18 Fun Anniversary Ideas in D.C. To Celebrate In Style

With the endless number of restaurants, museums, parks, and entertainment destinations here, is there any city better than Washington, D.C. for celebrating a life milestone? Even lifelong locals can discover something they have yet to try on our list of fun anniversary ideas in DC! We at Peerspace love nothing more than to help people make lasting memories together. So take a look at our list and see what’s right for your upcoming anniversary!

1. Try a Michelin star restaurant

It is no secret that Washington, D.C. has some of the best dining opportunities in the nation! From West African to Latin American fusion cuisine, there’s something to satisfy all palates here. An anniversary dinner should be something truly special. So how about trying a Michelin Star restaurant? Widely considered to be some of the best dining in the world, DC has a few Michelin Star-rated venues like Bresca DC to consider! Bresca features contemporary American cuisine prepared in a highly artistic manner!

2. Plan a movie night

Looking for a cozy anniversary idea in DC? Make a movie night part of your anniversary celebration! But don’t bother getting tickets to a public theater, not when you can make your own custom experience instead!

Booking a private screening room will allow you to bring your own movies, snacks, and drinks to the show. Peerspace has venues nearby like this charming home in Penn Branch with a big-screen TV, kitchen, outdoor seating area, and other amenities for a quiet movie night for two! 

3. Book a staycation at a luxury hotel

You don’t have to book a plane ticket to enjoy the comforts of a luxury hotel. DC has some of the finest accommodations in the nation so why not spend a day or three away from home while still being in the city? Book a few days at the MGM National Harbor, which has concert performances, a casino, and some of the best fine dining in the city all under one roof!

4. Enjoy cocktails at a speakeasy bar

As one of the most historic cities in the nation, Washington, D.C. has a lot of venues that play to that fact. Including the many classy speakeasy establishments here, some of which were founded in the Prohibition Era! Enjoy drinks at the cozy 20-seat Dram and Grain, an award-winning underground cocktail den that’s packed most evenings. For an even more exclusive experience, try getting an access code for the Capo Italian Deli’s hidden speakeasy! 

An important part of any anniversary is taking plenty of photos! Discover some of the city’s best photo ops with our guide on the best couple photoshoot ideas near Washington, D.C.

5. Relax at a spa resort 

Spa days are some of the most relaxing anniversary ideas in D.C. to engage in. You can visit one of the many spa resorts and hotels for a massage, a saltwater bath, wellness drinks, and fitness classes. A spa resort will even have hotel rooms to relax at in between sightseeing, meals, and sauna time! The Mandarin Oriental Spa in the Salamander Hotel DC offers rose facials, Turkish hammam-style bathing, Chinese meridian massages, and other wellness experiences to have you quickly feeling your best!

6. Visit a nearby city

One of the best things about living in Washington, D.C. is how close you are to several major cities! Why not take a day trip out of town? Richmond, Baltimore, and Philadelphia are all within 2 hours by train or car. With a little bit of planning, New York City and Boston are a short enough trip for spending a day or three as well! 

7. Shop till you drop at City Centre DC

Why not include a little shopping as part of an anniversary outing? Washington, D.C. has some of the best malls and stores in the country for jewelry, apparel, home accessories, and more! Start your shopping trip at CityCenterDC! You’ll have multiple blocks of stores to explore, including brands like Gucci, Kate Spade, and The Great Republic. CityCenterDC also offers fine dining to go along with the deals you’ve snagged at the retail outlets!

8. Take a cooking class together

We all want to be a little better in the kitchen. What better way to improve than taking a cooking class with your partner? Many offer private classes for a more intimate experience. Plus you can sip wine and enjoy the fruits of your labor afterwards with a delicious meal! Have you heard of the DC Cooking School? From Pad Thai to pizza making, they have classes that cover any dish you care to make.

9. Explore the US Botanic Garden

Check out the US Botanic Garden for an outdoor-oriented anniversary idea in DC! The Gardens offer one of the finest collections of horticulture in the country. This living plant museum changes its displays year-round with the seasons. Admission is free and you’ll find endless photo opportunities for posed anniversary portraits!

10. Celebrate your love at the Union Market Heart Wall

Do you want creative anniversary ideas in DC that few people have done? How about visiting the Union Market Heart Wall for some anniversary portraits? The Heart Wall is the work of Mr. Brainwash, an L.A.-based artist who was commissioned to create the piece for International Women’s Day in 2015. It’s now one of the most Instagrammable urban art pieces in the city and a fun place to visit for an anniversary!

11. Visit the National Mall

No matter how long you’ve lived in Washington, D.C., there will always be something to discover at the National Mall. With over 100 monuments, memorials, and museums, sitting on over 1,000 acres of park space, the National Mall has something for everyone. Take anniversary photos with the Washington Monument in the background, walk Pennsylvania Avenue, and check out some of the fountains and statues you have yet to see!

12. Have a picnic lunch at a local park

There are so many urban and natural parks spread across the Washington, D.C. area and beyond that you’ll want to have a picnic sooner or later! If you want to have lunch under a shady tree head to Rock Creek Park, one of the first national parks created by the government. If you prefer formal garden beds in the heart of the city, the National Arboretum is open every day save Christmas Day.

13. Take a sightseeing cruise

Tourists and locals alike enjoy sightseeing in Washington, D.C. As the nation’s capital, the number of monuments, art installations, and museums is enough to keep anyone busy for a lifetime! For an anniversary celebration, how about something a little more unique than a walking tour? A DC sightseeing cruise lets you enjoy live music and fine dining as you view each monument from a comfortable and enclosed space! 

14. Join a paint-&-sip class

Paint-and-sip classes are a fun anniversary idea in DC! You get to enjoy some wine with a small group (or just the two of you) and make some art that can be hung up as anniversary memorabilia! Have you heard of Sip and Paint DC?

As a mobile service, they will come to any venue you choose, transforming the space into a creative arts studio. That means you can book an event venue through Peerspace, like a loft or staycation home, and have a creative anniversary experience with your partner!

Check out a handful of the most beautiful baby shower venue ideas in Washington, D.C. in case a baby shower is on your radar.

15. Learn at the National Gallery of Art

From the sculpture gardens to exhibitions on textiles, the National Gallery of Art is a deep look at artistic trends from around the world. It is open daily and admission is free. The Sculpture Garden even has a skating rink right in the middle of it for a delightfully romantic bit of anniversary fun if the weather allows for it!

16. Recreate your first date

Remember the nerves – and hope – of your very first date? Take your partner back to where it all began. Maybe that’s a local coffee shop, park, or other quiet spot in DC. Wear the same outfits, order the same drinks, and bask in the nostalgia of your first date and where it’s led you two!

17. See the cherry blossoms

Does your anniversary fall in early spring? Think about planning to view the cherry blossoms, in that case! The roughly two weeks in March that the trees explode with pink and white flowers is one of the biggest tourist draws in DC! Since you’re already local you can easily plan on picking the best locations for cherry blossom season, like the National Mall, Anacostia Park, and Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown!

18. Visit the White House

Even many DC locals might not have made time to visit the White House yet. See the place where the President lives and spends much of their 4 years in office. Tours are free but you have to make a reservation at least 21 days in advance.

Anniversary ideas in D.C.: conclusion

Michelin-star dining, sightseeing cruises, spa resorts…Which of our anniversary ideas in DC did you decide to book? We hope Peerspace has been of help in your event planning. And while you’re here, don’t forget to book an event venue with us, if you want to make the evening a little more private! 

Find unique anniversary venues in DC on Peerspace