Cycling
DC is a great place to cycle. Much of the city, including most of the Mall and Downtown, is flat (though there’s Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the Mall). The city has close to 60 miles of marked bike lanes and is building more by the day, while Capital Bikeshare is thriving.
The web of bike paths take you to out-of-center spots, and riding from museum to monument will save your feet hours of ache (though you’ll have to lock your bike to a signpost or railings).
For more information on biking in and around DC, get in touch with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (1-202 518 0524, www.waba.org). A helpful map of DC bike lanes is available on the city’s transportation website, www.ddot.dc.gov.