Lincoln Memorial. Photo by Anne E. Stewart.

Grab your breakfast to go and stroll down Connecticut Avenue. You’ll pass Kramerbooks, an independent bookstore known for its eclectic selection, and Beadazzled, a funky bead shop that smells of incense. Keep going, and the avenue will take you straight into the circle itself.

Though a little grungy around the periphery, the park’s focal point is its historic fountain. Dedicated in 1921, the white marble fountain features three classical figures representing the sea, the stars and the wind. Benches ring the park and offer plenty of vantage points to take in the scene.

11 a.m.: Head south to the White House. This section of Pennsylvania Avenue is closed to traffic, making it an ideal pedestrian boulevard. Peer through the fence, and you’re likely see black-clad, binocular-equipped figures on the roof looking right back at you.

When you’ve had your fill, step across the street into Lafayette Park. It’s full of old oaks and magnolias and has seen more than its share of historic events. The site has been at different times a graveyard, a slave market, a zoo and a racetrack, as well as the most fashionable place to live in the 18th century. As a result, the park is lined with some of the city’s most historic buildings, including Dolly Madison’s house, St. John’s Episcopal Church and the Stephen Decatur House. The Decatur House has been preserved as a museum and offers a large gift shop with an American history focus.

1 p.m.: Recharge with the quintessential D.C. meal: the power lunch. There’s no better place to do it than at Old Ebbitt Grill. Just steps from the White House, the Grill was originally founded in 1856, and in its various permutations, played host to a laundry list of famous American politicians and leaders. The dark wood, Victorian-style decor incorporates antiques from previous locations and maintains the spirit of turn-of-the-century D.C. saloons. The menu includes meatloaf with mashed potatoes, grilled New York strip steak and jumbo lump crab cakes--in short, solid American fare with stiff drinks to boot. If you’re in the mood for something slimy, try a platter of Ebbitt’s raw oysters--they’re a specialty.

3 p.m.: No trip to D.C. would be complete without a stroll down the National Mall. Hallowed monuments and outstanding museums are book-ended by the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol building. During the summer, the Mall is host to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Screen on the Green, and over-the-top July 4th celebrations. Fall leaves bring bright color to the 2-mile-long greenway, and spring brings showers of pale pink blossoms to the craggy cherry trees that ring the nearby Tidal Basin.

7 p.m.: Put on your party shoes and head to Chinatown to check out the “Friendship Arch,” an ornate Chinese gate located at Seventh and H Streets, NW. The gate is the largest of its kind in the world and features intricate carvings, 272 painted dragons and gleaming gold details.

The up-and-coming neighborhood is exploding with new hot spots, particularly chic ethnic restaurants. From Jaleo’s Spanish tapas to Café Atlantico’s Nuevo Latino cuisine, Chinatown is bursting at the seams with pricey international ways to fill your belly.

One of the best is Zaytinya, which offers pan-Mediterranean cuisine in a swanky setting. The food is served mezze-style (like tapas) and dabbles in Greek, Turkish and Lebanese cuisine, including spiced lamb loin, lemon-pomegranate fattoush and creamy hommus.

Post-dinner, it’s time for some fun. There’s a lot to choose from, including two Irish pubs (Fado and the Irish Channel), a 14-theater movie house, and an upscale bowling alley, Lucky Strike Lanes.

Before leaving Georgetown, explore the Old Stone House, the oldest surviving building in the District. The house is maintained by the National Park Service and entrance is free. Behind the house, an English garden offers a respite from busy M Street, which is heaven for shopping aficionados.

1 p.m.: Finish up your Washington weekend with a walk around Capitol Hill. Take in a view of that fabulous dome from Bartholdi Park at the U.S. Botanic Garden. Stroll down the streets lined with historic townhouses. For a last taste of D.C., sample a variety of fresh, locally grown produce at the city’s most famous farmers’ market, Eastern Market. Street musicians and a flea market add to the bohemian atmosphere of this historic meeting place.