Things to do at the Potomac waterfront and The Wharf

This stretch of Washington's own riverfront runs along the Potomac between the National Mall and Georgetown, and it is a different outing from either of those, not an extension of them. The Wharf, rebuilt over the past decade, is where it concentrates: seafood restaurants, marinas, a concert venue and a promenade for walking, not a cluster of free monuments.

Reaching it from downtown takes about 15-20 minutes on foot or a short ride, and a visit runs from a couple of hours to a full evening. Water taxis connect it to Georgetown and National Harbor, with one-way fares typically in the $15-30 range.

Budget separately for dinner, since a sit-down seafood meal here often runs $30-50 a head before the 10% DC restaurant tax and an 18-20% tip.