Capitol Hill

The Capitol, where the Senate and the House have met since 1800, along with the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress, dominate this neighborhood. But the Hill is more than just the center of government. There are charming residential blocks of Victorian row houses here filled with young hill staffers, who have attracted a fine assortment of restaurants, bars, and shops. Union Station, Washington's train depot, has vaulted and gilded ceilings, arched colonnades, statues of Roman legionnaires, a shopping mall, and a movie theater multiplex. While you're in town, you may want to drop in on your state's congressional representatives.