# DC Dopers: Romantic spots/activities in the nation's capital. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 21, 2001, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-romantic-spots-activities-in-the-nations-capital/94532 "2001-11-21T04:10:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SpartanDC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@SpartanDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpartanDC)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-romantic-spots-activities-in-the-nations-capital/94532/1 "2001-11-21T04:10:51Z")
Fellow DC dopers, A good friend/ex-girlfriend of mine is coming to visit me for 5 days surrounding New Year’s Eve. I want some tips on things we can do that will really set up a romantic mood. We’ve already decided that we’re going to be more than friends when she’s here, but I really want to sweep her off her feet. A few guidelines: 1. Not too expensive. I’m just out of college, she’s still in college. 2. Can be easily accessed by public transportation. 3. Hi Opal! So there you go. I tried a similar thread a couple months ago and it sank like a lead balloon. I’m hoping I’m more successful this time around. Your advice is appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-romantic-spots-activities-in-the-nations-capital/94532/2 "2001-11-21T04:20:17Z")
Well, I think the Smithsonian is romantic, but that probably says more about me than about the Smithsonian. ---
**Author:** ![SpartanDC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@SpartanDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpartanDC)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-romantic-spots-activities-in-the-nations-capital/94532/3 "2001-11-21T04:35:29Z")
Any part of the Smithsonian in particular, **Zyada**? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-romantic-spots-activities-in-the-nations-capital/94532/4 "2001-11-21T04:40:33Z")
Try the precious gems in the Mueseum of Natural History. ---
**Author:** ![Spit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Spit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spit)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-romantic-spots-activities-in-the-nations-capital/94532/5 "2001-11-21T10:13:48Z")
A stroll from L street to V street on 7 1/2 Ave will have her hugging you all the way. Of course, fearing for your life might have a dampening effect on the mood. * * * Plato? Aristotle? Socrates? Morons! ~She’s not crazy, just a little misunderstood… -Better Than Ezra ---
**Author:** ![Hemlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Hemlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hemlock)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-romantic-spots-activities-in-the-nations-capital/94532/6 "2001-11-21T14:02:09Z")
The words “romantic” and “District of Colombia” don’t really go together. A stroll through Georgetown early in the morning, perhaps. The tow path on the canal. A rented row-boat on the Potomac. Otherwise, outside DC proper… Arlington Cemetary??? The waterfront in old town Alexandria??? Mount Vernon??? Ummm… ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-romantic-spots-activities-in-the-nations-capital/94532/7 "2001-11-21T14:13:44Z")
There’s always the “Dream Dresser Botique” on Wisconsin in Georgetown! yow! yow! THAT’LL show her you’re “more than friends”! ---
**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-romantic-spots-activities-in-the-nations-capital/94532/8 "2001-11-21T14:35:19Z")
New Year’s Eve, take her ice skating at the Sculpture Museum on the Mall, and then walk over to the Jefferson Memorial close to midnight. You should have it all to yourselves. The Lincoln Memorial is also good, but is more likely to have visitors then. Or, the little-known Einstein statue on Constitution Ave, near 22nd (or 23rd, or 21st; I can never remember). The zoo can also be romantic (I had a date there once in the spring, and the animals got us umm, inspired, to imitate them later that night. ;), but it’s likely to be pretty cold toward the end of December, so save that until the spring. But, go ice skating on the Mall. Can’t beat it. ---
**Author:** ![Pucette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/278dde/32.png) [@Pucette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pucette)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-romantic-spots-activities-in-the-nations-capital/94532/9 "2001-11-21T14:51:26Z")
Monfort: I just found out about that Einstein statue in August. I thought my mom was pulling my leg, but sure enough… Very cool. I’ve always found a walk around the Tidal Basin to be rather romantic, and late at night around the Jefferson Memorial is indeed very nice. Depending on the season, I second the idea of skating on the Mall, or renting a canoe on the river or canal, or strolling through museums (gem exhibits are awesome!) ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-romantic-spots-activities-in-the-nations-capital/94532/10 "2001-11-21T15:55:11Z")
