I will be in Burke,Virginia and Chevy Chase, MD for 2 days taking depositions. Where should I stay? Would like to possibly take in a site or 2 in DC while up there. Which airport should I fly into? I would guess that I should rent a car but take the train/rail into D.C. to go see the sites.

You will need a car -- more so for Burke, VA, than for Chevy Chase. Will you be taking the depositions in one place on one day and in the other place the next? Do you prefer to stay close to each area each night which, of course, necessitates changing hotels.

There are no hotels/motels in Burke. The closest is about 5-6 miles away in Springfield just off I-395 (and the junctions of I-495 and I-95 -- the famous DC Mixing Bowl). There is a Holiday Inn in Springfield that doesn't get you too mixed up in traffic. For Chevy Chase, there are more options -- in Bethesda and NW DC.

You can get to a metro station from Springfield and/or the Chevy Chase area to get into DC.

In driving between Burke and Chevy Chase you will usually be in difficult traffic, since you will probably need to use the Beltway - I-495, so give yourself lots of time. With minimum traffic on I-495, you could possibly get from one place to another in 1 hour, but I would not count on minimum traffic!

Looks like only Burke. The one in Chevy Chase has been cancelled. Do I use Dulles? What the best way into DC from Burke? Rail?

Although I prefer Dulles airport because of traffic, either airport will do -- check schedules and fares to decide. Will you be going directly to the hotel or will you go to the office first? If you let me know your email address and where in Burke that you are going, maybe I can help you with directions. You can take the metro into DC from Springfield. There is a lot where you can leave the car. Better than driving into DC. And lucky you, not having to drive around the beltway!

What sites in DC do you want to see? Will you be able to get there in the day time (before 5) or evening? I don't think the Smithsonian is open in the evening - at least not after summer. If you can only get to DC in the evening I think driving in would be better than taking the metro. You can drive around to see the monuments and Capitol. There are places to park and you can get out and see the monuments. The roads in front of and behind the White House are closed to traffic.
If you're able to get into DC during normal work hours (8 - 5)then metro would better.
I'd do a mapquest (or something similar)on the Burke address to find what's near. In the Northern Va area, "town" names don't really mean that much (For example, my address is Alexandria but I actually live in Fairfax County close to Springfield)

I prefer Dulles too, but National would be convenient for you. You would get into rush hour traffic if you arrive at National (DCA) during the evening rush, or depart from there in the morning.

Burke is suburbia. Your hotel would be elsewhere, and you could choose one that has a shuttle to a Metro station.

Oh: if you would have to make a connection or stop in order to fly to DCA (like from LA), then just go nonstop to Dulles.