Romantic Restaurants, Getaway Places in Gaithersburg

"The National Gallery of Art is a large campus with two buildings and the 6-acre Sculpture Garden. The museum’s West Building is easily recognizable thanks to its Roman-style architecture, while the East Building is more modern in appearance. You’ll find thousands of paintings, sculptures, photographs, and prints inside the museum, including the only original painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the Western Hemisphere."

"National Gallery of Art | The permanent collection compromises of pieces from the Middle Ages to the present day. Highlights include: Rogier van der Weyden, Portrait of a Lady, Leonardo da Vinci, Ginevra de’ Benci, Rembrandt van Rijn, Self-Portrait and Vincent van Gogh, Self-portrait."

"It's easy to spend a full day at the National Gallery of Art, which showcases a whole range of artworks and masterpieces from the 11th century to the... Top ChoiceMonument in National Mall"

"The most visited of the memorials, the 19-foot seated figure of Abraham Lincoln dedicated in 1922, never fails to inspire. It is flanked by inscriptions of his Second Inaugural Address and the Gettysburg Address. The 39 columns on all four sides of the chamber represent the states that existed at Lincoln’s death."

"Allan Baxter / Collection: Photographer's Choice RF / Getty Images. Many years went into planning the memorial to American's 16th president. An early proposal called for a statue of Abraham Lincoln surrounded by statues of 37 other people, six on horseback."

"The Lincoln Memorial sits on the opposite side of the reflecting pool from the Washington Monument. You can photograph Lincoln up close or get a distant view from across the reflecting pool (bring a long lens for this). Lincoln Memorial by Marc Andre"

"You will see the Capitol to the East and the Washington Monument to the West. The Smithsonian is comprised of 19 museums. Since you have limited time to tour the city, I would suggest that you pick just one museum to explore, either the National Museum of Natural History or the National Museum of American History. Both museums are located across the Mall (to the north of the Smithsonian Metro Station) There is so much to see and so little time--grab a museum map and spend an hour or two exploring the exhibits."

"Danita Delimont/Gallo Images Collection/Getty Images (cropped). Architect Robert Mills' initial design for the Washington Monument honored America's first president with a 600-foot tall, square, flat-topped pillar. At the base of the pillar, Mills envisioned an elaborate colonnade with statues of 30 Revolutionary War heroes and a soaring sculpture of George Washington in a chariot."

"The most iconic and recognizable building in DC is hard not to photograph since it’s DC’s tallest building. From the Tidal Basin, steps of the Lincoln Memorial or standing right next to it, the Washington Monument looks great from all angles. You can also get a unique angle of the Washington Monument from the POV bar at the W Hotel."

"The Smithsonian American Art Museum shares space with the National Portrait Gallery in a historic Greek Revival building that is one of the oldest public buildings in Washington, D.C. The American Art Museum is home to one of the largest and most inclusive collections of American art in the world. More than 7,000 artists are represented in the collection, including major masters such as John Singleton Copley, Gilbert Stuart, Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, Childe Hassam, Mary Cassatt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Edward Hopper, Joseph Cornell, Jacob Lawrence, Helen Frankenthaler, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, David Hockney, Jenny Holzer, Lee Friedlander, Roy Lichtenstein, Nam June Paik, Irving Penn, Martin Puryear, Robert Rauschenberg and Bill Viola. Be sure to visit the National Portrait Gallery and see the only complete collection of presidential portraits outside of the White House."

"National Mall Open Wednesday-Sunday, 11:30am-7pm Permanent exhibits at the NPG include America's Presidents, the nation's only complete collection of presidential portraits outside of the White House. You can also check out portraits of creative geniuses, from P.T. Barnum to Elvis; and Champions, a mix of legendary figures from the world of sports."

"It houses tens of thousands of pieces, seen by over 2 million visitors a year, within a Greek Revival frame. The gallery’s indoor courtyard is also one of D.C.’s most beautiful interiors."

"United States Capitol Building, Washington, DC, Supreme Court (L) and Library of Congress (R) in Background. Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge Archive Photos/Getty Images (cropped). For almost two centuries, America's governing bodies, the Senate and the House of Representatives, have gathered under the dome of the US Capitol."

"It is hard to believe it, but the Capitol is among the free things to do in Washington DC!. There is a free tour of the building if you book in advance!. Even if you aren’t able to book in advance, you can go into the lower level behind the Capitol and visit the museum."

"Day or night, the US Capitol building is one of Washington, D.C.'s most monumental sights. The marble edifice is a symbol of American Democracy, and the giant dome is based on St. Peter's in Rome. Make sure to step inside and see the rotunda under the dome."

