ESPN

Washington D.C. has long offered striking contrasts, and still does. Like most major cities, it struggles with the problems of crime and poverty. But for years in the early 1990s, it was the capital of the United States and its murder capital. Now the city is crawling out from under the negativity of that label as development pushes its way into neighborhoods once dismissed as unsafe. Thanks in no small part to skyrocketing housing costs and resulting gentrification, formerly poverty stricken areas like Columbia Heights and Capitol Hill are becoming rejuvenated. Meanwhile, D.C.'s stately structures - the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the Supreme Court - continue to project a timeless air of gravity and history as the seat of government.

D.C. is great for walking, as all the most popular sites are clustered closely in the downtown area. Still, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority runs extensive subway and bus service throughout the city and into the Maryland and Virginia suburbs. Subway fares are dependent upon distance, while a bus ride is $1.25.

There are three airports for travelers arriving in D.C. - Ronald Reagan Washington National, Washington Dulles International and Baltimore-Washington International. Located in Alexandria, VA., Ronald Reagan is by far the most convenient, accessible via the Blue and Yellow Lines of the Metro or a $10 cab ride. Further out in Virginia, Dulles offers buses to the closest Metro station for $8, while a taxi will likely run more than $50. In Maryland, arrivals to Baltimore-Washington can catch the MARC ($6) or Amtrak trains ($18) to D.C.'s Union Station. A cab will cost upward of $60.

Get a Seat in the NFL's Largest Stadium
With a seating capacity of nearly 92,000, the Redskins' FedEx Field is the biggest in the league and has set a series of attendance records as rabid fans pack the stadium each game. Live music begins three hours before game time, and the party continues until well after the final whistle. Also keep an eye out for the Redskins' most famous supporters - the Hogettes, men wearing dresses and pig noses - sitting in the lower bowl.

Watch D.C. Hoops at the Verizon Center
Home to the NBA's Wizards and the Georgetown basketball team - as well as the NHL's Capitals - the Verizon Center near Chinatown offers plenty of action throughout the winter and spring. The Hoyas are perhaps the most celebrated of the three teams, reaching three NCAA championship games in four years during the 1980s and winning it all in 1984 behind star center Patrick Ewing.

See How the Former Expos Like Their New Home
D.C. couldn't wait for the Expos to arrive from Montreal and become the Nationals, the city's first major-league baseball team since 1972. And fans proved their support by flocking to see the Nats at cavernous RFK Stadium. Ownership issues and, big surprise, politics, have impeded efforts at getting a new ballpark built near the Anacostia River, but it's still refreshing to see both a team and its fans just giddy about being together.

Run in "The People's Marathon"
Also known as "The Marathon of the Monuments," the annual Marine Corps Marathon is a favorite of first-time marathoners for its flat course and historic sights. The course begins in Arlington, Va., then crosses the Potomac River into D.C. before heading past the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, U.S. Capitol and more. If you're not up for 26.2 miles, a gravel path around the National Mall allows you to take a shorter run in this classic setting.

Paddle Around the Tidal Basin
Surrounded by cherry blossom trees, right in front of the Jefferson Memorial and within view of the White House and Washington Monument, the D.C. Tidal Basin offers spectacular scenery, particularly when the trees are in bloom in March. Visitors can rent paddleboats on the northeast side, and landlubbers can walk the trail that circumnavigates the water.

