Today is Barack Obama’s Presidential Inauguration, and I feel a swell of pride that I was able to grow up in Washington, D.C. (Thanks, Mom and Dad.)
D.C’s such a prestigious, vibrant city — the kind of place people travel to from all over the world to visit — but in honor of the new President and First Lady, I thought I’d spotlight the fact that it’s also steeped in romance.
Sure, some of the following would be a lot more pleasant between April and October than, say, an icy night in January. But then, so would standing around on the Mall to welcome the nation’s new leader (and wave goodbye to the old one). Stiff upper kissin’ lip, people.
Try these romantic suggestions to fully experience Washington, D.C.:
1. Stargazing from the steps of the Jefferson Memorial. It’s quiet here, the traffic to Alexandria a mere ocean buzz in the background. Fringed by cherry blossom trees, white lights shimmer on the glassy water, and a soft glow from the monument dome frames you and your love in graceful shadows. It’s a dream spot for beginnings: Engagements, renewals, first kisses.
2. Strolling Rock Creek Park by the Old Pierce Mill. At the corner of foresty Beach Drive and Tilden Street, NW is one of my favorite buildings in the city: A now-defunct 1820s grain mill that’s earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. Perch by the creek on a little bridge and you can hear the rush of the old falls here, as well as the wind through the leaves (or this time of year, the branches). I took Adam here on his first visit to meet my family, and had the pleasure of kissing and telling him, “Everyone loves you.”
3. Taking in the sunset from the Kennedy Center. This also involves seeing a performance at this Washington landmark, but D.C. is a cultural mecca and attracts the best of dance, music and theater. The soaring ceilings in the elegant great hall and the sunset view from the balcony across the silvery Potomac afford the perfect opportunity to dress up, hold hands and, while bathed in pink light, feel fancy and hopeful at the same time.
4. Explore the Orchid Room at the United States Botanic Garden. In bloom all year-round, this hothouse treasure is an explosion of color and sensuality…which can’t be said for everything this close to the Capitol Building. As a dedicated orchid enthusiast, I know that it’s no mean feat to nurture hundreds of species and maintain them in pristine condition. Orchids are a beautiful metaphor for a healthy relationship; come here to celebrate both the flowers and yourselves.
5. Sunday afternoon tea in the Garden Cafe of the National Gallery. On Sundays from 4-6pm during the gallery’s free concert season, come to this conservatory cafe on the ground floor of the older West Building to sit by a trickling Grecian fountain, listen to classical and jazz amidst marble and flowers, and indulge in a European sensibility without leaving America. The cafe is open for lunch every day, but on Sundays there are more beverage and dessert choices for you to mull over with great abandon.
While you’re here, don’t miss the 19th-century pageantry of the West Garden Court upstairs, the rooms full of Old Masters, or, between the West and East Buildings, American artist Leo Villareal’s Multiverse, a trippy chrome tube of 41,000 LED lights flashing you 200 feet along a people-mover.
At the National Gallery, love feels pretty darn timeless.
Great list!! I might add a picnic at the columns at the National Arboretum and the flower garden near the Iwo Jima Memorial overlooking the National Mall.
But then, there are so many romantic spots in DC.