First United Methodist Church

The United States Botanic Garden is a haven for not only nature lovers but for anyone who wants to find solace in its exceptional surroundings. The garden is a facility that features controlled climates so that some of the plants that are kept there can thrive as they would in their natural environments. Since the 1800s, this Garden has been gathering different types of plants and flowers from all over the world, not only for conservation efforts but to also explore their medicinal and cultural benefits. After you see all of this in the Garden's conservatory, stroll through Bartholdi Park to breathe in the fragrant flower beds and marvel at the fountain designed by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, who designed the Statue of Liberty. Check back regularly as the Garden often stages special exhibits and outdoor concerts.

Touted as America's First Museum of American Art, the Phillips Collection is a museum that not only presents an impressive collection of exhibits that feature impressionist, post-impressionist and contemporary American art, it also boasts a rather intimate charm. That mood is perfect for a romantic afternoon date with that special someone. Stroll through the galleries and discuss your impressions of these works and see where the conversation (and the afternoon) goes from there.

One of the city's most stunning attractions is the Washington National Cathedral that began construction in 1907 and was not completed until 1990. Theodore Roosevelt was just one of the Presidents who oversaw the cathedral's construction, and every US President has attended services there. The structure is approximately one-tenth of a mile long and it contains more than 200 stained-glass windows that create a mesmerizing effect when the sun shines through. The observation gallery within the cathedral offers still more unbelievable vantage points, and there are regular tours that explain the architecture, history and the church's mission in further detail.