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.
Located between the U.S. Capitol and the White House, Newseum offers a fresh take on the traditional museum experience. You and your date will be pleasantly surprised at how much fun you'll have absorbing the exhibits that are as informative as they are entertaining. Over the course of 14 galleries you'll see how the free press has been the cornerstone of democracy. Various mediums are the subjects of the many exhibits. They include radio, newspaper, photography, photojournalism, contemporary history and much more. There's plenty for the two of you to do and to talk about on your romantic date at Newseum.
One of the most emotionally-charged sites in Washington, DC is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The dark, black granite walls are inscribed with the 58,209 names of Americans missing or killed in the Vietnam conflict. This V-shaped memorial design draws you in and allows you to not only take in the monument's magnitude, but it also allows you to have a private, intimate moment within the monument's breadth. While you're visiting this monumental attraction, make sure you see Frederick Hart's "Three Soldiers" life-sized sculpture made of bronze that portrays three young servicemen.