Washington, D.C., is the United States capital, and serves as one of the country's foremost cultural centers. The Smithsonian Institution's museums and parks comprise 19 sites throughout the city, including the National Zoological Park and the National Museum of Natural History. The capital city offers upscale and moderately priced hotels within walking distance of these cultural attractions. Many of the Smithsonian's Museums are on the Washington Mall.
The historic Hotel Lombardy in D.C.'s Foggy Bottom district was founded in 1926 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. According to Fodor's, the Hotel Lombardy features oriental rugs and European antique pieces in the lobby area, while the guest rooms feature steel-and-chrome finished bathrooms. During the summer, the hotel offers its guests complimentary passes for the swimming pool at Washington Plaza, less than five minutes away. The on-site restaurant, Lombardy Cafe, serves lunch and dinner, and is a favorite place for business lunches in the Foggy Bottom district.
The hotel is only a five-minute drive from the Washington Mall and Smithsonian museums, including the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of Natural History. Both of these museums are open year-round. The White House is a five-minute walk from the hotel, which provides opportunities for photos of the historic house's front lawn. Dining is available at the Foggy Bottom district, within walking distance of the hotel at The Prime Rib and Bertucci's. Reservations are recommended for these restaurants due to the busy lunch traffic and the influx of students and faculty from nearby George Washington University.
The Mandarin Oriental Hotel in southwestern Washington D.C. features Asian-influenced furniture and décor in the lobby area, while the guest rooms offer scenic views of the Jefferson Memorial and the Tidal Basin waterway. This hotel has received a four-star rating by "Forbes" magazine and provides amenities such as an indoor swimming pool, fitness center and an on-site spa with massage therapies, body treatments and personal trainers. City Zen and the Empress Lounge, two of the hotel's fine dining restaurants, serve Asian cuisine for lunch and dinner.
Washington Mall's Smithsonian Museums are only a 10-minute walk from the hotel; the Freer Gallery of Art and the National Museum of the American Indian are the closest. The hotel is right off the Francis Case Memorial Bridge, which offers quick access to East Potomac Park, which features an 18-hole golf course, and the sites of Arlington Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Off-site dining is within walking distance of the hotel on D Street and Maryland Avenue. The iconic Lincoln Memorial is only a 10-minute walk from the hotel.
In northern Washington D.C., the Windsor Park Hotel is only a five-minute walk from the wildlife exhibits at the National Zoological Park, a Smithsonian Institution. The hotel is in the residential Kalorama Heights neighborhood, and the guest rooms offer views of nearby Rock Creek Park. This recreational area features walking paths, the flowing Rock Creek and historical attractions, such as the Old Stone House and Pierce Barn. Guided tours are offered for both sites. The hotel is also within walking distance of the Dupont Circle Metro station, which makes most of the city accessible.
Founded in 1926, the boutique Windsor Park Hotel has simplistic, antique-style furniture in the guest rooms and common areas. A complimentary continental breakfast is served in the hotel's breakfast room. Although the hotel does not have a parking garage, street parking is usually available in the neighborhood surrounding the hotel. The hotel has 43 guest rooms and eight suites with living room areas. The hotel has five floors, so each guest room offers more space than a chain hotel room.
