Ah, Valentine’s Day. Maybe you’re lucky and your valentine is the best view of all. If not, you can always plan to see another stunning view: Washington, D.C., from 555 feet up at the top of the Washington Monument! Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., make sure to reserve tickets online on recreation.gov in advance or try out your luck for a walk-up ticket given on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 8:45 a.m. Admission is free; advance tickets (online) have a $1 service charge.
Didn’t get any love letters? Time to visit the Old Post Office Tower to see if they got lost in transit! The observation deck, 270 feet high, offers free entry and self-guided tours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. courtesy of the National Park Service. Located at 12th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, follow signs and take the glass elevator all the way to the top.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is one of the nation’s premier performing arts centers. It is also home to a beautiful roof terrace where one may gaze upon D.C., Rosslyn and Georgetown. If you’d like, enjoy a nice meal at the Roof Terrace Restaurant (with tables available for one or two guests), or check out the free “Art and Ideals” exhibit located in the JFK Gallery, a permanent and free exhibit about former President Kennedy.
The Arlington National Cemetery is a space to honor the sacrifices and lives of U.S. service members and their families. Some visit for personal connections, some to pay their respects to The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and others to learn about the history of the Arlington House, which overlooks the cemetery, Potomac River and downtown D.C. Make sure to abide by the visitor tips and cemetery etiquette: Speak quietly, walk on the paths and be respectful toward the property, funeral services and flag. Search online for more details.
