DC Guesthouse
1337 10th St. NW; Washington, D.C.
(202) 332-2502, dcguesthouse.com
Cost: Rooms run $185-$300 (rates increase during busy weeks).
Drive time: Two-and-a-half hours
The scoop: You may end up skipping the Smithsonian you’ll be so preoccupied perusing the owners’ extensive and eclectic personal art collection, which spans countries, cultures and centuries.
Amenities: Price includes a bountiful home-cooked breakfast and off-street parking (a big deal in D.C.). Leave the car and sightsee or shop on foot. There’s also a Metro stop two blocks away for cheap and easy transportation.
Don’t miss: Shopping in the revitalized, vibrant Logan Circle, Shaw and 14th and U Street districts; the free “D.C. by Foot” monument tour led by erudite and entertaining guides; Southwestern twists on comfort classics at the Art Deco-licious Restaurant K by Alison Swope (1700 K St. NW, 202-974-6545, restaurantkbyalisonswope.com) or modern Mediterranean fare at Veranda (1100 P St. NW, 202-234-6870, verandaonp.com).
