Please note that there are no Supreme Court cases being argued at present. The Court is writing opinions. All the opinions will be done by June 30th. The Court goes on summer "vacation" then until the first Monday in October when the new Supreme Court term begins.

In addition to being a tour guide in DC, I am also a lawyer (albeit almost retired from law; I am doing the guiding as a new "retirement" career), so I know what I am talking about.

When the Court is on "vacation", justices work reviewing petitions for review, so it does not mean the justices go to the beach for 3 months or something like that. They also attend conferences, give speeches, etc.

The bottom line is from the end of April to the beginnig of October there generally are no arguments at all.

You can accomplish a lot in one day, if you have the energy. Having led students to DC for 14 years, I would suggest checking into your hotel in Rosslyn, take the metro (with a week-long pass) to Arlington Cemetery. This is a somber way to start your trip, but I believe it has a great impact on the way you look at the rest of your week. After the Tomb of the Unknowns, Kennedy gravesites, etc....you can get back on the metro and ride to the Smithsonian stop. From here you can walk down past the Washington Monument to the WWII memorial. From here, you can walk the loop of the Vietnam War Memorial and Vietnam Women's memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Korean War Memorial. This will probably take you a total of about 4 hours from starting at Arlington. After this, you could take in dinner at the restaurant at the top of the Key Bridge Marriott (expensive, but a great view). After dinner, you could walk to the Marine Corps Memroial (Iwo Jima Statue) and back to your hotel. This is a long day to start your trip, but you have knocked out some of the more memorable sights in one swath. If you'd like, I can make more suggestions of groupings of sights to see in a day by day plan. WHAT AN AWESOME CITY!

As a student at Georgetown University, I get all the crime alerts in the area sorrunding campus, and it is definitely not recommended for women to walk around on their own at night in the area.

In addition to the monuments, Arlington Cemetery, and the Capitol, try to get to Ford's Theatre and the Lincoln museum there. You can see a lot in the time you have; use the metro and be prepared for lots of walking. DC is a great city to visit!

Given the time you have, when you are at Arlington, go to Arlington House at the top of the hill. This house belonged to Robert E. Lee's wife. It was specifically taken for a cemetery to make it unusuable for the Lee family ever again. Union revenge.

It was in Arlington House that Lee resigned his commission in the US Army. There is a lot of history connected with that house. Mary Lee, Robert E. Lee's wife, was descended from one of Martha Washington's children (George had no children).

Also, Pierre L'Enfant who designed the plan of Washington, is buried on the grounds of Arlington House where he can look out on the city he designed.

Did you know that you could spend the next 100 years viewing exhibits at the smithsonian museums? Yes, the museums are that gigantic. Look at a tour book and decide what you would really like to see - then when you get here - just starting walking and you will see more than you ever imagined! And guess what, it's all free!!

Smithsonians are wonderful, as are the WWII memorial, the Korean, Viet Nam and FDR memorials. The Capitol is a given - got to see it. Maybe you'd like to see the Senate and house chambers - sometimes it's nice to sit in while a debate goes on.

You positively have to see the Lincoln and jefferson memorials as well as the Washington monument. I'm certain that you wouldn't want to miss Union Station or visiting Arlington Natl Cemetery, the Iowa Jima Memorial, the Pentagon, and even Mt Vernon (although I no longer take visitors there)

The national cathedral is spectacular and so is the Naval Observatory (great views of the stars at night as well as the VP's home).

In addition there are some of the great universities: George Washington, Georgetown, American U, Catholic U. And if you have additional time skip over about 30 miles to Annapolis and visit the Naval Academy.

Good luck and hopefully you'll choose your sightseeing by areas and get more accomplished that way.

Happy sightseeing!!!

Why do you no longer take visitors to Mount Vernon? You know it has been totally redone with a wonderful education center with multimedia attractions. What used to be a "ho hum" visit to the house and the tombs is now a full day deal. In the education center, you absolutely MUST see the show about Washington crossing the Delaware. When he crosses, it snows in the theater!

The problem with Mount Vernon is that tours get about 2 hours there. It is a given that there will be a queue for the house and you have to wait. You do that and you see the tombs and, since they do not have much time, you never get to see the education center. It is a terrible shame because that show is absolutely terrific. I spent 4 hours there in the winter just to have a look at the orientation film, education center and the museum. I never went to the house. I did that because, when I guide people, I do have to know what is there to give them the options. While I think most kids would enjoy the multimedia show more than the house, the teachers always want to go to the house. We go to the house.

I am, sigh, going to the house again next Thursday with a group. With all there is to see at Mount Vernon now, you could easily spend two days there if you want to walk the grounds, take a boat ride on the Potomac (offered in season), etc. It is a stunning redo and really a destination by itself now.

To be honest Marie, I don't go to Mt Vernon unless someone REALLY wants to see it. It's a hefty distance from DC and there's not a lot around it to combine a couple sightseeing activities to.

Those are my only reasons plus there's so MUCH to see in DC that I generally stick with that.

Now that Mount Vernon has improved what is available there, it will take you an entire day to see everything.

The previous poster is correct it is outside of DC and, if you don't have a car, it is difficult to get to. If you are only in DC for, say, 3 days, I do not recommend it because you can see more just by concentrating on The Mall.

If you are in DC for a week, it is an excellent way to spend a day--especially if you are interested in American history (and the American History Museum on The Mall is closed for renovation).

There is a lot to see in DC and some picking and choosing is inevitable.

Thank you all for your suggestions. I really appreciate it!

Don't forget the National Archives! It is very cool to see such important documents on display. The Treasury is fun too. Going on the tour and seeing the stacks of $20 bill sheets is jaw-dropping.

You see the uncut pages of bills at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, not at the Treasury.

D'oh! I always get them mixed up!

Not to worry. I just put up the clarification in case someone else saw what you wrote and got confused. There is so much to see in DC that some confusion is inevitable--for everyone including tour guides.

I will be in DC this weekend with my husband on a very short 3 day trip. My first time to DC. We plan to stay at the Hyatt on Capitol Hill for $109/nt. plus taxes. I thought this would be a good central location. Any comments yay or nay?

The hotel is fine--not to mention the price! You will have a good time so long as the weather cooperates.

There are no hotels right on The Mall. You can use the Metro to get around.