Scattered among the dozens of Latin, Ethiopian, and international restaurants in this most bohemian of Washington neighborhoods are a score of eccentric shops. If quality is what you seek, Adams-Morgan and nearby Woodley Park can be a minefield; tread cautiously. Still, for the bargain hunter it's great fun. If bound for a specific shop, you may wish to call ahead to verify hours. Adams-Morganites are often not clock-watchers, although you can be sure an afternoon stroll on the weekend will yield a few hours of great browsing. The evening hours bring scores of revelers to the row, so plan to go before dark unless you want to couple your shopping with a party pit stop.

How to get there is another question. Though the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams-Morgan metro stop is technically closer to the 18th Street strip (where the interesting shops are), getting off here means that you will have to walk over the bridge on Calvert Street. Five minutes longer, the walk from the Dupont Circle metro stop is more scenic; you cruise north on 18th Street through tree-lined streets of row houses and embassies. You can also easily catch Metrobus 42 or a cab from Dupont to Adams-Morgan.