Great time of year to visit us. Weather is nice, and not as jammed with school groups as it is in spring.

More info on events that might be on during your visit here:

http://www.washington.org

I wouldn't recommend this on your first trip to DC, but staying in Reston and having a car, you could do some scenic drives in Virginia and visit some wineries (but you should definitely head into downtown DC if it's your first visit).

http://www.virginiawines.org/

The DC street nomenclature is actually well thought. DC is divided into four quadrants, with the US Capital as the epicenter. Capital Street runs North-South and delineates between the East and West halves. Streets start at 1 and increment outwards from Capital Street.

The streets running East-West start run through the alphabet - first with just the letter, then single syllable words, double syllable words, triple syllable words and finish with flowers & trees. "I" Street is labeled as "Eye" Street to avoid confusion with between 1 and I.

Most of the streets name after States run diagonal and there is not standard. There are also a few exceptions - added streets, etc. just to confuse things a bit.

It's important to know which quadrant the address is located, so you'll see addresses such as 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Addresses also follow the street names - 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW is on Pennsylvania Ave between 16th & 17th Streets.

Cheers & Welcome to DC!

Jeff

For the more experienced DC visitor, it is helpful to know that some of the State Named Streets number with the letters and some go with the numbers. It depends upon if it is a more north/south street (addresses number with the letters) or a east/west street (addresses number with the numbered streets)

Personally, given the short amount of time you will have, I would drive into the city. On a Saturday evening it won't be too busy. Come straight in on I-66 and go across the Roosevelt Bridge. This will dump you on Constitution Ave. Constitution runs along the north side of the Mall from the Lincoln to the ghetto with lots of great stuff in between. There is no need for you to go past the Capitol. It's not dangerous, but there just isn't anything to see. If you aren't doing a tour, I would park on 23rd, 22nd or 21st street and check out the Einstein, Lincoln, Vietnam and Korean memorials. Then drive or cab down to the Washington Monument area (park on 17th street) and see the Washington Monument and the WWII memorial. I think the museums close at 5:00, so if you want to see one of them, you might try that first, in which case I would drive directly there. At 4 or 5 on Sat I think you will find parking pretty easy.

I agree - ESPECIALLY given your timing. Sat 4 PM to Sunday 6 AM. I would 100% drive.

You are hardly going to have time for the museums - Drive in - see the whitehouse, the washington monument and the capitol while there is still some light.

The monuments are all best done at night anyway (personal opinion). Then you can drive around and check out the jefferson (parking for just this one is a bit tricky), FDR, WWII, Lincoln Memorial, The Vietnam War Meorial Wall, followed by driving out to the Iwo Jima Memorial (which is just outside in Virginia) and then head back.