First Date Location Ideas in Washington D.C., Virginia and Maryland
District of Columbia
What’s not to love about Washington D.C.? They happen to have some of the most beautiful buildings and architecture that you could be transfixed for hours. I would have to say that the greatest thing about D.C. is that the museums are free! Many people are not aware of this because all museums in other states charge a fee to enter. Now, if you’re looking for a daytime date, this would be ideal because you can roam through D.C. on the mall and also roam through the museums at no cost. Go on a date and not spend a dime for the entertainment! Perfect, right? Most of the musems are located on the mall, such as the Natural History Museum, Air and Space Museum and the Museum of American History. My personal favorite is the Smithsonian National Art Gallery, located on 6th and Constitution Avenue. Other art museums include the Corcoran and the Hirschorn Museum. Visit www.si.edu to find more museums as they offer a ton of other museums you can walk through. The hours of all museums are usually 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. although some of the museums may have particular days where you can stay a bit longer. All of the museums have areas to dine, not to mention great gift shops.
Another interesting museum in Washington, D.C. is the International Spy Museum. It is still fairly new and is an interactive museum with a lot of information and usually very interesting exhibits. Although this is a museum, this is one of the few that does require a fee when entering. It is $15 for adults and admission for children aged 5 -11 is priced at $12. You can purchase these tickets through ticket master or through their website at www.spymuseum.org. Make sure to check their hours as they do change on a monthly basis based on the flow of the crowd. They also have a cafe that you can dine in called the Spy City Cafe. There is a nearby restaurant named Zola which seems to be very popular. Although I have not eaten there before, I have heard nothing but good things about it.
If you’re not the museum type but still would love to experience D.C., then the National Zoo might be more your style. Located on 3001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, it is one of the greatest places to take a first date. Again, just like most of the museums in D.C., the zoo is free so the only thing to pay for is transportation (i.e. parking or metro) and the food. It is one of the most common places to go if you live in this area during the summer time.
All locations mentioned in this article are accessible by metro or car. Metro might be easier so you won’t have to worry about meters or finding parking as that can become troublesome, especially during the weekend hours.
Virginia
Virginia has some of the most beautiful places I have ever been to on a date. If you’re more of a nature type of person who just likes to enjoy the scenery and soak it all in, you have a couple locations to choose from. My ultimate favorite is Great Falls. It is located at 9200 Old Dominion Drive in McLean, VA 22101. It is an extremely romantic place to go with your date, especially if you both are the outdoors type. Great Falls is a very nature friendly place where the water is the main attraction. You can climb huge rocks and boulders to overlook the rushing river below you. The air blowing through your hair and on your face is a feeling you rarely get when you live in the middle of the city. This location is ideal to find a romantic spot just to talk, cuddle, or take in the scenery. In case you may actually like to be part of a group, the website does provide hiking and trail routes which are accessible at www.nps.gov.
Another great scenic location which doesn’t require as much labor as climbing rocks and boulders is Skyline Drive. It is one of the most beautiful places to go in the fall. It is most popular for its driving route up this mountain, where you can enjoy the breathtaking view of the trees, rivers, and mountains. There are 75 overlooks to stop while driving, take pictures, or just relax. This is a very romantic idea if you would just like to keep it very simple and yet be innovative. There is no money required to drive on this 105 mile long road (except for gas, of course) and you are able to turn around at anytime. There are also hiking and lodging areas if interested. Their website is www.nps.gov/shen.
If you’re more traditional when it comes to first date ideas, let’s go back to the basics with a dinner and a movie. A great place to go in Viriginia is in Fairfax. They have a great theater called National Amusements Fairfax Corner 14: Cinema De Lux. It is located on 11900 Palace Way. The name may be long, but it is nothing short of awesome. This is one of the nicest theaters I have been to in this area. First of all, the theater’s location is a bit hidden so make sure you follow the directions carefully if you’re not familiar with the area. The theater is in the midst of all the restaurants and shops, which are all great as well. As soon as you walk into the theater you are in the lobby. But this is no ordinary lobby; they have sofas set out everywhere so you can sit and listen to music being played on the piano which is in the middle of the lobby. Very nice. They also have a specific restaurant for the theater. So, if you prefer the taste of a drink or appetizer to the popcorn and soda, you may have to check their bar out as well. But, like I said, if you’re a bit traditional, they do have the popcorn, nachos, the whole nine yards. Oh, did I mention they also have a Nathan’s Hot Dog and Sbarro’s Pizza inside this theater as well? Not only are there restaurants inside of the theater’s lobby but within walking distance as well. Restaurants like Coastal Flats, California Pizza Kitchen, Morton’s, P.F. Chang’s and Chipotle are all within walking distance. It is a great area to walk around and enjoy the sights and sounds while waiting to catch a movie. There are a number of restaurants to choose from and you won’t have to walk more than 2 minutes to get to each one. This is a great location for a first date because you’ve got so many choices to make and the best part is, you won’t have to go very far to get there. This is a great place for a summer or spring date when the weather really becomes warm outside and you can walk around.
