The lure of Washington, DC, is no doubt in its role as a living museum of American history, packed with monuments showcasing the nation’s greatest leaders (from Abraham Lincoln to Martin Luther King Jr.) as well as museums honoring the diversity of our nation (such as the National Museum of the American Indian and the National Museum of African American History and Culture). But beyond the historical and cultural landmarks is a city filled with a vibrant street life all its own, whether you’re in trendy NoMa, historic Logan Circle, green-space haven Woodley Park, or eclectic Adams Morgan.

With three area airports, domestic and international flights to the US capital are plentiful. The closest to the city is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), just three miles away from the National Mall. Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is 26 miles to the west in the Virginia suburbs, and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) is 35 miles to the northeast in Maryland. Trains arrive into Union Station from major East Coast cities (the trip from New York’s Penn Station takes less than four hours, with departures about once an hour), and various companies run bus services. Traffic in and out of the city can become daunting, especially on the Capital Beltway — the 64-mile loop of Interstate 495 around the metro area. (Driving tip: One of the most picturesque entry points is via the Arlington Memorial Bridge.) Within the city, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s color-coded Metro train system makes it easy to zip around, and cabs, rideshares, bikeshares, and scooter rentals are also readily available. Parking can be challenging at times, but there are street meters and garages.

DC is best known for its spring, when its show of blooms is celebrated with the National Cherry Blossom Festival in late March and early April. Temperatures tend to hit highs in the mid-60s Fahrenheit then, with lows in the 40s. October brings the same weather, but with fall foliage and nippy breezes. Summers are humid (no, it’s not because the city is built on a swamp — that’s simply folklore). Muggy temperatures in the 80s can feel icky, so opt for lightweight clothes and sunscreen. Winters tend to be the low travel season since temperatures float between the 20s and 40s. Always keep an eye out for rain, as precipitation is spread throughout the year.

National Mall

The epicenter of American pride is no doubt this two-mile-long stretch of open space, with the Lincoln Memorial on the west, Capitol Hill on the east, the White House to the north, Jefferson Memorial to the south, and the 555-foot-tall Washington Monument in the center. Other notable sites include the Korean War Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. Also peppered along the way are several of the Smithsonian museums (all with free admission), including the National Air and Space Museum, National Portrait Gallery, and National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Georgetown

In DC’s oldest neighborhood, stroll along the waterfront walkways of both the Potomac River and C&O Canal and enjoy the restaurants and nightlife, perhaps at the tavern where John F. Kennedy proposed to Jacqueline Kennedy in 1953 or a 1960s-era jazz club modeled after ones from the 1920s.

Dupont Circle

This lively neighborhood for shopping, dining, and nightlife is named after its center, a metropolitan traffic circle with a fountain and a new underground art space. Dupont Circle is also the perfect starting point for a self-guided tour along the quarter’s Embassy Row.