This indoor-outdoor courtyard is located inside the National Portrait Gallery. The undulating glassy ceiling and fauna create a tranquil, unique setting for reading.

In Georgetown, you can find Dumbarton Oaks, a 19th century estate-turned-museum that offers tucked away gardens. Inside, you can expect Byzantine and pre-Columbian art, while outside there are fountains and lush foliage.

At the National Cathedral, you can find the Bishop's Garden. This tucked away space offers a perfect place for peace and solitude.

In Columbia Heights, you can find Meridian Hill Park. One of its most notable features is a 13-basin cascading waterfall. In case you need silence for when you read, it may be best to avoid this park on Sundays. Otherwise, you may catch the Drum Circle, which entails a group of musicians and dancers who perform and liven up the area.

Sit down, relax, and enjoy the well-manicured lawn outside the Capitol. The expansive space allows enough room to lie down without disturbing any passing joggers or tourists.

If you really want to go out into the great outdoors, visit the National Arboretum. It features an incredibly lush landscape with bonsai trees, azaleas, and herbs.

This is one of the most secluded areas in the District. If you're avoiding any distractions or interruptions, Theodore Roosevelt Island is your best bet.

This Bloomingdale alleyway park offers lush flora, benches, and — most importantly — silence. [Photo via rockcreek]