The view of Washington landmarks from Nina's Dandy sailing along the Potomac is spectacular. (Photo by Constantine Wilson)

By Dave Zuchowski
CNHI News Service

I always enjoy a getaway to the nation’s capital, full of interesting things to see and do, but I was a little skeptical about a visit in January.

Who wants to shiver in the cold while walking the Mall or trekking up to Capital Hill?

Surprise! The weather was decidedly pleasant, so much so that there were actually roses and azaleas in full bloom in Alexandria, just across from D.C., where I boarded the Nina’s Dandy Dinner Boat for a Sunday brunch cruise up the Potomac.

The noontime temperature was so inviting that many folks, dressed in only a light jacket, ventured outside on the upper deck to watch the sights go by.

In the past, I’d toured Washington in several ways - with self-guided walking tours, a guided bicycle tour, a group Segway tours, a Greyline bus tour and an amphibious Duck tour, so when I learned about Nina’s Dandy and its Potomac cruises, I signed on.

Sleek and low-lying so it can pass under the bridges that span the Potomac, Nina’s Dandy heads up river to Georgetown, gliding by popular landmarks that include the Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln monuments and the Kennedy Center.

Sitting at my table alongside huge five- by six-foot windows listening to the jazz vocals of pianist, Ernie Douglas, and grazing on my plate stocked with food, I tried to take in as much of the boat’s narrated account about what we were seeing as possible.

"The monuments to the presidents who died in office, like Kennedy and Lincoln, have flat roofs," said the voice over the speaker. "The ones who lived past their term in office, such as Washington and Jefferson, have peaked roofs.

"Sated with buffet food, I ventured out onto the upper deck just in time to see the Pentagon glide by and watch jets take off and land at Ronald Reagan Airport. Just past Bolling Air Force Base, I saw where the capital’s three rivers, the Potomac, the Anacostia and the Washington Channel, meet near Haines Point.

"In the early days, Hains Point wasn’t part of the capital’s landscape," said the voice on the speaker. "Because foreign dignitaries hesitated to come to Washington because of the foul smell of its marshlands, the river was dredged and the fill dumped on Hains Point, creating the island.

"After a look at beautiful Memorial Bridge and the National Cathedral, which dominates the hill overlooking Georgetown, Nina’s Dandy turned around and headed back to port in Old Town Alexandria. On the return, I managed to glimpse the new Air Force Memorial, its trio of stainless steel spires arcing gracefully into the sky near Arlington Cemetery and the Pentagon. So much to see, so little time. Phone 703-683-6076 or www.dandydinnerboat.com.

That evening, I caught "You, Nero," a farce by Pulitzer Prize finalist, Amy Freed, at the Arena Stage’s Fichandler Theater. Washington is theater rich and the Arena, the largest theater in the nation dedicated to producing both American classics and new American plays, is one of my favorites.

Located on the Washington waterfront, the Arena was founded 60 years ago and is the recipient of many national awards including a Tony for "Best Regional Theater."

In 2008, an extensive $125 million renovation by architect Bing Thom enclosed the Arena’s two theaters within a "glass skin" and created a third space resulting in the Mead Center for American Theater, the second largest performing arts center in Washington, just after the Kennedy Center.

Public guided tours of the Mead Center at noon on Tuesday and Thursday and at 7 p.m. on Monday are free but do require reservations. Phone 202-600-4000.

If You’re Going . . .

For a place to stay, the Harrington Hotel, 436 11th Street in Washington, opened on March 1, 1914 making it the nation’s oldest continuously operating hotel. Just a half block from Pennsylvania and two blocks from the White House, the Harrington is within walking distance to many D.C. attractions and the Metro.

While not in the luxury class of other D.C. hotels, the Harrington is clean, tidy and has some excellent family-friendly room rates, although the decor is a bit outdated. The hotel also houses a full service restaurant and pub. Phone 202-628-8140 or www.hotel-harrington.com.

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Dave Zuchowski is a travel columnist for CNHI News Service. Contact him at owlscribe@yahoo.com.