When you visit D.C., you want to keep an eye out for the tour groups of students, typically dressed in brightly colored matching shirts and scurrying between as many sights as possible. Locals know to cross the street and avoid these groups if at all possible - and that impulse will only grow once BU fans start touring the capital.

We kid, we kid. But if you’re making this trip expecting things to be a lot like they were during your eighth-grade visit, we’re guessing this is your first Frozen Four.

We’re here to give you some advice on getting around the city, seeing some sights and sounds, and - most importantly, some may say - maximizing our time away from the rink at places where we can convene as college hockey fans, share tales over a beverage and agree on the injustice that Mike Mottau won a Hobey Baker Award.

Getting Around

On foot or driving, Washington follows a grid system, with lettered and numbered streets separated into four quadrants (NW, NE, SW, SE) with the Capitol Building at the center. To add a wrinkle, streets named after states are thrown in diagonally like the spokes on a wagon wheel, overlapping with the lettered and numbered streets. It can get confusing, but it’s not Boston.

Verizon Center is at 7th and F Streets NW, and chances are college puck fans will spend nearly all of their time in Northwest D.C.

Like most big cities, parking is expensive and traffic is hell, so the subway system makes the most sense to get around. (There are also buses, including the relatively new D.C. Circulator bus that’s your best bet for making your way over to Georgetown. But seeing as locals can’t figure out the regular bus system - we wouldn’t recommend trying in a weekend.)

Visit the Metro map here and find the spot closest to your hotel. Metro Center (Red, Orange and Blue Lines) and Gallery Place/Chinatown (Red, Green and Yellow Lines) are both close to the arena, so every line can drop you within four blocks of the rink.

Metro is more expensive than Boston’s T, for example, and doesn’t charge a flat fee per trip - fares depend on how far you travel and whether it’s rush hour or not. We’d recommend putting $20 on a SmartTrip card - you’ll see each time you enter and exit how much money you have left and you can always add more later. Paper fare cards are also an option.

Another indispensable Metro tip: on the escalators, walk on the left and stand on the right, or be prepared to incur the wrath (or snarky remarks) from D.C. locals.

Weather

It’s usually nice this time of year in D.C. - witness the cherry blossoms in bloom around the National Mall - but it won’t be as warm as it could be this week. Think 60s for the most part, with temps in the 40s in the evening. You should be fine with a sweatshirt or even a long-sleeve T under a hockey jersey.

Rain could put a damper on sightseeing on Saturday. Get updated weather reports here.

Eats & Drinks

As a capital city, Washington has a bit of an international feel, and there’s a diverse population - all of which adds up to an incredible variety of eating and drinking options. In the Capitol alone, you figure, you have wealthy Congressmen working alongside unpaid interns - so it’s no surprise that nearby you’ll find the swanky Capital Grille just blocks from some classic dive bars.

Unlike many cities its size, there’s no central bar district. The area around the Verizon Center has grown and should have enough options to keep visitors entertained for pre-game and post-game festivities. The more adventurous will want to branch out, so here are a few INCH favorites - and those of some locals - that we can pass along based on neighborhood.

Around Verizon Center

The Metro stop calls it Chinatown, but there’s not much to that designation. Perhaps China has a Fuddrucker’s now, though, and it’s more accurate than we thought.

What you will find are a mix of local pubs, chain restaurants, dance clubs and a handful of Chinese restaurants.

Our favorite - and INCH’s D.C. Headquarters for the weekend - is Hamilton’s Bar & Grill. Duck down an oft-overlooked street on the doorstep of the Capitol building and you’ll stumble upon this little INCH-approved gem, located on 2nd Street NW, one block off Constitution. About eight blocks from Verizon Center between the rink and the Capitol building, it’s a little bit more of a walk than some other places but well worth it. Inside you’ll find exposed brick walls, bars on two floors, space for beer pong/flip cup if you’re so inclined and some Bucky Badger memorabilia (Wisconsin alums watch games here regularly).

Hamilton’s has very reasonable beer specials every night - much moreso than the places closer to the rink - including an East vs. West College Hockey Special they worked out with us: $3 pints or $12 pitchers of Sam Adams or Leinenkugel’s. For food, try the sliders with a side of tater tots, best in the city.

Adjacent to Hamilton’s is My Brother’s Place, which is another good spot. Together they make for a good destination a short walk from the rink.

