The city break that'll bring even the surliest of teens to life: Inside Washington DC - the 資本／首都 of 冷静な／正味の for youngsters. It'll even distract them from their phones, our writer discovers...?

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'Welcome to the 資本／首都 of the world!' exclaimed our taxi driver as we crossed the Potomac into Washington DC.

My 十代の少年少女s' 注目する，もくろむs shone with excitement.

Given that eight hours earlier they'd barely been speaking to me as I 知らせるd the British 航空路s stewardess I was a nervous flyer and therefore やめる keen for a gin and tonic, things were looking up.

'Look left and you'll see the White House,' continued the driver, and we peered through the dark to see the famous building lit up like a wedding cake, before he segued into the best sneaker (trainer) 蓄える／店s in the city and where to go for 'half smoke' hot dogs, a 地元の delicacy.

Thus began our week in DC, and the sheer cheerful brilliance of the American 資本／首都 never let up.?

MailOnline Travel's Harriet Arkell visited Washington DC with her two teenage boys, 述べるing the U.S 資本／首都 as 存在 cheerfully brilliant. Above - the eastern facade of the （ワシントンの）連邦議会議事堂 Building,?the seat of the 部隊d 明言する／公表するs 議会

Ha rriet and her boys went on an informative and gripping guided 小旅行する of the （ワシントンの）連邦議会議事堂 Building, which 含むd 審理，公聴会 about how the Rotunda frieze (above) was painted by?Italian artist Constantino Brumidi

'America's 前線 yard': The 国家の 商店街 stretches two miles from the Lincoln 記念の in the west to the （ワシントンの）連邦議会議事堂 in the east

Culture, sport, trainers and chili dogs: Washington DC 約束d it all.

It turns out the city is compact and 平易な to navigate, whether on foot, 経由で the cheap (and architecturally 素晴らしい) Metro, buses, or 経由で the plentiful Ubers, whose drivers were all 抱擁する fans of their city and 十分な of advice.?

They said we'd be 安全な in tourist areas, but that there were areas in the south-east of the city they wouldn't go to for 恐れる of 存在 car-jacked or accidentally 発射 in crossfire. ('OMG, GTA', whispered my 16-year-old.)

The Washington Monument, pictured, is 位置を示すd between the Lincoln 記念の and the （ワシントンの）連邦議会議事堂 Building?

素晴らしい Brutalist architecture: The Metro is beautiful to look at, cheap and ea sy to use

But we were here for culture, not computer games, so we stayed 堅固に in the tourist areas and never felt 危険な for a second as we 取り組むd what we were really there to see: the American 資本／首都's world-famous museums, monuments and galleries,?most of which are 含む／封じ込めるd within, or 国境d by, the landscaped 国家の 商店街.

Whatever you're 利益／興味d in, there's a museum 献身的な to it in DC, from harmonicas to the Bible to 秘かに調査するing.?

Thanks to a rich Englishman 指名するd James Smithson, who left his fortune to the 原因（となる） of その上のing education in the 部隊d 明言する／公表するs (bizarrely without ever setting foot in the country), the?mighty Smithsonian 会・原則 now runs 17 museums and galleries in DC, all of them 解放する／自由な, and they are the best of the best.?

Even the surliest of teens will come alive when they see the treasures in DC, as I discovered.

So, at the 国家の 空気／公表する and Space Museum we saw Neil Armstrong's 航空宇宙局 spacesuit from his 1969 moon 上陸, 同様に as the Spirit of St Louis, the actual (tiny) 計画（する） flown 単独の across the 大西洋 in 1927 by 25-year-old Charles Lindbergh (it took him 33 and a half hours).

The 国家の 空気／公表する and Space Museum was one of many 最高潮の場面s. It houses myriad treasures, 含むing the Spirit of St Louis, the actual (tiny) 計画（する） flown 単独の across the 大西洋 in 1927 by 25-year-old Charles Lindbergh

LEFT: Out of this world: Neil Armstrong's spacesuit from the 1969 Apollo 11 Moon 上陸 at the 国家の 空気／公表する and Space Museum. RIGHT:?The very first Kermit at the 国家の Museum of American History - another spellbinding experience. The 初めの green Muppet was made by Jim Henson in 1955

At the 国家の Museum of American History we enjoyed seeing the very first Kermit, made out of Jim Henson's ジーンズs and his mum's old coat, the 初めの 星／主役にする-Spangled 旗，新聞一面トップの大見出し／大々的に報道する, and Dorothy's actual ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz.?

