Washington D.C. Itinerary?

My fiance and myself will be going on vacation to Washington D.C. from 5/24 (11 am flight) to 5/27 (7:45 pm flight). We are trying to figure out what to do that weekend. We want to hit the Smithsonian and some monuments, but other than that, we're not sure. We are on a budget so we can't spend a lot of money. (We will use the Metro mainly.) Any sightseeing ideas would be appreciated.

A possible Itinierary - focuses on free and low cost stuff.

5/24 - arrive (Dulles or National?) In the city by 2 PM (Dulles) or 12:30 National. Check into hotel - take Metro to Smithsonian STation. Visit the Smithsonian visitor's center to determine what you'd like to cover during your weekend, what is open, and what special events to cover. Exiting from station walk the east half of "The Mall" getting your bearings. Walk through the Capitol Grounds, around the Capitol, past the LIbrary of Congress and Supreme Court. Take metro to Gallery Place Chinatown, and have dinner at one of the more reasonable restaurants along here. (Hint - if you like chinese food Eat First is excellent, with large portions (two can share an entree easily), low prices and very little ambiance. Enjoy the Chinatown area. Then return to the mall in the evening (possibly walk down 7th street and visit the Navy Memorial on Pennsylvania Avenue. If the weather is nice, consider walking down to the Lincoln Memorial in the twilight and early evening.

Day 2: Get up and get to the kiosk at the Capitol by 8:30 in order to pick up timed tickets on their tour by 9. Visit a museum with a cloakroom (National Gallery of art is close by, but most of them have them). While waiting for your tour time, tour one of Washington's great museums! Return to the Capitol for the tour. Head north to Union Station for lunch in their vast food court, and spend some time wandering around this Beaux Arts Gem. Head down PA Avenue and stop at the Archives, if the line is not too long. Visit the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, and spend some time in the vaults, seeing what else the Archives has to offer! Walk down PA avenue to the White House and Lafayette square. Visit the White House Visitor's center, and learn something about the house. If you already have tickets for the white house tour, fit that in when they are good - if you don't have them, it will be too late.
at 5 or 5:15 head over to the Kennedy Center (Orange Line Metro, Foggy Bottom. Get in line for the 6 PM free concert at the Millennium stage, and enjoy it. Then have dinner in the roof terrace cafeteria. Not too expensive, and a great view of the Potomac! If you have time, take the docent led tour of the Kennedy Center.

Day 3: At 8 AM show up at the Holocaust museum to get timed tickets for the afternoon. Then wander around part of the Tidal Basin visiting the Jefferson Memorial and the FDR memorial. With the rest of the morninghike past the Washington Monument to the Post Office Pavilion, at Pennsylvania and 12th street. Ride up to the top of their bell tower, and get the best tower view of Washington! Lunch in the basement of the Post Office, at their small but good food court before heading back to the Holocaust Memorial.

In the evening visit a neighborhood - either Adams Morgan or U-Street for some exotic food like Ethiopian and a look at a real DC neighborhood. Wander around for a drink, maybe at a live music venue in the evening.

Day 4. Spend some time seeing one of the sights that is off the beaten path, either the National Cathedral, or visiting Georgetown and some of the old houses (the houses have admission fees). You might visit the Old Stone House in Georgetown, or the Frederick Douglass House in Anacostia, and the Anacostia museum, if black history interests you.
After a nice lunch in the neighborhood, head back to the mall for one last afternoon at one of the great museums before leaving for the airport by 4 (if Dulles) or 6 (if National - via metro).

The Capitol WILL be open Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, and since the focus is on the Monuments and Memorials and Arlington Cemetery that weekend, it may be an excellent time to visit it. Report It

The Smithsonian museums could take up your whole time. There is so much to see in Washington, DC that you can go non-stop and never see everything. Plan on wearing good walking shoes while seeing the monuments and the Smithsonian. Since you'll be short on time, I highly recommend the American History and Air and Space Museums.
There is also a bus that you can take for a tour of the monuments. I don't know the cost, but it stops at each monument every half hour. So, you can get off, look at the monument, then get on the next bus. It used to be a pretty good deal.
Visiting Georgetown at night would be fun. Lots of shops and restaurants and bars.

Well, the Smithsonian museums and monuments are free, so that should help with your budget. You'll find the Metro is clean and easy to use.

The Museum of American History is being renovated, but there is a rather large display of "highlights" in the Air and Space Museum (which is pretty amazing on its own). The Natural History Museum is great, with plenty to see (we love the dinosaurs and minerals the most). The National Gallery of Art is also right on the Mall, and is another favorite of mine -- lots of famous paintings. If you get out of the city, Arlington National Cemetary is very moving -- especially if you see the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

Enjoy your trip.