Celebrate Bastille Day at DC's most revolutionary party featuring a French Maid Relay Race. The race features 30 Cafe L'Enfant customers (maybe you) dressed in French Maid costumes competing in one of the funniest races you have ever witnessed. Prior to the race, you can join your hosts, King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette for some free cake, music, food & drink specials, and door prizes. The race takes place in front of the restaurant on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 8 p.m. Festivities begin at 5 p.m.

Tour de France fans can feel that same sense of exhilaration watching Lance Armstrong cross the finish line when you take to the outdoors and bike the Mount Vernon Bike Trail--well, at least if you pretend you're part of the peloton and Alberto Contador is on your back wheel. The trail is really nice to bike with the added bonus of getting to view the Potomac River and George Washington's home.

The Mount Vernon Trail (which is paved) is a scenic ride that offers riders views of historic DC landmarks, a presidential memorial, places to stop and picnic, a trip through historic Old Town Alexandria and of course, a presidential home to tour. It's approximately 36 miles round trip. . .read more

Take the kids to "Open Your Eyes to the Skies". Journey through the stars, constellations and celestial highlights of the current night sky with a National Air and Space Museum staff member using the Albert Einstein Planetarium projector. The show is free and open to the public. Show times are at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. For more information, click here.

Vacations are a great time to get away and see the sights, but it's also a great time to slow down and catch-up on the latest reads your favorite author has penned; re-read a tome you adored the first time; or discover the tales of a new writer.

To follow is my list of ten books to read this summer and where to read them during your visit to the nation's capital. . .read more