[Rick Lee]

Since they've opened the new Capitol Visitors Center, I doubt you can get a behind the scenes tour of the Capitol itself anymore unless you really know someone well. I got a dome tour once, but I was working for the Congressman who personally led it. The tours your elected reps. can help you with are the FBI and Bureau of Engraving and Printing. The Wash. Monument is about a mile walk from the Capitol. I don't know how anyone could spend more than a few minutes looking at it from up close, since you can see it better from just about everywhere else in the city. You can walk to all the Smithsonian Museums from the Capitol except the Udvar Hazy Center near Dulles Airport. Just stay near a blue, orange or red line Metro station and you can get anywhere from there. Please remember to stand on the right and walk on the left while on Metro escalators. DC restaurants are the most overrated in the US. If you have preferences, I can tell you all the great spots in VA to try out.