If it rains and you are on the Washington, D.C.

side of the Potomac River, you can head to the basement of Union Station to watch a movie or ride the DC Circulator to Georgetown and shop 'til you can't shop any more at The Shops at Georgetown Park.

Over 100 trendy shops will keep your attention. Home of Georgetown University, this campus town offers pure enjoyment.

If it rains and you are on the Virginia side

of the Potomac River, a good place to hang out is The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City or in the DEA Museum.

Get off the Metro subway at Pentagon City stop.

McDonald's is in the mall's food court. If you want a quieter eating experience, turn right instead of left when exiting Metro. Starbucks, Borders Books, pizza and Mexican food are nearby.

Another Metro stop to try is Crystal City. The underground mall is not heavily populated on weekends, and you can get a similar range of food. A Rite-Aid is present along with a one-of-a-kind naval gifts store.

Links!

Links, links and links added to the sidebar! Fun things to do and places to see in D.C.

Some places are not in tour books like Landmark Mall Children's Soft Play Area & Train Ride. If you are staying on the Virginia side of the Potomac River and you have small children, this mall offers an indoor playground and free mall-wide train ride.

You can eat upstairs in the food court, sit in a coffee shop, or enjoy a smoothie made with real fruit. All reasonably priced.

Read "Washington, D.C. with Kids" before you travel

On the right side bar is a trip planning book to Washington, D.C. I recommend whether you are traveling with children or alone. It covers so many more places and things to do than other guidebooks like the

-> Folger Shakespeare Library,
-> Voice of America,
-> U.S. Naval Observatory,
-> U.S. Chess Center,
-> The Washington Post,
-> National Capital Trolley Museum,
-> National Weather Service, and
-> National Museum of the Marine Corps.

You'll have to do more online research to plan your stay, but the book offers web links for most entries.

It also offers all the maps you need and helpful tips.

Don't be fooled. The book is useful for adults, too!

Sore feet, tired memories

What is the last thing almost everyone who visits the National Mall remembers? Sore feet!

After walking around the mall all day in the hot sun, people complain that their feet hurt. Unless you are a regular walker or runner, it should be no surprise.

Expect to walk about 5 miles on your visit to the National Mall. The distance between museums and galleries is great. Blocks are long. The sun is hot.