arboretum

The National Arboretum is really an amazing place. You not only have all these wide-open, beautiful, natural settings, but the space is so wide-open, and the visitor population so relatively low, that you can sit there in peace and contemplation without being disturbed, even by the sight of people, usually. Living in the heart of a city where I can't get away from the sounds and sights, even in the deepest recesses of my home, it's nice to have somewhere nearby you can retreat to.