<strong>New Etihad route to Washington DC</strong> The Lincoln Memorial, the United States Capitol and the White House are all iconic images of power not only in Washington DC, but for the United States as a whole. Often passed over in favour of the country’s cultural and fashion capital of New York, Washington DC has what it takes to win over the most sceptical of visitors. This is a hotspot for music fans – it’s Duke Ellington’s hometown – and there are jazz clubs aplenty to be enjoyed, along with fine restaurants. The US capital offers world-famous museums, such as the Phillips Collection and the National Gallery of Art. It is also a city of monuments and memorials honouring many of the politicians who helped to shape the nation. For a thriving shopping scene, head to Georgetown. From next week, you can check into the new Capella Washington, a boutique hotel with 61 guest rooms and suites. It is tucked beside the C&O Canal, also in Georgetown. A double room costs from US$795 (Dh2,920) per night, including taxes and Wi-Fi (www.capellahotels.com). Etihad Airways (www.etihadairways.com) is launching a daily, direct service to the US capital from Dh4,430 return, including taxes, on March 31. <strong>Take a new trip to Oman with Exodus</strong> As temperatures in the UAE begin to climb, make the most of the great outdoors with a nine-day walking holiday in neighbouring Oman. Sign up for Exodus's challenging new tour, which starts in Muscat, the capital. Visit the Grand Mosque and its souqs before donning your hiking boots to climb up to the fort on Jebel <br/> Nakhal. You can explore Oman’s very own Grand Canyon, as well as the mountain terraces and villages around Jebel Akhdar. The itinerary also takes in the varied landscape around Nizwa, which is famous for its fort, coastal and wadi walks. The next trek departs on April 5 and costs from £1,169 (Dh6,379) per person – full board, camping under canvas for six nights, and hotel accommodation for the remaining two. For further information, visit www.exodus.co.uk If you can’t quite make it to Italy, visit the new Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal for an authentic Italian gelato. Dolce, the hotel’s dedicated ice-cream parlour, serves dozens of different types of ice cream, sorbets and nougats, with a huge variety of toppings, from Dh35. The 23-hectare, 532-room resort is the hotel group’s ninth property in the Middle East and is “inspired by 15th- to 17th-century Renaissance architecture and the urban planning of the city of Venice”. Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal (www.ritzcarlton.com; 02 818 8888) has an introductory offer of Dh1,392 per room, per night, including taxes. Follow us