A 19th-century canal and towpath that runs west from Rock Creek between M St and the Potomac River, and parallels the river 185 miles to the mountain town of Cumberland, Maryland.

Four locks lift the water level through Georgetown; a "living history" canal boat drawn by two mules carries passengers between spring and autumn through a lock or two for about a mile upstream, then back. A lot of folks just watch the locking operation and walk along the towpath.

It's a wonderful and pastoral contrast to the shopping and nightlife of Georgetown, itself an 18th-century town that was absorbed into Washington DC.

The boat is found between Thomas Jefferson Place and 30th St NW; www.nps.gov/choh/

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Go to Union Station food court for lots of interesting choices. Local businessfolk and politicos eat here, too, so you're in for some juicy eavesdropping. When on the Mall, eat in the basement cafeteria of the National Gallery.

Union Station, National Mall

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It's a cheap, no frills motel in an out of the way location. There are plenty of 'mom and pop' motels in the USA, which offer a 'non fancy' but adequate room for $15-25 (£8 to 15) a night. They are often not 'right downtown', but are in safe, somewhat secluded locations - often near low priced shopping and such. Often local people use them.

I'd recommend: "How to retire on practically nothing" (Loompanics press) for guidance. A place that the author of that book recommends is the 'College Inn' in South Carolina. Its rooms go for $15 to 20 a night as i recall. There are plenty of bargains in the states. One has only to look for them. There are also cheap eating places in Vienna.

www.viennawolftrapmotel.com
The nearest metro station is in Dunn Loring (on the orange line). Metrobusses connect with Vienna. Or - if you have a car, consider driving to the metro station in Dunn Loring and parking in the Metro garage (on the street if you get there early enough).

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Hotels in the District of Columbia tend to be very expensive, typically over $200/night. You can do much better just across the Potomac in Arlington, Virginia, near the metro stations of Rosslyn and Courthouse. From there you can either take the metro back into DC or walk over the Key Bridge into Georgetown, where you can pick up an even numbered 30s bus or the metro to go further on your way.

www.arlingtonvahotels.worldweb.com/index.html;
www.arlingtonva.us

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It’s downtown and near the social centre of Dupont Circle, but it also on a quiet street and has preserved an old-world bookish feel that is rare in America. It has a pleasant lounge with an open fire in winters that feels like the common room of some old college, and a very decent restaurant. A room is about $100.

1739 N Street, NW, at Connecticut Avenue; Tel: 1-202 785 1277; Dupont Circle Metro; www.tabardinn.com/home.htm

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Great authentic Mexican food at very low prices.

1792 Columbia Road, NW; Tel: 1-202 332 1011; Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan Metro; Open: 10am-10pm Sun-Thurs, 10am-11pm Fri-Sat

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