Washington, D.C.

BEST WEEKEND TO GO: June 27--28

DISTANCE: 227 mi -- about 4 hours 2 mins (up to 5 hours 0 mins in traffic)

WHY GO: Barbecue? A thousand times yes (unless you're a vegetarian or a commie). Entering its 17th year, Safeway's National Capital Barbecue Battle (Penn Quarter, Pennsylvania Ave between 9th and 14th Sts NW; 202-828-3099, bbqdc.com; per day $10, weekend pass $18; June 27, 28) brings together more than 70 teams from around the country to compete in several contests—including those sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society and Memphis in May (MIM)—with outcomes determined by a panel of trained experts. The bad news: You can't eat competition leftovers due to health-code fascism. However, there is still tons of great BBQ to eat, and other highlights include live music, a hot-sauce--tasting tent and more Safeway samples (grilled sausages, BBQ chicken, dips) than you can handles.

If your heart doesn't beat for seared meat, consider instead this year's Smithsonian Folklife Festival (202-633-7484, festival.si.edu; June 24--28, July 1--5; free), a huge grassroots event on the National Mall that draws more than a million people each year, and this time features three simultaneous programs: "Giving Voice: The Power of Words in African American Culture," which examines oral tradition in the black community; the Latin-music-focused "Las Americas: Un mundo musical"; and "Wales Smithsonian Cymru." "For Wales, there's going to be two houses built, demonstrating different techniques to create sustainable housing," says Becky Haberacker, public-affairs specialist at the Smithsonian. "They have developed ways of using things like sheep's wool for housing insulation, and they'll have a house on-site to demonstrate."

WHY STAY: Another reason to spend some time with the Smithsonian: All of its D.C. museums offer free admission. Our favorite is the regal National Gallery of Art (333 Constitution Ave between 4th and 7th Sts NW, 202-737-4215), currently exhibiting, among other things, the original cast for the Lincoln Memorial. Those more politically inclined should clean the BBQ sauce off their faces and head to the new Capitol Visitor Center (visitthecapitol.gov), a massive underground facility where you can learn firsthand how the government "works."

WHERE TO STAY: The Holiday Inn Capitol (550 C St at 6th St SW; 202-479-4000, hicapitoldc.com) is offering a special rate for BBQ Battle attendees ($139 per night if you use block code bb4 and book by May 21). The L'Enfant Plaza Hotel (480 L'Enfant Plaza SW; 202-484-1000, lenfantplazahotel.com), meanwhile, is $129 per night through Destination D.C.'s "Staying Power" promotion (800-422-8644, destinationdc.com). Or try the always-affordable Beacon Hotel (1615 Rhode Island Ave between 16th and 17th Sts NW; 800-821-4367, capitalhotelswdc.com; starting at $119 per night).

GET THERE: The Acela Express train from Penn Station to Union Station is the most direct route, but it will set you back at least $133 each way. Bolt Bus and Megabus are more affordable means of transportation (usually $15--$30 each way, depending on how early you book). Once there, D.C.'s clean, color-coded Metro system should be fairly easy to navigate after your years of dealing with the MTA's creative solutions.

WHAT TO EAT: This town isn't exactly known for its cuisine, but as you've heard, change is on the way. Rasika (633 D St NW between 6th and 7th Sts NW; 202-637-1222, rasikarestaurant.com) offers solidly good Indian fare. According to Suzanne Tubis, PR rep for the Battle: "They have a crispy fried-spinach side dish that's amazing! It's extremely lightly fried, almost like it's freeze-dried." If you're looking for surf to balance out all the Battle turf, a local (who prefers to remain anonymous for fear of populist reprisal) recommends the $32 lobster burger at Michel Richard Citronelle (3000 M St between Thomas Jefferson St and 30th St NW; 202-625-2150, citronelledc.com).