Washington DC Big Short Break

After breakfast this morning, you can stretch your legs - the best way we know to shake off lingering jetlag - on a walking tour of the capital city of the world's last remaining superpower. Your historian or journalist guide will take you along the two miles of the National Mall, taking in the Jefferson, Lincoln and Washington Memorials, as well as the White House and Capitol building, and explaining the 200-plus years of political intrigue that have swirled around the city. After lunch, it's time to explore some of the jewels in the crown of the Smithsonian Institute, which has 17 museums and galleries (and a zoo) in DC, making this technically the world's largest museum. First stop, a privately-guided tour of the Air and Space Museum; afterwards, take in a couple more museums according to taste. For a bit of espionage and intrigue, why not try the (non-Smithsonian) International Spy Museum?

This morning you will pick up a hire car for the day and head out of the city, making for the Blue Ridge Mountains. About an hour-and-a-half outside the city you will find the Shenandoah National Park, where you can hike to some beautiful vistas, waterfalls and lakes. After a day spent breathing in fresh mountain air you will make your way back to the city in time for dinner and drinks. Our detailed destination Dossier is full of our favourite places to eat and drink, and our local Concierge can also recommend and book somewhere. If you're a sports fan, make sure you fit in a game during your time in the city. Depending on the time of year you could see the Washington Redskins playing (American) football, the Wizards playing basketball, the Nationals play baseball or the Capitals playing ice hockey. Even if you don't have a clue what is going on, the atmosphere is amazing and it is a quintessentially American experience.

This morning you will get back to pounding the streets of DC, as you take in more of the city. You will make your way back to the Smithsonian for a privately guided tour of the Museum of American Art and National Portrait Gallery, where you can look at America's history through the prism of the country's art. From here, you will move on to the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, whose eclectic collection you can explore independently. For your final evening in DC head to the Kennedy Centre, where every evening there is a different (and free) performance, from a poetry slam to a concerto by the National Symphony Orchestra. Afterwards, make your way to The Riggsby for a true DC treat dinner and watch America's political movers and shakers as they schmooze and scheme.

The bad news is that this is your last day in DC. The good news is that your flight isn't until this evening so you have a full morning and more to explore anything you've missed to date. For instance, we can arrange a morning kayaking trip on the Potomac River. Come late afternoon you will be privately transferred to the airport for your overnight flight back to the UK, which takes seven hours.