Okay, I lived in DC for many years. Do NOT stay on Capitol Hill (Eastern Market.) Not many hotels around there anyway, but that's where I lived and it was sketchy. Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle are far better. There's also a Sheraton near the Zoo on the other side of Adams Morgan and I can't for the life of me remember the name of the neighborhood now, but it's NW and it's safer than most. The area around American U is also reasonably safe.
DC is NOT a safe city. The worst parts of Dorchester are better than almost any neighborhood in DC that is not in NW. Be careful walking around at night. Remember that the train station is beautiful and has a lovely mall and is a close walk to the Smithsonian, but it's also in a VERY sketchy area. There are a bunch of hotels around there, including a nice new Hyatt, but I wouldn't walk around there myself after dark.
Keep to the nice tourist areas and you should be relatively safe, but don't strike off into the residential areas. It changes VERY quickly, block by block even.
Eat Ethopian food! Meskerim is great. There are also some new places on U St. that are excellent. (Google will know...) My favorite building of the Smithsonian is the Hirschorn, but do not miss the Freer or the Sackler. Most people get caught up in the National Gallery, Air and Space and American History--and Natural History too--and never explore the others. Technology and Science is a BLAST--totally awesome! And--the Smithsonian is free!!!! Also, the textile museum in Dupont Circle and the Corcoran are wonderful. The tour of the Capitol is a Must Do. Trust me--best tour in town. After that, the Library of Congress gives a fabulous tour, and I know you'd adore the Library. (And you won't be there long enough to use it, but any citizen is allowed to!) Definitely check out Union Station--amazing restoration including marbles and stencils bringing it back to a turn of the last century palace. Just go there in the middle of the day!
If you have any interest in gothic architecture, go to the National Cathedral. Yeah, it's all Episcopalian, but again the tour is wonderful and it's authentic gothic but modern. They show you the gargoyles carved as various workers and modern folk, and there's a moon rock in the space window.
Another thought would be to stay in right across the river from Georgetown in Rosslyn (sp?) There are a lot of hotels there, my favorite Mexican restaurant (Santa Fe), a Metro stop that will take you into the rest of DC, and a short walk to Georgetown (which otherwise is a hike from the Metro.) And you do want to check out Georgetown--good restaurants and fun shops, and it's one place you CAN wander around late at night. There used to be clubs there, but they've all moved over to Adams Morgan and U St.
If there's anything else I can tell you, let me know...
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DC is NOT a safe city. The worst parts of Dorchester are better than almost any neighborhood in DC that is not in NW. Be careful walking around at night. Remember that the train station is beautiful and has a lovely mall and is a close walk to the Smithsonian, but it's also in a VERY sketchy area. There are a bunch of hotels around there, including a nice new Hyatt, but I wouldn't walk around there myself after dark.
Keep to the nice tourist areas and you should be relatively safe, but don't strike off into the residential areas. It changes VERY quickly, block by block even.
Eat Ethopian food! Meskerim is great. There are also some new places on U St. that are excellent. (Google will know...) My favorite building of the Smithsonian is the Hirschorn, but do not miss the Freer or the Sackler. Most people get caught up in the National Gallery, Air and Space and American History--and Natural History too--and never explore the others. Technology and Science is a BLAST--totally awesome! And--the Smithsonian is free!!!! Also, the textile museum in Dupont Circle and the Corcoran are wonderful. The tour of the Capitol is a Must Do. Trust me--best tour in town. After that, the Library of Congress gives a fabulous tour, and I know you'd adore the Library. (And you won't be there long enough to use it, but any citizen is allowed to!) Definitely check out Union Station--amazing restoration including marbles and stencils bringing it back to a turn of the last century palace. Just go there in the middle of the day!
If you have any interest in gothic architecture, go to the National Cathedral. Yeah, it's all Episcopalian, but again the tour is wonderful and it's authentic gothic but modern. They show you the gargoyles carved as various workers and modern folk, and there's a moon rock in the space window.
Another thought would be to stay in right across the river from Georgetown in Rosslyn (sp?) There are a lot of hotels there, my favorite Mexican restaurant (Santa Fe), a Metro stop that will take you into the rest of DC, and a short walk to Georgetown (which otherwise is a hike from the Metro.) And you do want to check out Georgetown--good restaurants and fun shops, and it's one place you CAN wander around late at night. There used to be clubs there, but they've all moved over to Adams Morgan and U St.
If there's anything else I can tell you, let me know...