How can you tell a tourist from a native Washingtonian? First, they are walking around in the fierce summer heat in shorts and have their mouths wide open at the majestic sights that Washingtonians take far too much for granted.

Your first consideration may be where to stay. If money is no object, then try the famous Willard Hotel. Affectionately known as the Residence of Presidents, this stately hotel has been host to presidents, four-star generals, foreign leaders and other luminaries. Located on 14th St, just two blocks from the White House, you could have a fantastic evening without leaving the block, as the National Theater and the Old Ebbet Grill are just steps away. The 19th-century comes alive in this imposing hotel.

Of course, there are many options for around $100 a night, such as the Holiday Inn in Rosslyn, just on the Virginia side of the Key Bridge and historic Georgetown and a mere 2 blocks from the Rosslyn metro station. Washington's excellent mass transit system makes it easy to get around and it is all well mapped and simple to use. Daily passes may be purchased at the kiosks by the Metro turnstiles.

Whether you have deep pockets and want the best of everything or traveling on a budget, you may find yourselves rubbing elbows with each other anyway at the many free attractions throughout the area around the National Mall and Museum Row.

All the well-known monuments are free to the public and worth a few minutes of your time to see these imposing edifices.

Plan to make a day of it and bring some water and comfortable shoes. A good strategy is to start at the Jefferson Memorial near the Potomac River and wind your way back to the Mall and the Smithsonian. On your way you'll see the Viet Nam War, the FDR, the Korean War, the World War II, the Lincoln and George Washington memorials. This sounds like a lot, but all these are in close proximity to one another and absolutely free of charge. It is almost as much fun to see the people from all over the world and their expressions of awe at these historic sites.

You can't see all the museums on the Mall in one go, so choose the one that interests you the most and take your time.

Some of the most popular are Air and Space, Museum of American History and National Gallery.

But there are lots of hidden gems and unique attractions all over the Washington area. Would you like to go to CIA headquarters and get a photograph of yourselves with a real, live extraterrestrial?

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