The 国家の Museum of African American History & Culture houses the 棺 of Emmett Till Jnr, whose story shocked us to 涙／ほころびs: lynched 老年の just 14, （刑事）被告 of 感情を害する／違反するing a white woman in a shop.?

We 手配中の，お尋ね者 to see American art, and were spoilt for choice with an array of world-class galleries. The Smithsonian American Art Museum is stuffed with unmissable 作品 by Edward Hopper, Albert Bierstadt, and Agnes Tait, while the 国家の Portrait Gallery (NPG) next door c aptivated us with its 大統領の portraits.?

Harriet gazed upon Edward Hopper's People In The Sun (1960), 奮起させるd by NYC sunbathers, at the Smithsonian American Art Museum

Harriet 設立する the 国家の Portrait Gallery 'captivating'. Above is the gallery's portrait of Michelle Obama, the first African American first lady of the 部隊d 明言する／公表するs

In fact so enthralled were my sons by the cultural jewels of DC that not once all week did they whip out their phones in any of the museums or galleries other than to photograph things - an incredible feat that parents of 十代の少年少女s will understand.

'Watch out for the 大統領の cavalcade,' our Uber?driver 警告するd us as we 長，率いるd to the very 冷静な／正味の 惑星 Word museum. 'If you don't get out the way soon enough, the Secret Service won't hesitate to shoot.'?

We never got the chance to 実験（する） this. Or see the inside of where the 大統領 作品. For 安全 推論する／理由s, Brits (and other foreign 国家のs) can't go inside the White House at the moment, but the （ワシントンの）連邦議会議事堂 Building more than makes up for it with an informative and gripping guided 小旅行する.

Inside the Rotunda, we stood, rapt, as our enthusiastic 女性（の） guide 述べるd how the 70-something Italian artist Constantino Brumidi fell in 1879 wh ile 絵 the 48ft-high frieze, grabbing の上に scaffolding and dangling for several minutes before he was 救助（する）d. The old man, who spent 25 years of his life 絵 the （ワシントンの）連邦議会議事堂, was so shaken by the 出来事/事件 he gave up the next day.

Washington DC is also packed with monuments and 記念のs to former 大統領，／社長s, war 退役軍人s and 重要な characters from the nation's history.?

The best way to see them all without spending all day trekking up and 負かす／撃墜する the 国家の 商店街 is on a guided bike 小旅行する (unlimitedbiking.com/小旅行するs/monuments-and-記念のs-bike-小旅行する), which takes three (leisurely) hours and is led by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide.?

Most of the American 資本／首都's world-famous museums, monument s and galleries are 含む／封じ込めるd within, or 国境d by, the landscaped 国家の 商店街 (above)

We also loved 雇うing Lime electric scooters, ubiquitous on DC's wide and empty streets, to zip around the city.??

No visit to DC is 完全にする without a trip to the enormous 資本／首都 One 円形競技場, home to the NBA's Washington Wizards and the NHL's Washington 資本／首都s, who were playing the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs (n.b not 'leaves') when we visited.

The ice ホッケー was 中毒の to watch: 急速な／放蕩な and furious, 積極的な yet balletic. And it was impossible not to join in with the home （人が）群がる hollering for their team. For sheer 十分な-on American good fun, this was hard to （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域.

The ultimate in American fun: A night watching ice ホッケー at 資本／首都 One 円形競技場 (above) is hard to （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域, says Harriet?

Undercover 億万長者: Ted Leonsis, owner of the Washington 資本／首都s and Washington Wizards

Earlier, browsing the gift shop, a charming older American man had approached us, and his 女性（の） companion asked if we 手配中の，お尋ね者 our photo taken with him. Given that everyone in DC is incredibly friendly and polite, we 受託するd graciously.

Only later did we discover the man was in fact Ted Leonsis, owner of the Washington Caps, the Washington Wizards, and the 円形競技場 we were in. A 億万長者 twice over.

In contrast to the din of the ice ホッケー game, a 平和的な 巡航する along the Potomac to Georgetown showed the 落ちる colours in all their tranquil glory against a 有望な blue sky.?

