Find out why Washington D.C. is the capital of holiday cheer.

These quick getaways from D.C. are full of things to see and do, all within a three-hour drive.

From the monuments of the National Mall to the iconic buildings of Capitol Hill to all those free Smithsonian Museums in between—D.C.’s core is compact enough that you can see tons of major sights in a short span of time. Traveling over a long weekend? Even better. With a third day, you can fit in sights beyond the Mall, like Arlington National Cemetery and Georgetown.