Originally Posted by You want to go where?
While you are correct that flights are restricted, they do make changes according to weather. Prevailing wind changes will result in either a northern approach or a southern approach. The approach from the south essentially results in no view of the city at all except on landing. The approach from the north can result in a spectacular view of the city from the left-hand side of the plane.
It also depends on from where you are coming. If you are arriving into DCA from someplace West of the DC area, you often approach the city along the potomac before turning south over the west Arlington area. You head south from there until over Mount Vernon where you make the big turn and head north into DCA via the southern approach. When you make the turn over Arlington and the weather isn't too bad, you get a nice view of the city off the left side of the aircraft. Granted, it's not the same as the spectacular north approach, but you at least get to see the major sights from the air. If you are arriving from a location in the northeast or southeast US (or Canada I would assume), they swing you over the East or South sides of DC and the view isn't all that great if they are using the Southern approach then. Your best bet is to sit on the left for arrival into DCA, right for departure, and hope for the northern approach. This is definatly one to be done at night as well.