Set on the banks of the Potomac River between Virginia and Maryland, the capital of the United States is both grandly public and profoundly private. What goes on in the back rooms of K Street remains as invisible to the world as the Washington Monument is plain to see. D.C.’s public side offers plenty to pack any visitor’s itinerary. It’s awe-inspiring to stand before iconic landmarks such as the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial, and the endlessly fascinating (and free) museums of the Smithsonian alone could fill several days of uninterrupted exploration. But it would be a mistake to ignore the subtler charms of the capital — the shops, bars and restaurants of Georgetown, for instance, or the Queen Anne row houses and inviting al fresco cafés of Dupont Circle. Outdoor enthusiasts will also discover much of interest, from bird-watching in Anacostia Park to kayaking down the Potomac. Cherry trees lining the river burst into flamboyant bloom each spring.