Mount Vernon was one of favorite sites in the DC area. Would love to go back and explore more.

On our first day we have an appointment with our representatives office for a capitol tour. Since that's at 2PM we'll start off with the Library of Congress and Supreme Court.

Depending upon what time we finish we may visit the Air & Space Museum but for sure we'll work our way along Penn Ave and depending upon crowds stop at the Archives, then the Old Post Office, maybe Ford's Theatre but for sure spend time at the National Portrait Gallery that's open until 7PM.

The next day we'll start at Arlington Cemetery and work our way across the bridge to the Lincoln Memorial and (Jefferson Memorial, etc)over to the Holocaust Memorial Museum. We have tickets for the Holocaust Museum and Washington Monument (it reopens in mid-May).

Depending on our timing the Air & Space Museum will get fit into either the previous day, this day or the next morning.

Myer, I'm sorry if this has already been mentioned, but I suggest you consider a free docent tour at both the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court. The buildings are impressive on sight, and there are displays, but the tours are so, so much more enriching. They depart at preset times; my concern is that they will be wildly popular in June, but if they are you could skip them.

Not sure what days of the week you are here or if your dinners are set, but if you're here on a Friday night, there are jazz concerts in the sculpture garden outside of the NGA. Also, if the Nats are in town, catching a baseball game is always fun. If you like comedy, you could see who's playing at the DC Improv.

Walking around Georgetown is nice if you like shopping. It's crowded. The Logan Circle area is great and there are lots of good bars/restaurants in that area. I personally don't think Dupont Circle is anything special or has any restaurants that standout.

If you are going to Old Town for dinner and are particular about where you eat, you may want to make a reservation well in advance.

On Day 2 you might want to think about lunch. There's really not much around the cemetery or the monuments, unless you eat from a food cart.

Also, check out the National Building Museum. I love it.

Since you like walking, Embassy Row on Mass Ave is a beautiful stretch of DC. The Naval Observatory (Joe Biden's house) is at one end.

I really enjoy the Portrait Gallery and it is generally not very busy so you almost have a gorgeous building full of great exhibits to yourself. I really enjoy the President Portraits Gallery.

<Walking around Georgetown is nice if you like shopping. It's crowded.>
The two main thoroughfares, Wisconsin Ave and M St, are crowded with stores and people. The historic neighborhood, though, is leafy, cobblestoned, and quiet because less traveled.

>>I personally don't think Dupont Circle is anything special or has any restaurants that standout. <<

They are not restaurants the OP has expressed interest in, but you are incorrect that Dupont Circle is absent of standout restaurants.

NewbE,
I'll check with the library of Congress about the docent-led tour. I spoke with them at the Supreme Court and they said the standard procedure is for a tour/explanation in the coutroom.

jglags, Our evening are Monday and Tuesday. We leave late Wednesday afternoon (7PM flight).

I was planning on Dupont Circle for no reason other than several restaurants were recommended here and it's easy to get there my Metro.

Is Logan Circle livelier in the evening? We could easily go to Logan Circle or Georgetown instead. What's a nicer walk from U Street Metro or Shaw Metro to Logan Circle. Or should we just take a taxi from the National Portrait Gallery?

I was planning on going to Old Town Alexandria on Tuesday late afternoon/evening and staying for dinner. We're not particular about where we eat as long as there are decent places available.

We don't pay too much attention to lunch. I'll make sure we have a snack with us on both days and "park it" if that's all that's around.

I never heard of the National Building Museum. I'll check it out.

We can't be everywhere but you're making Embassy Row look interesting.

tchoiniere,
Yes, the Portrait Gallery is on our Day 1 list. It's open until 7PM so it fits well.

NewbE,
In Georgetown. Where is the historic neighborhood?

obxgirl,
I think a previous post of mine had some restaurant recommendations in it near Dupont Circle.

I'm not sure what will be on our 3rd (last) day. Our flight is 7PM from DCA and we'll go by Metro. I think we want to be leaving our hotel near Farragut West by 4:30 so back at the hotel by 4:00 or so.

I figure on the last day we'll clean up anything that we wanted but didn't get to.

The Air & Space Museum has two possibilities on Day 1 & 2. If it doesn't make either it will get into day 3.

If we don't go to Georgetown on the first evening (Dupont or Logan Circle) we might go there for a couple of hours on the last day.

So back to a few decisions.

We're not real, hardcore foodies. A decent meal is all we really want.

I went thru a couple of Georgetown self-guided walking tours. Some of the sights are entry-type sights.

So if we decide to go to Georgetown in the evening to walk around and have dinner, then these sights will be out. However, if we're able to get to Georgetown on our last day for 2-3 hours, then they could be in.

Any thoughts on this.

Which gets back to the main question, where are we better off in the evening to wander around and have dinner? Dupont Circle, Logan Circle or Georgetown.

Actually, if Georgetown beats the other two, we could always go to Georgetown twice; once in the evening to walk around and have dinner and once during the day to see the sights.

The Library of Congress and The National Archives both have free tours. You can register for them online before you go to ensure a space. I am not sure about the starting time for the Library of Congress but the National Archives tours start at 9 am. If I remember correctly it took about an hour. You were free to stay as long as you like but the tour gave the highlights.

Union Station should take all of 10 minutes to look at.

I'm now onto trying to decide between the following for a late afternoon / evening walk around and then dinner:

Dupont Circle

Logan Circle
or
Georgetown

Georgetown has some entry sight that will be closed if we go there. But, you can't do everything.

You already told us that. Why do you have to decide now? What can people tell you to help you decide? Some people like Georgetown more, some Dupont Circle, some Logan Circle.

Just wait and see how you feel. You may be all walked out by then and just want to chill.

myer....I just got back from georgetown 30 minutes ago. This time of year Georgetown is crowded. The sidewalks and overpriced restaurants are filled with tourists. There are people waiting in an hour long line to get a $5 cupcake at Georgetown Cupcake (insanity). Don't get me wrong...the area is pretty. Since you like to walk, a nice way to see the area would be to walk through Georgetown in early evening, walk across the Key Bridge to take in the view back across the river, perhaps walk a ways down the Potomac Heritage Trail (the views over are really beautiful), then mosey back across and get a casual dinner at some place like Pizza Paradiso, since you're not really a foodie (as you said). Don't forget to check out the Exorcist Steps! I wouldn't go there twice unless you loved it.
And I, personally, would pick Logan Circle over Dupont for dining (I love Le Diplomat and Birch and Barley)...however they are very close and you could walk between the two.