Smithsonian
Washington, D.C. (various locations)
The Smithsonian is a collection of 17 national museums and the National Zoo, spread through Washington, D.C. and the surrounding area. They include the Air and Space Museum, American History Museum, American Indian Folk Museum, African Art Museum, Natural History Museum and Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. The American Art Museum and Portrait Gallery are closed for renovation and will reopen July 1, 2006. All museums are free of charge. Parking is extremely limited. Best bets: take a cab or public transportation to all Smithsonian museums.
http://www.si.edu/visit/

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20500, 202-456-7041
It seems incredible, but anyone can tour this house, the symbol of our republic. Thomas Jefferson started the practice, and except for the two years following 9/11, they've been available, free of charge, ever since. You'll visit the Gold-and-White East Room, site of presidential receptions (and weddings); the Green Room, which Jefferson used as a dining room but is now a sitting room; the Oval Blue Room, where the president officially receives guests; the Red Room, where several of Gilbert Stuart's portraitures hangs; and the State Dining Room, where state dinners are held. NOTE: Tours are for groups of ten or more, and must be requested through your Congressional representative. Reservations may be made up to six months in advance. The White House is located in downtown Washington, D.C. Parking is limited. Best bets: Take a cab or public transportation.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/life/

The Capitol
E. Capitol St. and 1st St. NW, Washington D.C., 20001, 202-225-6827
All it takes to view Congress in session is the ability to wake up early. Proceed to the Capitol Kiosk, at the southwest corner of the Capitol Grounds (across from the Botanic Gardens) no later than 7:30 a.m. Tickets are issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Starting at 9 a.m., guided tour groups are escorted through the massive bronze doors leading into the Capitol Rotunda. Lining the walls (beneath the ornate dome, commissioned by President Lincoln) are immense oil paintings depicting pivotal events in U.S. history. The House chamber is open to the public whether or not its members are in session. The Senate chamber is open only when its members are in session. Plan your visit for when one chamber or the other is in session. The Capitol is located two miles east of downtown Washington, D.C. Parking can be difficult. Best bets: hail a cab or take public transportation.
http://www.aoc.gov/

Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument
Various locations
202-426-6842, 202-426-6841, 202-426-6841
These three monuments, artful though they are, are moving for what they represent: the liberty and justice these presidents fought for. Inscribed in the Lincoln Memorial's limestone walls are his Gettysburg Address and Second Inaugural Address. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech beneath it. The Jefferson Memorial held such meaning for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, he ordered all trees between the White House and the Monument cut down so he could gaze upon Jefferson through his window. Take an elevator to the top of the Washington Monument. The panoramic view of the city is spectacular. The Lincoln Memorial is two miles southwest, while the Jefferson Memorial is located two miles south of downtown Washington, D.C. The Washington Monument is in downtown. Parking for all three attractions is extremely limited. Best bets: hail a cab or take public transportation.
http://www.nps.gov/linc/

United States Memorial Holocaust Museum
100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl SW, Washington, D.C. 20024, 202-488-0400
This may be the most moving museum visit you'll ever experience. The tour traces the rise of Nazi Germany, the increasingly restrictive and menacing life European Jews faced as World War II began, and the harrowing Final Solution that Hitler oversaw. As you enter the museum, you'll be handed a photograph of an actual Holocaust victim. Throughout the tour, you'll be able to trace that person's fate. By 1945, two-thirds of those people were dead. The most sobering exhibit is one of the actual railroad boxcars used to transport prisoners to the death camps. You can board the car and let your thoughts wander. The exhibit ends on a more upbeat note: The stories of non-Jews who braved reprisal to save their friends and neighbors, the story of the emigration of Jews to Israel and America. Stay for the 30-minute documentary, Testimony, in which Holocaust survivors tell their stories. The museum is located in downtown Washington, D.C. Parking at public lots is limited, so arrive early. Best bets: take a taxi or public transportation.
http://www.ushmm.org/

1992 Washington Redskins (defeated Buffalo Bills, 37-24).
1988 Washington Redskins (defeated Denver Broncos, 42-10).
1983 Washington Redskins (defeated Miami Dolphins, 27-17).
1978 Washington Bullets (defeated Seattle SuperSonics, 4 games to 3).
1942 Washington Redskins (defeated Chicago Bears, 14-6).
1937 Washington Redskins (defeated Chicago Bears, 28-21).
1924 Washington Senators (defeated New York Giants, 4 games to 3).