Love the library of congress and they usually have great exhibits (aside from the fabulous architecture.) Also, the adorable postal museum near union station.
Inexpensive teen-pleasing food recs
Near the Newseum: Teaism
near the Phillips Collection: Zorba’s
Ice Cream/Sorbet/Gelato: Pitango, Dolcezza (City Center, DuPont Circle, Georgetown, Union Market, Bethesda)
Cava has a fast food spin-off (Chipotle format) – it’s called Cava Grill (multiple locations)
Check out CaBi – It’s a bike-share program that lets you pick up a bike at one location and drop it off at another. I think you can buy a one-day pass. Info online. Is your safety concern traffic-related? If so maybe try the C&O Canal Trail. Or along the Mall. CaBi doesn’t supply helmets.
^^Teaism looks delicious!
Library of Congress will be on our list. 
@abasket, I’m not sure of your dates but if you’re interested in seeing a fantastic show, please consider Come From Away. It’s a wonderful, poignant musical (written by very talented friends of mine) about the small town of Gander, Newfoundland on 9/11 and how thousands of stranded travellers from around the world were taken in by the residents when all planes were grounded. It has played to huge success in La Jolla, Seattle and now D.C., where its run has been extended to 10/16 at the beautiful, and historic, Ford’s Theatre. It has to close then as it is coming to Toronto (yay!) and then on to Broadway in the new year.
National museum of woman in the arts.
I really enjoyed wandering through this gallery.
Old Ebbitt Grill is great. Not far from there is a good breakfast/lunch spot in the National Press Club building. Another really interesting museum and one of the greatest indoor spaces is the National Building Museum, very interesting exhibits.
Near the National Museum of Women in the Arts is Cafe Mozart. Get your potato pancakes, bratwurst, and lager if you like those things. They also have a little European grocery with many delicacies in the front, and have a piano player in the restaurant area in the back some evenings.
Years ago, I took my mom and sisters to the rooftop bar of the Washington Hotel. I think it is now the ‘W’. Nice view of the city over by the White House (close to the Old Ebbitt Grill).
Speaking of hotels, DC has some beautiful old ones that would be a great spot for afternoon tea with the girls such as the Willard or the Mayflower.
^^ What a fun idea! I’m going to have to sit down and make a priority list!
I think they may also have tea at the National Cathedral at special times.
This place looks very reasonably priced for afternoon tea. They also seem to have good reviews.
http://www.ladycamellia.com/menu-2/
The Holocaust Museum is fabulous. It isn’t cheerful in the least, but it is very very well put together. It’s the only ,use up i have ever been to where no one talks while walking through. A sad part of our workd’s history, but something remembered well in this museum.
Evenings you might want to check out Arena Stage, The Kennedy Center or the Folger Theater.
I want to second Cactus Cantina - best steak fajitas and Carne Asada I’ve ever had. The best ice cream in DC is Thomas Sweet in Georgetown on Wisconsin Ave.
I really would like to see the new African American museum:
http://www.citylab.com/design/2016/09/how-the-new-smithsonian-african-american-museum-works/500246/?utm_source=atlfb
The recent theater suggestions remind me to suggest the Capitol Steps who do musical political satire. No one leaves their performances without a grin. The downtown venue should be walkable from your hotel by the mall.
So our trip to DC is almost here! Thought I’d appeal to the CC’ers (bowing to you…) for any last minute advice!
As a review I’ll be going to DC with my 19 year old D and 2 of her roommates for their fall break. Below is a list of “would like to do’s” as compiled by them with some input from me (but mostly them!):
National Mall:
Typical stops - monuments, etc.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS (is the free hour tour worthwhile??)
Museums:
Newseum
Renwick Gallery
Smithsonian…Natural History
The new African American exhibit - though unlikely we can score tickets unless we get REALLY lucky day of…
Holocaust
Garden:
US Botanical Garden (leaning towards this one?)
National Arboretum
(will choose one)
Plan to attend mass at the Basilica.
Eastern Market (we love markets, food, crafters,etc.)
Georgetown (maybe on Monday since it’s the holiday and some other things may be closed?):
C & O Towpath (safe during the day?)
Other recommended sites to see or shopping??
Baked and Wired (bakery)
Old Post Office Tower, if open
Embassy Row walk???
Capitol - can we wander at all???
Gallaudet University (D and her roommate are taking a sign language class - visiting can count for one of their required field experiences - a cool one!)
Restaurants:
Nando’s Peri-Peri
&Pizza
Ted’s Bulletin
Still haven’t nailed down a night tour. May wait on the weather and see what we can get/arrange.
Admittedly, I think all of us are people who will NOT want to get too in-depth upon visiting any one site - including museums - see it, experience it, MOVE ON! We are good walkers.
I have to review my plane/BWI/train to DC- National Mall game plan again.
FINALLY, is there an all around good DC app you recommend for maneuvering the city/sites???
A few items of feedback:
I think the Library of Congress is worth it and found it interesting. Plus, architecturally it is interesting.
Yes, the tow path is safe.
Georgetown is mainly about the shopping, eating and people watching.
Embassy Row really isn’t walkable unless you want to do a lot of walking as its spread along a long stretch of Mass Ave. If you have a car, its worth driving around.
Capitol building - you can walk around or sign up for a tour: https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/plan-visit
Definitely recommend the night tour - very efficient way to see tons of the monuments and memorials and they look great lit up at night!
Def go to the Library of Congress.
Make sure you check the weather. Right now it looks like we’ll have rain on Saturday (making Friday optimal for the night tour), but the forecast may change.
Honestly, I do not care for your restaurant choices. They are not so special as to worth building an itinerary around them. I would just use the Yelp or Tripadvisor app to find places to eat wherever you find yourself hungry.
The Botanical Garden is a better option because it’s close to your other destinations, while the Arboretum would be a hike. Or try to score tickets to the White House Garden tour which is open this weekend! http://dc.about.com/od/governmentbuildings/a/WhiteHouseGarde.htm
I would not build shopping into such a short visit, but Georgetown should be OK for some fun browsing.