AN American weekend break in Arlington County and Washington DC is fantastic for families, foodies, families and culture buffs alike.
The US capital, and its laid-back neighbour over the Potomac river, are the subject of today’s city-stay Q&A.
Not why, but when. Arrive at the start of spring for the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
Time it right (March 20 to April 13 next year) to see the Yoshino cherry trees — which circle Washington DC’s Tidal Basin and frame its most popular monuments — in full bloom.
For year-round fun, there are dozens of free museums, grand vistas straight off the telly, bustling neighbourhoods and restaurants serving a multicultural mash-up of mouth- watering dishes.
Definitely. From JFK’s grave in Arlington Cemetery, to the Library Of Congress at the eastern end of the National Mall, stretches five miles of parkland.
Start at the 624-acre military cemetery with a walk among the rolling green hills, lined with thousands of modest white tombstones. Pay your respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier then visit JFK’s grave, where an eternal flame burns for the assassinated president.
After admiring the panorama of DC laid out below, it’s a short stroll downhill and across the Potomac to reach the capital. Here you’ll hit the Lincoln Memorial — the one with the large bearded man on a giant chair.
From there, take your time to walk around the Tidal Basin among the cherry blossom. You’ll pass the Jefferson, Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr Memorials, all built on the shores of the reservoir.
If you’ve got the energy, carry on to the reflective quiet of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, then past the Washington Monument, the iconic Obelisk in the middle of the National Mall.
The Smithsonian. This isn’t just one museum but the world’s largest museum, gallery and research complex, with 11 huge sites in DC alone.
Best of all, entry is free at every site, including the National Zoo. From the National Portrait Gallery, to the National Museum Of African American History And Culture — new from 2016 — you could spend two weeks here and not see it all.
Although it is not part of the Smithsonian, kids will love the Newseum — tickets from $14 (£10.75) — for its interactive installations such as a guide to spotting fake news. That’s especially important after a compulsive fibber moved into a big white house down the street.
On that note, don’t be afraid to skip the White House entirely. It’s barely worth the selfie from behind the rows of security fencing.
A hole-in-the-wall seafood counter serving buttery lobster in toasted buns and clam chowder, Luke’s Lobster in Penn Quarter is perfect for a quick lunchbreak between museums.
If you’re in historic Georgetown — great for shopping — stop at kitsch Italian institution Filomena, a restaurant which has hosted everyone from Pavarotti and Frank Sinatra to George Bush Snr and Bill Clinton.
Visit in spring for vintage decorations, including an infestation of Easter bunnies. The Scampi Di Corrado Alla Vodka is fantastic.
Best by far, though, is the Serbian restaurant Ambar Clarendon, in a slick commuter suburb of Arlington.
Ridiculously affordable, it offers unlimited small plates for just $35 (£26.90) or $19.99 (£15.40) for lunch.
Think veal soup with root veg and creme fraiche, wild-boar patty with bacon, smoked gouda, pickles and pesto, stuffed sour cabbage with pork belly and rice, beef short-rib goulash.
The encyclopaedic tapas-style menu, all sourced locally from organic farms, was a crash course in a cuisine I didn’t know I’d been missing out on.
For a nightcap, head downstairs to Baba, a Balkan speakeasy-style bar below the restaurant.
Around the corner from Ambar is the Heritage Brewpub and Roastery, a micro-brewery with classic American fare.
While in DC, don’t miss Franklin Hall in U-Street, a massive beer hall with table games and greasy food to soak up the booze.
Stay in Arlington for easy access to all of greater DC. Rooms here are 20 per cent cheaper than in downtown DC, plus you’ll be near must-visits Arlington Cemetery, the Pentagon and the Observatory at Central Place.
A new hotel, Homewood Suites by Hilton Arlington Rosslyn Key Bridge, is a short stroll across the Potomac to Georgetown and the Rosslyn Metrorail Station which will whisk you to any district in DC (£27.67 for a three-day pass).
GETTING/STAYING THERE: Flights from Heathrow with British Airways are from £317pp return (ba.co.uk). A night’s B&B at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Arlington Rosslyn Key Bridge is from £72.64pp based on two sharing – purelycapitalregionusa.com or call 0844 80 444 80. For more information about Arlington, see stayarlington.com.
