Tours of the Capitol building can be arranged through the Visitor Center website (or by calling or emailing your Representative's or Senator's office a few weeks in advance).
The main reading room is known as the Sacred Room, and is absolutely stunning.
Visitors can watch the court in session M-W, from October-April, with admission on a first-come, first-served basis.
Be sure to take the catwalk through the leaf canopy in the jungle room.
Facing the Capitol is the statue of Peace, holding an olive branch, and surrounded by symbols of prosperity.
The statue's base is surrounded by three statues of a student, a warrior, and a statesman, representing his distinguished academic, military, and political careers.
The bells ring every quarter-hour, although the best time to visit is undoubtedly the Fourth of July, when the bells ring to the tune of the Star Spangled Banner at 2PM.
Grant's monument occupies the single most prominent location on the Capitol Grounds, directly over the reflecting pool.
All sorts of notables from American history found their final resting place here, from composer John Sousa to FBI founder J. Edgar Hoover.
The small museum has a replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, and an Elizabethan garden in the back, and is nice to visit combined with a performance.
For a delightful surprise, be sure to open the cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms.
The market itself is open every day, but weekends bring an additional influx of vendors ranging from local farmers to antique furniture.
Exceptional Italian food at great prices. Small and intimate, packed with locals.
Belga serves perfectly fine Belgian cuisine, and has at all times at least five fine Belgian beers on tap (and a host more besides). Reliable food, best for dinner.
The views are fantastic. Don't worry if you don't like steak, as this is an all-around outstanding restaurant, with a variety of excellent American dishes.
Beers, squid, oysters, grits, shrimp, deep fried pork ribs, and their mini tuni sandwiches. What else more could you ask for?
Montmarte is considered one of the best restaurants in Capitol Hill and perhaps the best French in the city.
The lounge upstairs is similarly beautiful and fashionable (and crowded), with a fireplace and big windows.
Quiet, off the beaten track lounge located in East Capitol Hill, specializing in delicious cocktails made with fresh fruit and the largest Absinthe selection in the city.
Trusty's sister bar in Eastern Market, with an excellent draft selection, pizza and pub food, average prices.
The upstairs bar has an excellent happy hour and there is patio seating, good weather providing.
The name refers to general positions on U.S. national security policy. TVs are tuned to CNN. Regardless, this is a good bar, with cheaper drinks than you'll get elsewhere in the neighborhood.
The live music continues upstairs, but for the most part this is just a nice neighborhood style and mildly divey pub, and a block off Eastern Market. Once the regular home to Roberta Flack.