Maryland
There are a whole lot of places you can go in Maryland to take your date for the first time. Whether you’re a movie buff, scenic lover, or love animals, you’ll find something in Maryland you’re bound to want to check out. Since we were already on a theater review, I’ll continue with that theme.
Rockville, Maryland has a great week long outdoor film festival that takes place usually in August. They usually show a lot of classics but last summer they did show some newer movies such as Million Dollar Baby and Ray. This is a great idea if you don’t want to spend too much money but still want to have a traditional type of date. Since this film festival is run by Comcast, they do ask for donations to keep the film festival going each year. All the food they sell, such as popcorn, cotton candy and pizza go to Comcast. Now, since this is a film festival, you will have to bring your own lawn chair or blanket to sit on. They have a huge screen facing Rockville Pike. It’s a great experience and very laid back. I always have a lot of fun going to movie events but there’s nothing like watching a movie outside on a huge screen! You can check the listings for the movies at www.filmfestnih.org. They usually have the listings posted a few months before August rolls around.
If you’re into movies, but more into indie or foreign films, I’ve got the place for you. 7235 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda, MD is the location of one of the coolest indie/foreign film theaters. It’s dedicated solely to foreign and independent movies which means the crowd is usually a bit older, which is nice since most theaters begin to get crowded with kids and teenagers that just “hang around” the front of the theaters, taking away the romantic atmosphere. One of the nice things about this theater is the excellent location. This is another area where you can do the whole dinner and a movie thing. There is a very eclectic vibe and you have your choice of culture when it comes to food. If you’re feeling Indian, there’s the Delhi Dhaba who’s food I value very, very highly as I am a returning customer. There’s also Jaleo, Levantes, and Cosi. Cosi is especially nice in the winter time because they have a little appetizer for two people where you can make your own smores. It’s really quite romantic and very different than most restaurants. It’s first and foremost a coffe house but once it become popular, it began to serve regular lunch and dinner items on its menu. The food is quite good but I would recommend the smores. Mmmm! Not only are the restaurants awesome but just walking up and down Woodmont Avenue is really nice. They have a few art galleries along the strip and also a Barnes and Noble just across the street from the theater, which I usually go to to listen to music, browse their DVD collection, or just catch up on a good book. This is one of my favorite areas to go to and is a great place to return over and over again because there’s always something new happening, whether it be a new store, new movie, or new restaurant.
I can’t leave the scenic people out of the picture as I am one of you as well! One of the coolest places to go is Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD. They have some of the most beautiful flowers you will ever see, making it a very romantic place to enjoy. They have pathways to follow into a greenhouse and to their gazebo. After you pass the gazebo, you come to a hill where you can lay, play frisbee, or sit under a tree with your loved one. I know that this place is very relaxing and if you feel you would like to learn something on the way, there are a couple buildings to walk through where there are pamphlets, exhibits, and more year round. You can visit their website here.
For my animal lovers, I already covered the zoo in Washington, D.C. so I would suggest checking out the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Their website is easy to remember, www.aqua.org. Although you do have to pay to get in, it is well worth it. The tickets are $21.95 for adults. Although this may be a bit steep for most folks, it is well worth it to see what’s inside. They have a variety of special performances with the animals, such as dolphin shows and special exhibits. If you plan to visit the aquarium, make sure to set aside a whole day because you won’t want to go for just a few hours. When through with checking out the aquarium, you could grab a bite to eat at the aquarium or outside around the Inner Harbor. This area is very cozy and romantic, especially at nighttime. They have a number of shops and restaurants as well, from the Hard Rock Cafe to the Cheesecake Factory. During the summer, there is a paddle boat area in the water right outside of the aquarium, offering another way to enjoy your date.
All in all, I hope that my personal experiences and insight give you some ideas of where to go, what you can do, and how much you can do with little to no money. Most places you can even experience on your own, but they would be ideal for a date, and terrific for a first date. Put these dating tips to good use and good luck with your dates!