A little closer to Verizon two favorites are the D.C. Chophouse (7th between E and F) and Bar Louie (in Gallery Place, behind Verizon). Both are on the more expensive side. Chophouse has outstanding food and its own beer. Bar Louie has a little more atmosphere at night.

You’ll find other options nearby as well: on 7th alone there is Rocket Bar, a basement bar with an emphasis on pool and other games (remember skee-ball?); Clyde’s, which will host the Hobey Baker Award for the week and a popular D.C. institution; Fado, part of a chain of Irish pubs; and RFD, which boasts a huge beer selection. On the other side of the rink, located in the Red Roof Inn, is another Irish pub, the Irish Channel.

The Greene Turtle is in Verizon Center, at F and 6th Streets NW, and offers great convenience - but the atmosphere seems lacking and that convenience leads to huge crowds pre- and post-game.

Dupont Circle

Hop on the Red line and head up to Dupont Circle. The area features some of the best shopping (if you’re into that) as well as a full gambit of high-end (The Palm) and low-brow (Camelot) establishments all mingled together. Getting off at the south exit of the Dupont stop, you’ll find laid-back options with robust beer selections along 19th St. like The Front Page and Buffalo Billiards.

Head down Connecticut Ave for divey Big Hunt (say it fast, giggle.) or to Lucky Bar for a spacious two-story bar with a dance floor. Walk a little further from the Metro and head to the Sign of the Whale (19th and M). Inside you’ll find high ceilings, a giant fireplace and excellent food and drink options.

Also of note in the area: The Bottom Line (Eye - aka I - between 17th and 18th). Quite possibly the epitome of D.C. dives: a dimly lit basement bar with outdoor carpeting and a surprisingly great menu. Little known fact: this bar brought to you by the owners of the Starboard, of Dewey Beach fame. Expect to find the same stellar brunch options to compliment late-night offerings like cheese tots and mini corndogs. Closest Metros: Farragut West (orange and blue) or Farragut North (red).

Adams Morgan

Where everything gets a little foggy… A bit further from the rest of D.C.’s hot spots (you can Metro and then walk but we’d recommend cabbing it), Adams Morgan guarantees the best evening you’re sure to not quite remember. Start at the south end of 18th St and work your way up the strip. Adams Morgan’s bars are as eclectic and vibrant as the city itself and tend to cater to a younger crowd. Live blues bands stir things up at Madam’s Organ, where redheads get in and drink for free (seriously). Check out the popular Brass Monkey (18th between Kalorama and Belmont). hange floors and you’ll find yourself in a different bar (delightfully confusing, no matter how many times it happens) with Karaoke in the basement and an open rooftop all the way up. Equally of note: Adams Mill. Three floors of bars with plenty of space in which to embarrass yourself dancing.

Of course, no Adams Morgan night is complete without Jumbo Slice. For many, this is the first thing that comes to mind upon hearing the name of this neighborhood. Grab an obscenely large slice from one of the many Jumbo Slice locations dotting 18th before jumping in a cab to head home. The tiny joints turn into their own miniature dance parties after midnight and remain open well after the bars kick you out. The perfect ending to a night you’ve already forgotten.

Georgetown

Inconveniently not serviced by a Metro stop, Georgetown is a beautiful part of the city and for many visitors, the area favorite. Ritzy shops and restaurants line M and Wisconsin. The waterfront also offers one of the most beautiful places in the city to sip cocktails on a warm afternoon. Enjoy a morning strolling through Georgetown’s perfectly manicured streets; just be prepared to drop a little extra on meals and drinks in this neighborhood.

The bars in this neighborhood also cater to two of D.C.’s university student populations: Georgetown and George Washington. While you’ll still see an age range here, if you’re looking to find undergrads, there’ll be plenty in the bars along M Street. Our favorites on M include: Mr Smith’s, a loud piano bar that always draws a lively crowd; Rhino Bar, a two storied spacious Ohio State-friendly pub; and if you’re looking to dance, head to the basement of Gaurds or duck down Wisconsin to shake it at Third Edition.

NOT TO BE MISSED: Georgetown Cheesesteak Factory. Quite possibly THE reason to make the cab ride over to this part of town. The Cheesesteak Factory is open ’til 4 a.m. for all of your post-last call cheesesteak needs. No Georgetown evening should end without it.

