Three miles south of Memorial Bridge on the Mount Vernon Trail, a leisurely 15-minute ride from downtown, look for a (slightly outdated) sign that says WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT. Turn off, then follow the signs for BIKE PARKING. Lock your helmet to your rig, throw your bag over your shoulder, and head on in to the terminal, where the arctic air will dry any perspiration. There’s a possibility that your return trip might be in the rain, but that’s better than the near-certainty that you’ll have either a long, soul-crushing Metro trip or a long, soul-crushing wait for a cab outside otherwise.

—Andrew Beaujon