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where to stay (economical but nice & safe area)-

I'm not much up on this, but Alexandria is just fine, and Arlington isn't too bad, either - but in the "good area", possibly way too expensive.

which airport to use-

Stay away from National Airport if you can. Nice to be rite there in the city but nasty, nasty, squeeze w/crowds and smallness tucked in there by Arlington and rite by the city - and like everything else in DC, you won't understand where it is you're supposed to go next, esp. if you got a car. Dulles is far out but easy to navigate, and you have time to get your wits about you before you hit the real city area. BWI WAS a great airport but it's not only far, you'd have to figure out how to get into DC. I work rite next to BWI and believe me, they have screwed it up some both since the "security above all" and they constant reconstruction they're doing.

hints about the public transit system (we don't plan to rent a car),

Use the Metro subway as much as possible, then walk. Great system. You can catch it in Arlington and Alexandria, too.

(must do's,things to avoid, great places to eat, etc.)-

Hogate's on Maine, by the water south of the capitol/monument area. (Must-have is the rum-buns, but I think they've dumbed them down a bit the last few years!) There are also some other nice places on that waterfront; Phillip's is good for MD seafood as it IS a MD institution (DON'T *ever* get "MD crabcakes" OUTSIDE MARYLAND BORDERS!!!! YES, I MEAN DC TOO - UNLESS IT'S PHILLIP'S!). Also, there is Blackie's place closer to downtown; that's pretty famous and more on the steak side.

I'm sure you've heard all about the standard things to see, most are centered on the Mall. I'll mention some less-standard things (please forgive for bad recollection of official names) - the Navy museum at the Navy Yard, the National Shrine ("Episcopal", basically), the Catholic Shrine & Monestary (marvelous traditional Catholic cathedral w/replicated Holy Sites). Gee, I'm having a hard time thinking of everything - if I can I'll get back to it!