Capitol Hill

Evenings on the Hill bring together D.C.’s finest: wealthy lawyers and lobbyists pick up the tab as they schmooze young and underpaid staffers while someone or other’s no-name brother namedrops his way into the mix. Early morning starts in Washington mean that many of the Cap Hill bars along Pennsylvania Ave. give way to a crowd less likely to ask about your alma mater.

Pour House (319 Pennsylvania Ave. SE) has a little something special to offer on each floor: plushy couches and chairs in the dimly-lit upstairs, rowdy crowds and plenty of flat screens on the main level and pool tables in the German beer hall-esque basement. A Pittsburgh Steelers and formerly a U of Michigan bar, Pour House decided to change gears for the 2008-09 season in favor of a Saturday crowd less likely to order water during a football game. Look for Gator orange and blue to compliment the black and gold memorabilia on the walls of the main level. Join larger crowds at Hawk N Dove (329 Pennsylvania Ave. SE; it can take a strong drink to find the elusive dance floor) or Capitol Lounge (229 Pennsylvania Ave. SE) and admire the nude portrait of Henry Kissinger above the back bar.

On the Senate side of the Hill and closer to Verizon you’ll find Kelly’s Irish Times (14 F St. NW). With a basement commonly referred to as the DOL (Dungeon of Love) how could one go wrong here? The main level also features an elevated piano deck from which a friendly old Irishman entertains with St. Patty’s staples.

The area is also the perfect location for Saturday brunch. Head back to Pour House for bottomless mimosas ($15) and bloody marys ($12) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy the breakfast food while you can because the rest of their menu comes straight from their microwave. Enjoy the 30-plus-year collection of political memorabilia on the walls at Hawk N Dove while chasing away the previous night’s INCH party with a $3 Bloody Mary; the food’s good here too. Or for a slightly more up-scale brunch, head a little further down Pennsylvania to stroll through Eastern Market and dine at Tunnicliff’s or at Belga Café on 7th St. SE.

Old Town

We probably wouldn’t recommend a trip on the Yellow Line to Old Town Alexandria, but if you’re staying there or find yourself there, we have a must-see stop.

Bugsy’s is a pizza place and sports bar run by former NHLer Bryan “Bugsy” Watson. The upstairs sports bar is packed with some unbelievable hockey mementos; on the way to the bathroom in back you’ll spot an old Detroit newspaper with photos of Ron Mason and Red Berenson. The pizza is good, too.

Sightseeing Ideas

In Washington, D.C., you are essentially compelled to see the sights. We’re not saying you have to hop on a duck boat, but pulling the curtains for a couple extra hours of sleep doesn’t fit here like it did back in Buffalo in ‘03. It’s impossible to list them all, but here are a few of a local’s favorites:

1. Walk the monuments. Expect large crowds with the Cherry Blossoms in bloom but, if you make only one trip outside of Chinatown while in D.C., make this it. The Washington Monument is located between 14th and 17th Streets NW along Independence and Constitution and offers an amazing view of the White House to the north, the Capitol to the east and a straight shot of the new WWII Memorial and Lincoln Memorial at the west end of the National Mall. Stroll along the reflecting pool and climb the steps of the Lincoln. From there, the walk to the Jefferson can provide some of the best sightseeing in the city. You can pass by the Vietnam and Korean War Memorials before you make your way to the tidal basin and the Jefferson.

2. The Capitol Building. The most impressive building in the city. Even if you can’t get inside it’s compelling just to walk around in front. Recently opened a new visitors’ center.

3. National Gallery/Sculpture Garden/National Archives/Navy Memorial. These four are all in a row on Constitution Ave., from 6th through 9th, with the Navy Memorial tucked behind the archives. These spots are a little more laid back than some other sights - but if you appreciate paintings on a wall and historic documents on display, you’ll love them.

4. Newseum or the Spy Museum. While all of the Smithsonian museums are free of charge, these two charge a fee. That said, if you are a fan of either journalism or espionage, they are well worth it. Be sure to also check out Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant, The Source, located at the foot of the Newseum. Fine dining on the upper level, but find a casual atmosphere with reasonably priced options on the ground floor.

5. The Natural History Museum. Hours of entertainment for young and old. Dinosaurs, an IMAX theater, the Hope Diamond - just a few items you won’t want to miss at the most popular of the Smithsonian Museums.

6. National Zoo. If you want to venture away from the National Mall, take the Red Line north to the Zoo. Also free of charge, it’s especially a hit for children. Giant pandas, a baby gorilla and lions and tigers are among the highlights. Not sure if they have any RedHawks.