rock Creek Park and the Smithsonian's National Zoo - home to the now-world-famous panda cub Tai Shan. Its tree-lined streets are lined with friendly boutiques, coffee shops and sidewalk cafés featuring cuisines from around the world. It's also home to the architecturally stunning National Cathedral, the world's sixth-largest cathedral.

RELIGION

While DC is known as a political and cultural center, religion plays a prominent role in DC. Churches take a strong hand in advocating for many issues in our nation's capital, including poverty, mental illness, and race relations. There are also many religious landmarks in the DC area. Be sure to check out:

National Shrine of Immaculate Conception: In addition to regularly scheduled mass, this Catholic Shrine contains the largest collection of contemporary Christian art in the U.S. Metro: Brookland/ CUA

Sixth and I Historic Synagogue: Helping to preserve the heritage of Jewish Washington, DC, this synagogue has worship services, programs and activities. This synagogue is known for its magnificent architecture as well. Metro: Gallery Place/ Chinatown

St. Matthew's Cathedral: Known for its incredibly beautiful interior, St. Matthew's is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. Established in 1840, this is where President John F. Kennedy's funeral mass was celebrated and Pope John Paul II said mass here during his first trip to the U.S.

Washington National Cathedral: The National Cathedral is where many national ceremonies happen ranging from political funerals to the Red Mass of the United States Supreme Court. It has dramatic, Gothic architecture, including sculptures and gargoyles. The Cathedral offers daily worship services and concerts.

Islamic Mosque and Cultural Center: The largest Mosque in the United States and situated near many Islamic embassies, this Mosque is known for its architectural beauty and lavish artistry. It is built of white limestone and has glass windows, in addition to Persian Carpets. Please note: women are required to wear headscarves and visitors wearing shorts are not admitted.

Washington DC Temple - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Dedicated in 1974, this temple sits on 52 acres of beautiful woods and has a marvelous six spire design. This temple can be seen while driving along the beltway around the city.

SHOPPING

Shopping opportunities abound in and around the Nation's Capitol. Listed below are some popular places, easily accessible by Metro.

Friendship Heights/Chevy Chase Pavillion/Mazza Galleria (Friendship Heights Metro Station - Red Line)

In this neighborhood you will find stores ranging from TJ Maxx and Filene's Basement to Tiffany's and every type of shop in between. Several popular restaurants (Maggiano's and The Cheesecake Factory) can also be found here.

Fashion Centre at Pentagon City (Pentagon City Metro Station - Blue and Yellow Lines)

Four levels of more than 170 specialty stores including Nordstrom, Macy's, Ann Taylor, BCBG, Bebe, Coach, Jjill, Tourneau, Starbucks and Movado. Also includes the Ritz-Carlton, restaurants and food court.

White Flint Mall (White Flint Metro Station - Red Line)

Further out in the Maryland suburbs, this mall is anchored by Bloomingdales and Lord & Taylor and has many popular stores.

Union Station (Union Station Metro Station - Red Line)

In addition to being the Amtrak Station serving Washington, DC, there are a number of shops and restaurants located here.

SPORTS

Baseball

The Washington Nationals are at home against the Milwaukee Brewers on July 6, 7, and 8 so come early and catch one or several of the games at RFK Stadium. Try http://washington.nationals.mlb.com for access to ticket information and directions to the stadium.

Basketball
The Washington Mystics, DC's WNBA team, give every basketball fan something to root for and they have a home game on July 10th. http://www.wnba.com/mystics/

Bowling
Lucky Strike Lanes- Bowling with a city flare. Get some gourmet food and a cocktail and bowl a strike. http://www.bowlluckystrike.com/

Golf
Rock Creek Golf Course, based in Rock Creek Park, has mainly par 3's and 4's. http://www.golfdc.com/gc/rc/golfcourse.htm

Soccer
DC United Soccer is always a fun time for the entire family. If you are staying for a few days after the conference, you can catch a home game at RFK Stadium on July 14. www.dcunited.com

THEATER

While New York may be better known for its theater, DC has many theatrical venues with unique performances.

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, offering a variety of performances, ventures in new works, and arts education throughout the community. Throughout the month of July, the Kennedy Center will be offering performances of The Phantom of the Opera.

The Shakespeare Festival will be performing Hamlet.

Other theaters to explore include:

The Arena Stage
Woolly Mammoth Theater
Rosslyn Spectrum Theater

Some film opportunities are also available throughout DC.

The National Theatre will be showing Some Like It Hot on July 10th. The National Theater also has special performances on Monday nights and Saturday mornings (with a family theme).

Screen on the Green allows for a truly memorable evening. Bring a blanket to the National Mall between 4th and 7th Streets in Washington DC on a summer night and watch a classic film on a gigantic movie screen.

AFI Theaters in Silver Spring, MD is an opportunity to see many classics on the big screen, the way they were meant to be seen.