Romance in District

Spring — and hopefully romance — is in the air. But where do couples go for romantic walks, views and meals in this city of conservative suits, early bedtimes, gigantic concrete buildings, bad traffic and a history of scandals — sexual and otherwise? In other words, can romantic settings be found in the District?

Not according to the latest America’s Favorite Cities poll by Travel and Leisure Magazine and AOL, which placed Washington last out of 25 cities in romance. The ranking can’t be blamed on a small, select sample set — more than half a million people voted, says Yossi Langer, online editor at Travel and Leisure.

“Government buildings and monuments. People don’t find them romantic. … But then again, it works for Rome and Paris,” Mr. Langer says. “It’s also the seat of power, and I think it takes a certain type of person to find power romantic.”

Small note: Washington was top-rated for sightseeing.

Barbara Daly, a local romance writer who has penned a dozen books for Harlequin, says she can’t think of a single romance novel that takes place in the District.

“I think writers choose New York, San Francisco or Chicago if they want a big-city setting. Those cities are better known, especially among international readers,” says Ms. Daly, who lives — and loves — in Upper Northwest. “But you’ve awakened me to the idea of a Washington setting. … I’ll have to think about it.”

Cynthia Hacinli, co-author of “Romantic Days and Nights in Washington, D.C.” and also a resident of Upper Northwest, says the city gets a “bad rep.”

“It’s easy to bash Washington. People don’t move or visit for romance. They move for jobs and visit with their kids to see the monuments,” says Ms. Hacinli, a staff writer for Washingtonian magazine.

According to the Leisure and Travel/AOL poll, Honolulu is the No. 1 destination for romance.

“Well, we can’t compete with Hawaii,” Ms. Hacinli says, “but Washington does have a lot to offer. … You might have to work a little harder, be a little more creative.”

In her book, which she co-wrote with her husband, Bill Connor, she lists 29 itineraries for romantic adventures. Each one has a theme, such as “Rites of Spring,” which features several activities in Georgetown. In the book, Ms. Hacinli refers to Georgetown as the “city’s most enchanting enclave,” with its formal gardens, flowering trees, narrow streets and varied architecture, including Federal, Victorian and Georgian homes.

“Georgetown has a lot of movie-ready sets for romance,” she says. “You can watch the boats go by from a riverfront restaurant; you can take walks in Dumbarton Oaks with its parterres, shade and benches. You can make your own ice cream at Patisserie Poupon or sit in the outdoor courtyard of [Leopold’s] Kafe Konditorei.”

Carolyn Crouch, founder of Washington Walks, a local walking-tour company, doesn’t do specifically “romantic walks” but says her participants find walks in Georgetown and along the Mall romantic.

“And, of course, at the Jefferson Memorial, you always see people kissing,” Ms. Crouch says. “And I think walking around the Tidal Basin — cherry blossoms or not — is very romantic.”

The company’s most popular tour is Capital Hauntings, featuring “ghosts of presidents, a first lady, assassins and military officers [roaming] the hallways of old homes, a church, and even the White House.”

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