Bull Shams-Azar

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.

Want to know where all the money comes from? Then get set to find out on one of Washington, DC's most popular tours when you visit the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Some of the exhibits include bills that are no longer in circulation, counterfeit money and a staggering $100,000 bill, along with a presentation of how money is produced and printed. In keeping with fiscal responsibility, the tour is actually free but during peak summer months, admission tickets are given out on a first-come, first-served basis.

Deciding that you will take a day to see the Smithsonian Institution is allowing too little time, as the Institution is much wider in scope than you may have originally thought. It actually encapsulates 19 museums as well as the National Zoo, all home to must-see exhibits and attractions. Some of the more popular stops within the Smithsonian include the National Air and Space Museum, the national Museum of American History and the National Museum of the American Indian. The depth and breadth of everything here justifies the time and space that it takes to see it all.