I will be in DC next week for training. I have one afternoon and evening off, any suggestion? I enjoy museums and this is my first trip to DC.

Whereabouts in the DC area? The mall area has museums of every possible persuasion, what interests you? If you are in Virginia, I find the Air & Space Museum on the south side of Dulles Airport fascinating.

A museum would be just the thing, I agree, and DC has something for everyone. Check out the list of museums on the Smithsonian's website http://www.si.edu , and remember, they're all free admission. Many are co-located on the Mall, which has a Metro stop. There are also the Spy Museum, the Holocaust Museum, the National Archives, the Phillips Collection... too many to name.

If the weather is nice and you're a good walker, an alternative would be to walk the major monuments along the Mall: Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, Roosevelt, Vietnam, Korean War, WWII, etc. Or, if you're staying overnight, you could do the museum(s) in the afternoon, and take an evening trolley tour of the monuments.

Enjoy!

I was just at the recently renovated National Portrait Gallery. The museum offers a lot - art, history, culture. And it's a beautiful space. It is a perfect way to spend the afternoon.

I would also do a night tour of the monuments.

Thank you, everyone, for the advice. Looks like it will be raining, so I will stick to indoor activities!