I hear sharing a cigar in the Oval Office can get pretty hot. Dry clean the dress. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-romantic-spots-activities-in-the-nations-capital/94532/11 "2001-11-21T17:08:51Z")
I don’t have any particular museum in mind - one of the nice things about the Smithsonian is that that there is a wide variety of things to choose from. This sounds like a neat idea: > [@](#): > > Arts and Industries Building: The magic of the holiday season is brought to life through the Smithson Land Express – two electric trains with engines modeled on engines in the American History Museum’s collection, that travels through a whimsical terrain with special hideaways. Here is their site: [http://www.si.edu/](http://www.si.edu/) ---
**Author:** ![DireStraits](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/74df32/32.png) [@DireStraits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DireStraits)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-romantic-spots-activities-in-the-nations-capital/94532/12 "2001-11-21T17:57:12Z")
My wife liked the view from the top of the Kennedy Center, and it’s a nice place to walk around- might be cold/crowded that time of year though. Plus a little bit of a walk from foggy bottom metro- but you’re young… ---
**Author:** ![SpartanDC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@SpartanDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpartanDC)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-romantic-spots-activities-in-the-nations-capital/94532/13 "2001-11-21T18:24:57Z")
Thanks for all the ideas so far, everyone. **Montfort** , we had ice skating on the Mall on our itinerary already, but thanks for telling me the exact location; I wasn’t sure. I was also planning on the Einstein statue, since we missed it last time we were together. I didn’t know you could go to the top of the Kennedy Center, **DireStraits**. I’ll keep that in mind. We’re also trying to find a boat tour of the Potomac. Anyone know if they run this late in the year? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-romantic-spots-activities-in-the-nations-capital/94532/14 "2001-11-21T19:25:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Montfort \* > The zoo can also be romantic (I had a date there once in the spring, and the animals got us umm, inspired, to imitate them later that night. 😉 _You and me, baby, ain’t nothing but mammals so let’s do it like they do on the Discovery channel_ ::_D&R_:: ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-romantic-spots-activities-in-the-nations-capital/94532/15 "2001-11-21T19:51:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Pucette \* > \*\*Monfort: I just found out about that Einstein statue in August. I thought my mom was pulling my leg, but sure enough… Very cool. > > I’ve always found a walk around the Tidal Basin to be rather romantic, and late at night around the Jefferson Memorial is indeed very nice.\*\* Especially with the new lighting. It’s much brighter than [this](http://www.cc.gatech.edu/people/home/mterry/DC/jefferson_at_night.jpg) now. [This](http://www.caughtonthenet.net/Washington/jeffnight.htm) appears to be a current pic. ---
**Author:** ![Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-romantic-spots-activities-in-the-nations-capital/94532/16 "2001-11-21T20:06:37Z")
Hoping its not out of your price range, but dinner at Marrakesh is fairly date-impressive. Aside from that, I recommend the Smithsonian & Tidal Basin (esp. around cherry blossom time). ---
**Author:** ![jaytini2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@jaytini2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaytini2)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-romantic-spots-activities-in-the-nations-capital/94532/17 "2001-11-21T21:39:40Z")
if you can get to georgetown go to some of the small cafe’s down some of the alleys…however it is a little cold this time of year…and i don’t think you would have a problem finding cheap and romantic in dc…did you go on the washingtonian site…several ideas regarding that…there was a nightlife issue, as well as the cheap eats and best restauraunt issues, always good bets for finding something to do within a price range. also, museaums are a great idea, especially if you bone up on her favorite period of art and find out as much as you can, then go to the appropriate museum and show off your knowledge…very reasonably priced. also kennedy center offers some free shows, but try to keep places where you can talk, and keep in mind mobility, tired and cold does not make for a romantic evening…and if you aren’t homophobic, dupont has great places to go, a little bit of everything… good luck and let us know how it goes