Washington, DC, without a doubt, is a charming city. It’s built on two rivers, the Potomac and the Anacostia, and it’s filled with classic architecture. Washington, D.C., with its beautiful parks and monuments, is a terrific location for couples. Here is a list of the greatest romantic activities to do in Washington, D.C. Certain attractions may be closed temporarily or require reservations in advance.
National Gallery of Art
One of the country’s premier art galleries, the National Gallery of Art is located on Constitution Avenue in the National Mall. The National Gallery of Art was privately established in 1937 for the public by the United States Congress and spans a vast campus that includes the original neoclassical West Building, designed by John Russell Pope, and the newer East Building, designed by I.M. Pei, as well as a lovely Sculpture Garden.
The main collection of the Gallery comprises notable works of art from the Italian Renaissance through the Middle Ages, as well as a large collection of European paintings, including the only painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the United States and more than 75,000 prints. The museum also offers a variety of educational and community outreach initiatives, as well as housing a significant art research centre.
National Mall
The Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and Smithsonian institutions are all located on the National Mall, which is where you can see some of Washington DC’s most famous buildings. While you can easily explore the pedestrian-friendly park on foot, a joint bike ride with your significant other provides lots of romantic moments. The city blooms with cherry trees surrounding the Tidal Basin in the spring, while the monuments and memorials stand out against a backdrop of red and gold leaves in the autumn.
Make your way to the grassy area of the National Mall for a picnic. On hot days, you’ll see a crowd of people playing soccer and football pick-up games or flying kites. Take photos with the Washington Monument in which you appear to be a giant. Some people are leaning against it while others pretend to be touching the top of it. If you don’t feel like packing a lunch, get something from one of the area’s many food truck vendors.
Tidal Basin
Many Washington landmarks, such as Thomas Jefferson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Martin Luther King Jr. Memorials overlook the Tidal Basin, an artificial pond. The 2-mile-long pond is popular year-round for cycling and jogging, but it attracts a large throng in the spring when hundreds of cherry trees are in full bloom.
Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo presented Washington, D.C. with 3,000 cherry trees. The Cherry Blossom Festival was founded to honour his kindness. Tourists from all over the world flock to the Tidal Basin to watch the blooms, which appear in late March and early April on average. The day when 70% of the blooms are open is the peak bloom day. The festival includes a variety of unique and diverse activities that promote contemporary arts and culture, the environment, and education, while the blooms are the major attraction. While the majority of activities are free and open to the public, some do need payment.
Smithsonian Gardens
The Smithsonian Gardens are positioned around the National Mall, around museums and monuments, with the goal of extending the neighbouring museums’ exhibitions and learning environment in an environmentally friendly garden setting. The Gardens are open all year, seven days a week, and each season brings something fresh to visitors. Horticultural exhibits, floral collections, speciality gardens, and educational programmes are all possible attractions.
The Butterfly Habitat Garden, the Enid. A. Haupt Garden, the Heirloom Garden, and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, all of which are open all year, are among the Smithsonian Gardens’ outdoor museums. For study and exhibition reasons, the Gardens also house a variety of living plant, artefact, and archive collections.
Speakeasies
Nothing screams romance like secrets, and the speakeasies are the finest places to find them in Washington, DC. Several of these hidden bars can be found throughout the city.
There’s a nice list of DC speakeasies here, and no matter which one you go to, it’s a good idea to call ahead and make a reservation before you go. These hidden gems, believe it or not, do become crowded!
The Gibson is one of the most popular. It feels like you’ve stepped back in time to a secret speakeasy pub, with dark, Prohibition-style decor. In The Gibson, slink into a booth and order fizzy cocktails and bacon-wrapped dates.
The United States Botanic Garden
The United States Botanic Garden was established in 1820, making it one of the country’s oldest gardens. The United States Botanic Garden is located on Maryland Avenue, close to the US Capitol and the Library of Congress.
The conservatory is home to a wide range of medicinal plants, succulents, orchids, and uncommon flowers, as well as a reconstructed landscape of prehistoric plant groupings. Those interested in learning more about the garden can attend free seminars, demonstrations, and exhibitions. Kids may get a better look of flora and play with garden equipment in the Children’s Garden, which is open seasonally.
The Capital Wheel
The Capital Wheel in National Harbor combines a thrilling ride with a bird’s-eye perspective of the Washington Monument. The journey lasts about 12 to 15 minutes and each gondola has warmth or air conditioning, ensuring that you are comfortable no matter what time of year you visit. One gondola can hold up to eight people, but the VIP carriage can only hold four. Food and drinks are not permitted on board, so eat before or after your trip. Open all year, the hours of operation vary based on the season.
Touchstone Gallery
Touchstone Gallery is a high-end art gallery located on New York Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., about half a mile from the US Capitol and the White House, near attractions including CityCenter DC and the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Through a wide slate of contemporary art shows, the gallery, which was founded in 1976, aims to promote the D.C. region’s best and brightest artistic talent while also enriching the lives of its surrounding community members. The artist-owned and managed gallery has over 50 members who collaborate to establish gallery rules and oversee solo exhibitions.
The Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
The Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, located 1.5 miles north of Rock Creek Park, is an exquisite estate. Marjorie Merriweather Post, a 19th-century heiress, outfitted the home with Russian china and religious objects, as well as French decorative art originating from the 18th century. You can have a guided tour of the full home, which includes the library, breakfast room, and pavilion, which are among the mansion’s most ornately furnished rooms. Outside, the grounds cover 13 acres and include numerous themed gardens, including a French Parterre and a Japanese-inspired garden.
Willard InterContinental Afternoon Tea
The afternoon tea service at the Willard InterContinental, one of Washington, D.C.’s most beloved eating establishments, has been voted one of the top ten places in the United States for British-style tea service by Travel Channel. Guests can enjoy tea service at the historic 1850 hotel, which is just a few minutes’ walk from the White House, at various times throughout the year. The J’enwey Tea Company offers a comprehensive assortment of estate and boutique looseleaf teas, as well as exquisite tea sandwiches loaded with sophisticated ingredients including foie de canard, Chesapeake crab, and champagne grapes. There’s also a range of housemade scones on the menu, as well as gourmet tea pastries baked fresh every day.