Washington, D.C.

The nation's capital offers the perfect combination of business and leisure

- STORY BY ELLEN CARPENTER

Washington Monument; Reagan National Airport

WASHINGTON, D.C., IS an ideal place to add a little culture to your work trip, whether it's visiting one of the 17 museums and galleries comprising the Smithsonian Institution or experiencing a truly global dining scene. The District packs quite a punch into its 68 square miles, and that unbridled vitality extends through the larger metro area, which includes parts of Virginia and Maryland. Politics may dominate the headlines, but this is a place where business happens, home to heavy hitters such as Marriott, Boeing, Capital One and Geico. No matter what brings you to D.C., you'll find plenty of reasons to stay even longer.

The Airports

The District is home to two major aviation hubs: Dulles International (IAD), 26 miles west of the city, and Reagan National (DCA), located just five miles from downtown.