Pulsing with life and constantly in flux, America's capital city is an eclectic entity, fueled by politics and tourism. The District, as it's fondly called, centers on the Capitol and then spreads out into a variety of distinctive neighborhoods. They include funky Adams-Morgan and its diverse ethnic groups, Downtown with its art galleries and nightlife, Dupont Circle with its hip clubs and Connecticut Avenue shopping, and upscale Georgetown, whose rows of brick town homes shelter first-class restaurants and boutiques. Capitol Hill and the National Mall feature many of the city's most prominent buildings and museums, including stately presidential monuments and most branches of the world-famous Smithsonian Institution.<