DC's old est and most charming neighbourhood, Georgetown has upmarket boutiques, pretty painted townhouses, and smart 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s and restaurants along the waterfront. Bring your credit card - the 地元のs have 深い pockets, and there are prices in the shops to match.

DC's oldest and most charming neighbourhood, Georgetown (above) has upmarket boutiques, pretty painted townhouses, and smart 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s and restaurants along the waterfront, says Harriet

Bring your credit card to Georgetown (above), 示唆するs Harriet - 'the 地元のs have 深い pockets, and there are prices in the shops to match'

Harriet with sons John, 13, and Rupert, 16, on the 国家の 商店街

We had dinner at Sequoia, a 最高の-friendly American restaurant with 床に打ち倒す-to-天井 windows overlooking the river, on which Georgetown University rowers sculled.?

The boys are still talking about the pudding we 株d: a 'skillet chocolate cookie' se rved hot in the pan with white chocolate 半導体素子s and vanilla ice cream.?

Which brings me on to the only downside to our trip: you will not return home feeling slimmer than you left. You may, like us, only have eaten vegetables twice all week.

But the food was fabulous - a glory of all the American favourites we'd hoped for, and a teenage boy's dream.?

At 設立するing 農業者s & Distillers?(on Massachusetts Avenue), fried chicken （機の）カム with a freshly-cooked hot cinnamon sugar waffle - sounds weird, it worked - and mac n cheese. While for brunch on our last day we feasted on spicy breakfast tacos with Mexican cotija cheese.

Ben's Chili Bowl is a must-visit, 宣言するs Har riet.?Obama and the ローマ法王 have also beaten a 跡をつける to this DC 会・原則 on U Street

Yum's the word: Harriet tucked into Ben's 初めの Chili Half-Smoke and Chili Cheese Fries

At 設立するing 農業者s & Distillers on Massachusetts Avenue (above two images), Harriet and the boys ordered fried chicken, which （機の）カム with a freshly-cooked hot cinnamon sugar waffle. 'Sounds weird, it worked', 結論するs Harriet

Ben's Chili Bowl, best known for its '初めの half-smoke' hot dog with chili sauce and 初めの 1950s decor, is a must-visit (Obama and the ローマ法王 have also beaten a 跡をつける to this DC 会・原則 on U Street), and we all loved the 'puffy eggs' for breakfast at Piccolina da Centrolina.?

Waldorf Astoria Washington DC: Impossibly glamorous old-school luxe

Hotel heaven: The impressive Waldorf Astoria and its fairytale turrets

Donald Trump once ran this town and his presence is still very much felt, from the schoolchildren wearing orange Trump wigs as they 小旅行する the sights, and the 時折の '手配中の，お尋ね者 for 大統領 2024' T-shirt 耐えるing the former 大統領's mugshot, to the 'Roving Anti-Trumpism Bandwagon' outside the Lincoln 記念の selling $4 badges 説, 'He's 起訴するd and it feels so good.'

One place you won't find a trace of Trump, however, is the 伝説の hotel that once bore his 指名する - the Waldorf Astoria Washington DC, 以前は the Trump International Hotel.?

Opened in its new guise in 2022, this glorious building, the Old 地位，任命する Office, 誇るs fairytale turrets, a famous clock tower, and an unbeatable 場所 on Pennsylvania?Avenue, aka 'America's Main Street', which links the White House to the 部隊d 明言する／公表するs （ワシントンの）連邦議会議事堂.?

Staying here feels like the very essence of the American 資本／首都.?

The 'breath-taking' atrium at Waldorf Astoria Washington DC

Bought from Trump for $375million, Waldorf Astoria Washington DC 'is one of the grandest and most luxurious hotels in the U.S, and the ultimate place to stay in DC'

The opulent rooms are next level ーに関して／ーの点でs of luxe and glamour

Beds at the Waldorf Astoria are 'enormous and incredibly comfortable'

Bought from Trump for $375million, it is one of the grandest and most luxurious hotels in the U.S, and the ultimate place to stay in DC.?

The 抱擁する, 急に上がるing atrium takes your breath away, with an enormous 星／主役にするs and （土地などの）細長い一片s 旗 hanging at one end, sharp-ふさわしい DC 力／強力にする 仲買人s murmuring over $18 bowls of granola beneath it, and the beautiful Bazaar restaurant at the other.?????