"Superstar chef Michel Richard is known for ingenious French presentations at Citronelle and his newest restaurant, Michel by Michel Richard at the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner. At the more casual Central, overlooking Pennsylvania Avenue, the focus is on hearty portions of French and American comfort food classics, like the “faux gras” terrine and fried chicken with mashed potatoes. centralmichelrichard.com"

"Downtown's Central, which won the 2008 James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in the country, is part of a continuing trend in D.C.: top toques—in this case Michel Richard, of now-shuttered Citronelle fame—creating more accessible fare, in terms of..."

"Michel Richard’s modern American brasserie is his tribute to great American cuisine, both modern and classic. He puts a French accent on everything here and is especially famous fo..."

"Long-running Mexican food favorite Guajillo is available for carryout and is on DoorDash, too, for any guac and chips or enchilada cravings."

"This pioneering gay sports bar, one of the first to open outside of Dupont Circle, hosts all sorts of events, like trivia and drag bingo. Named for the owners' great-grandmother, the bar boasts dozens of TVs in the relaxed downstairs, and an upstairs patio dance floor that goes strong until close."

"D.C.'s first gay sports bar attracts a lively mixed crowd, all mingling easily while tuning into their favorite teams. But there's plenty of friendly competition going on at Nellie's itself during poker, karaoke, and "smart ass trivia" nights."

"When there’s warm weather, the roof deck at the longstanding gay sports bar on U Street NW becomes a go-to perch. Customers of all kinds show up for drag bingo, trivia, and more events."

"Massage Envy provides massage, skin care and total body stretch services which are an integral part of total body wellness and a healthy lifestyle. Keep your body working with Massage Envy. Schedule an appointment today!"

"Argentta Spa is a modern spa that combines luxury and relaxation to pamper you with cutting-edge treatments and opulent service. Its therapies are beautifully and carefully designed to your every need as a respite from regular life. Argentta, a 12,500 square foot spa and wellness center on Level B3 of The Watergate Hotel, is offered exclusively to hotel guests, spa guests, and club members."

"Your profound respect for one another will abound while you both appreciate the excellent architecture of the National Cathedral and its magnificent gardens. Bishop’s Palace Garden pic:flickr,chris"

"DC's best mecca of modern art The Hirshhorn is a favorite for fans of modern art and sculpture. Guests can view an exhibition "Art and Commodity in the 1980s," and the mind-bending art of "What Absence is Made Of." Past showcases gave a platform for Ai Weiwei, Yoko Ono, and the insanely popular Infinity Mirrors display. An exhibit on Baselitz will open in June and run through September 2018."

"The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is an art museum dedicated to contemporary culture and art. Located near the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the museum offers tours, a cafe, exhibits, monthly events, and a museum shop for people of all ages and all interests. They also have a storytime event for children (ages 6 and younger) that features book readings, arts, and crafts."

"A cylinder with a hollowed out middle, the Hirshhorn Museum is a visually stunning building from the outside as well as the inside. Its location set amidst a number of more traditional buildings makes it stand out even more. The structure, housing an incredible modern art collection, should be on your list of places to see."

"The gist: Mediterranean flavors meet contemporary Latin American techniques thanks to chef Enrique Limardo’s bold culinary approach at Imperfecto.The food: Inside the stunning West End dining room, you can sample seasonal dishes that showcase sustainably sourced ingredients in innovative preparations, including foie gras montadito, with plantain brioche, soursop compote, black truffle, and parmesan, or mussels tart, with potato roulade and almond cream. In addition to the a la carte menu, Imperfecto has an 11-course chef’s table tasting menu that includes Limardo’s expertly curated selection of crudos and other small plates.The cost: $14-45 for a-la carte dishes and $150 per person at the chef’s table.How to book: Reservations via Tock"

"Enrique Limardo, the Venezuelan chef who plates up abstract art pieces out of colorful sauces, gels, and foams, opened a follow-up restaurant to nationally acclaimed Seven Reasons in March. Imperfecto takes his pan-Latin style and blends it with influences from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines, resulting in dishes like a ricotta-and-harissa ravioli or foie gras on plantain brioche with soursop compote, Parmesan, and black truffle. There’s an a la carte menu, and a seat at the 10-course chef’s table costs $140."

"This tiny Takoma Park neighborhood spot has an outsize pancake menu. Buttermilk or organic buckwheat pancakes come with health-centric add-ons like mango, sweet potato, green tea, and ginger. Try the stuffed half moon pancake roll."

"Maya Bistro is a family-owned restaurant in Arlington, VA. in Maya Bistro our delicious meals can be anything from a simple snack to an elaborate multi-course meal celebrates good food, hospitality and the heart of Turkey. It is an upscale-casual dining experience that...See More"