Washington, in true political fashion, does an excellent job of balancing arts and entertainment. The city is heavily populated with museums and galleries, performing arts companies and cultural venues, slapdash next to professional sports and world-class dining right on down to rhythm & blues and jazz. If there is any one place you should go in Washington, it has to be The Smithsonian Institution, a collection of 16 museums and galleries. If you're spoiled for choice, start with the Air & Space Museum. Next on the list is The National Art Gallery, followed by the the National Museum of American History. If you can make it through those three, you might work in a quick visit to The National Zoo, and then pay your respects at Arlington National Cemetery, just across the Potomac in Virginia. Also, you might, if you're physically up for it, reserve an entire day to walk the National Mall from the Capitol Building around to the White House and then down to the Lincoln Memorial on the Tidal Basin. It is a trek through American history.

Performing arts hold center stage in Washington. The Arena Stage, one of America's finest not-for-profit regional theaters, produces shows ranging from classics to world premieres. Washington is also home to The Shakespeare Theatre Company, widely regarded as one of the world's best, and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts where The National Symphony Orchestra, the Washington National Opera and the Washington Ballet, among others, stage performances. If you want a more funky, smoke-in-your-eyes style of entertainment, try some of the clubs in Georgetown and the U Street NW area. Most feature blues, jazz and Washington's own native music genre, called "go-go" a combination of post-funk and R&B music set to dance rhythms. There's also a number of indie rock and punk bands playing in the DC area.

The Zagat guide lists Kinkead's in Foggy Bottom as the city's top dining experience. Others include Citronelle in Georgetown, Jaleo and Zaytinya in Penn Quarter and TenPenh downtown. Since Washington is ostensibly a Southern city, expect Deep South cuisine to be popular and tasty, with lots of fried chicken, fried okra, cream gravy and meringue pies with rich crusts and tangy fillings. You'll also find acceptable barbecue (mostly Carolina-style), decadent French, heavy German and sprightly Asian fusion cuisines.

Professional sports is primarily represented by the Washington Redskins of the NFL, who play at FedExField in nearby Landover, MD. Major League Baseball is represented by the Washington Nationals who batter up at RFK Stadium in downtown. The Washington Capitals of the NHL hockey the puck around the ice at the Verizon Center, and the Washington Wizards of the NBA dribble and shoot in the same venue (but not on ice). D.C. United plays Major League Soccer at RFK Stadium, and the Washington Mystics of the Women's NBA shoot hoops at Verizon Center.

There are three public golf courses in Washington, and you can schedule tee times through your travel agent or through your hotel. There's also boating on the Potomac River and nearby Chesapeake Bay, and just an hour away is Baltimore, MD, an historically-rich city of museums, historical sites and excellent dining with emphasis on Chesapeake crabs, oysters and bluefish.

Historically and culturally rich, Washington does do a good balancing act in arts and entertainment. If you can't find something to do, you must be an elected official or a lobbyist.