Getting There
Airline fares can vary greatly, depending on a variety of factors. For example, American Airlines is asking $154, round trip (including fees and taxes), for an Aug. 2 departure and Aug. 8 return. United wants $298 for the same dates. America West's fare is $159, departing from Midway and including a 2-hour layover in Columbus each way. AirTran, US Airways and Northwest also fly from Chicago to Washington. A number of airlines fly to Baltimore, where a Super Shuttle van completes the journey to downtown D.C. for $21 ($31 round trip).

Amtrak leaves Chicago at 8:05 p.m. nightly and pulls into Washington's elaborate Union Station at 3 p.m. the next day. Round trips start at $226. Of course, all tariffs mentioned above could change without notice.

When to Go
Metrorail, the slick subway system designed by the late Harry Weese, puts its passengers fairly close to most of the main sights. City buses draw even closer. Taxis, many of which look old enough for the Smithsonian, take you right to the door. Public and private fare systems tend to be more complicated than a federal funding bill. Generally speaking, the farther you go, the more you pay. But the rates do usually make sense. Tour buses, such as the Tourmobile, allow passengers to get on and off at major attractions all day for a flat fee.

When to go
To see the famed cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin, get here around mid-March and hang around. No one knows exactly when the little buds might burst. Those who wait until May probably will miss out. But take heart. The spring high school senior trips won't start pouring in until early June. When that happens, you have to catch glimpses of the nation's capital from vantage points between the lines of motor coaches and gum-popping scholars. Expect hot and sticky summers, throngs in spring, slush in winter and ideal conditions -- political, cultural and meteorological -- during autumn.