The opulent rooms are next level ーに関して／ーの点でs of luxe and glamour: beds are enormous and incredibly comfortable, marble bathrooms 誇る goodies by Aesop, and many of the rooms have fantastic 見解（をとる）s - my boys were thrilled to see the 連邦検察局 （警察，軍隊などの）本部 from theirs. You can see even その上の from the 270ft-tall deck of the Old 地位，任命する Office Tower, which is 解放する／自由な to enter?for 居住（者）s and 非，不，無-居住（者）s alike.

A taste of Spain: The jamonero at The Bazaar by Jos? Andr?s restaurant carved Harriet and her 一族／派閥 jamon iberico at their （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する

The 現在の 大統領, sadly, is nowhere to be seen, while a staff member 認める to me that he 行方不明になるd the last one, 説 Trump and his chums 'spent a lot of money' and tipped 井戸／弁護士席. But the money doesn't appear to have disappeared 完全に, 裁判官ing by the enormous 高級な SUVs we saw parked outside.

The Bazaar by Jos? Andr?s is one of the hottest restaurant tickets in DC 権利 now - and was one of the most memorable 面s of our stay.

Featuring tapas with a nod to American history and a large dose of theatrics, from cocktails that arrive in a puff of 窒素 to tiny 'Crab Louie 反対／詐欺s' and jamon Iberico carved at your （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する by a 'jamonero', our dinner here was the foodie 最高潮の場面 of our trip.

If you かもしれない can get a （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する here (調書をとる／予約する 井戸／弁護士席 in 前進する), it's 価値（がある） it. The food and service were phenomenal.?

The hotel was the icing on the cake for this break.

Washington DC as a tourist 目的地? It got the thumbs up from my boys, who said it was the 'best trip ever'.?

But it deserves a 大統領の 調印（する） of 是認.?

WASHINGTON DC TOP TIPS

OTHER HILTON OPTIONS?

For the ultimate luxe you can't （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 the?Waldorf Astoria Washington DC - this place oozes old-school glamour.

If style and modern 慰安 are your 優先s, put the stunningly beautiful?Conrad Washington DC?on your レーダ. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, the architects famous for London's Tate Modern, this hotel 申し込む／申し出s low-重要な 高級な with charming staff, fabulous food, and a very smart gym.

If style and modern 慰安 are your 優先s, put the stunningly beautiful Conrad Washington DC (above) on your レーダ, 勧めるs Harriet< /p>

大使館 控訴s by Hilton Washington DC 条約 中心?is 目的（とする）d at families on a 予算. It's very centrally 位置を示すd and 申し込む／申し出s two-room 控訴s with sitting rooms and kitchenettes. There's a small gym, a pool, and breakfast is 含むd.?

RESTAURANTS

設立するing 農業者s & Distillers?won our 投票（する） for friendly service and and delicious 十分な-on American food. Packed with 地元のs ordering 抱擁する plates of BBQ ribs, chicken マリファナ pie and crispy shrimp with cornbread and coleslaw, this is 大多数 owned by American 農業者s and prides itself on cooking everything from scratch. There's also an onsite distillery, and homemade chocolates to take home.?

Mi Vida?is a loud, fun and authentic Mexican restaurant (現実に there are three in DC). We loved the enchiladas (much spicier than we're used to 支援する home) and the 'La Medicina' cocktail made with Sotol, a Mexican spirit made from a shrub in the Chihuahuan 砂漠.?

Beloved BBQ at Love, Makoto is a Japanese steakhouse that is a real 扱う／治療する for the serious meat-lover, with smokeless 取調べ／厳しく尋問するs in the middle of every （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. You're broug ht platters of raw Wagyu and Japanese A5 steak and then cook them to your liking using the 結社s 供給するd. The puddings here are incredible.

WHEN TO GO

Spring is when most 訪問者s go to DC, to see the famous blossom on the cherry trees around the 潮の 水盤／入り江. And the 天候 is perfect. Summer can be hot and 湿気の多い, while winters are 冷淡な and snow is not uncommon.

Autumn is a perfect time to visit, with warm 気温s and beautiful 落ちる colours in 前線 of a 有望な blue sky.

Harriet Arkell travelled to Washington DC as a guest of 目的地 DC and Hilton Hotels.?For help on planning your trip and more （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） visit washington.org.??