The Botanical Gardens is a nice change of pace from some of the other more touristy attractions and museums. Although it is right next to the US Capitol, it is almost hidden! It houses a number of varieties of plants and flowers, nicely categorized into different sections (desert, medicinal, jungle, etc).

As a city resident, it is always nice to walk into the Botanical Gardens and really forget where I am, for just a moment. It’s not very big, and requires only a short time to walk through the gardens completely, but there are also numerous benches that I just sit on and enjoy the surroundings. One of my favorite places to take people to, or just to stop by for a quick break!

The best part about the place are the smells – with all the plants and flowers, the entire garden really smells lovely. I especially love the medicinal plants section!
Whether you spend an hour here or more, whether you are a tourist or a local, definitely make a visit here. And don’t forget your camera.