Romancing DC: A Getaway to the Nation’s Capital City

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Washington, DC, filled with history and politics, offers a romantic weekend escape. Read on for the things you must do on a romantic weekend in Washington, DC.

My husband and I love Washington, DC. I grew up not far from there in the rolling hills of Virginia, and as a young married couple, we lived there for a year, shortly after my husband left the military. We have always loved the history, art, and the fact that so many attractions are free. But on a recent weekend, we decided to make it a romantic escape to DC. That meant we would forego the usual. We wouldn’t check out the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum(hubby’s favorite but also not my idea of romantic). We were dedicated to the romantic this time. Here are my top picks to woo your sweetheart in Washington, DC.

Book a Romantic Tryst

The Mayflower Hotel, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, opened in 1925. It was one of the country’s most elegant hotels, with a block-long promenade, more gold leafing than any other building in DC—except the Library of Congress—and an apartment wing that housed members of Congress. It remains an icon of elegance and sophistication.

The Mayflower has hosted inaugural balls and housed visiting royalty. It has surely been the scene of many a secret lover’s tryst and has been host to more power luncheons than most of us can imagine. Today, after a $20 million renovation, it is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection and a perfect spot for your own romantic weekend tryst, whether you’re touring the city with a private DC car service or exploring on foot.

We booked a suite for the weekend — because it was a romantic tryst after all. I loved the signature wall behind the bed. It’s a re-creation of the original guest book, including John F. Kennedy, Walt Disney, Hubert Humphrey, and Harry Truman, to name a few.

I thought the jewel-toned accents perfectly blend modern amenities with a sense of history. And, in keeping with our romantic theme, I appreciated our romantic treats. The concierge can help you arrange the perfect treats for your romantic getaway.

A Romantic Brunch

So, call me crazy, but I think there’s something romantic about brunch. It starts with a lazy morning—no alarm clocks. The morning light filters slowly into the room. You take the time to leave the hotel on your terms, without any rush. There’s something special about DC on the weekends. There’s no hustle and bustle. The politicos are gone. Sure, there are tourists, but no one is in a big hurry. The government buildings are closed, and the traffic is less frantic.

We took off from The Mayflower for a casual stroll down Connecticut Avenue to the Farragut North Metro Station. It’s about 3 minutes, and the bell staff can point the way.

I love the Metro in DC. It’s part of the experience for me. Buy your tickets before you go through the gates and take the red line toward Glenmont to the Gallery Place Chinatown Station. It’s only about a 4-minute ride (2 stops). We walked just a few minutes to one of the most amazing brunch spots — Jaleo DC by José Andrés. I love the bold colors in this DC classic, and the food is even better than the décor. My husband is a meat-and-potatoes guy, so I worried he might not enjoy it as much. I had no reason to worry. He enjoyed every bite.

The best way to experience this brunch is to order the Jaleo Classics, a tasting menu of the classic and most traditional tapas, which is $52 per person and includes either a glass of cava (the delicious Spanish sparkling wine) or a mimosa. My husband and I opted for a glass of cava each and set out for a lovely two-hour exploration of exceptional Spanish cuisine. We started with smoked salmon, served with hard-boiled egg, goat cheese, and capers on cristal bread. For my meat-and-potatoes guy, he ended up saying this was his favorite course of the day.

We followed that up with Huevos Estrellados—traditional fried potatoes with organic free-range fried eggs. It’s a romantic weekend, so calories don’t count!

Next, we moved on to perhaps my favorite course: a poached egg on brioche with Idiazábal cheese, jamón, and spinach. Idiazábal cheese is a traditional sheep’s milk cheese from the Basque region of Spain, and jamón is Spanish for ham and usually refers to free-range Iberian pigs.

Our final savory course was a delightful blend of flavors. The Arroz a la Cubana featured rice with fried egg, Iberico pork belly, and fried plantains.

As if we weren’t already full enough, it was time for our sweet treats. Given that it was a romantic weekend — calories don’t count — I nodded and smiled as the waiter sat the gorgeous plates between my husband and me. Why is there always room for dessert? We had these lovely little pancakes made with Spanish extra virgin olive oil and topped with honey and fresh raspberries. Those weren’t overly sweet. It was a good thing because they were paired with “sweet-soaked” Spanish toast, caramelized bananas, and rum whipped cream. They were beyond decadent.

Exploring the National Gallery of Art

After that kind of brunch, I was in the mood for a walk. I think there is nowhere more romantic than along the National Mall. We headed down 7th Street toward the National Mall and spent a little time people-watching before making our way to the National Gallery of Art. While it is not usually how we spend our time in Washington, DC, it seemed the perfect way to stroll along on our romantic weekend. It was an ideal romantic Saturday afternoon in the nation’s capital. Not only is it filled with great artwork, but there are gorgeous atriums with fountains and flowers. The gift shop is pretty awesome, to boot.

The National Gallery of Art has some of my favorite works of art. I’m a huge fan of Claude Monet, and several of his pieces are in the gallery. I’ve visited some of the places in France that inspired his art, and it inspires me to see the paintings here in my capital city. Somehow, it helps to feel these connections with the world. It’s why I travel.

I also loved walking through the hall of the Dutch Masters with my husband. About a decade ago, I visited The European Fine Arts Festival in Maastricht, The Netherlands, and talked to collectors about some of these fantastic paintings. To see the works on both sides of the Atlantic is an experience that not everyone can share, and I feel fortunate.

The best part about experiencing these great works of art is that the National Gallery of Art is free and open to the public every day except for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. When we finished exploring the art, it was the perfect time to stroll about a half hour along the National Mall toward the Washington Monument. My heart always fills with pride as I look back along the mall and think of all the joys and struggles that have occurred through the centuries.

A Monumental Experience

We spent our Sunday walking after all of the food we ate on Saturday. I can’t ever get enough of the Washington, DC, monuments. We took the Metro back toward the National Mall and started at the end toward the Capitol building, slowly making our way past all of the sights. We stopped occasionally to people-watch and grab a snack from one of the many food trucks that line the streets.

We stood for a while on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, gazing at the statue of the president and then looking back over the expanse of the National Mall. I could never have imagined, the first time I visited this place with my third grade school class back in the early 1970s, that I would someday travel the world and still stand on those very steps and know that this is one of those “wow moments” that can’t compare to anything else.

We walk along the Potomac River for about a half hour toward the Jefferson Memorial. This may be one of the most beautiful spots in Washington, DC, and it changes with the seasons. I once saw fireworks over the monument on the Fourth of July. I’ve seen cherry blossoms in spring, leaves changing in fall, and branches covered with snow. There’s never a bad time to visit the monument.

Saying Goodbye to DC

We took an early flight out of Washington, DC, the following day. As we headed home, I glanced out the window, and my breath caught in my throat as the sun glinted off the Potomac River below me. I reached over, took my husband’s hand, and motioned toward the window as the Washington Monument and the Capitol Building beyond that came into view. It had been a lovely romantic weekend in our nation’s capital, and I was never more proud to gaze down at the beautiful scenery.

We invite you to explore Wander With Wonder for more of our favorite things to do in Washington, DC, and the surrounding Mid-Atlantic states.