* Enjoy a tram ride uphill (tickets included) and a walking tour (downhill) of Arlington cemetery grounds
* Learn about General Robert E. Lee's home and its history during and after the Civil War
* Discover the tombs of iconic American figures, including President John F. Kennedy, Robert F Kennedy, General George Marshall, Chief Justice William Rehnquist, and General Philip Sheridan
* Visit the memorials dedicated to the victims of the space shuttles Columbia and Challenger
* See the unmissable Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
A sobering reminder of the realities of war, but a stunningly beautiful tribute, the Arlington National Cemeteryis the final resting place of nearly half a million service members and their families. Your tour begins at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, where you will learn about the astounding efforts of women in service of the military and how servicewomen came to have a dedicated space in Arlington.
Next, you will hear the stories of General Marshall, Chief Justice Rehnquist and Army General Bradley, while visiting their final resting places. From there, you will learn about General Robert E. Lee, the previous owner of these grounds who inhabited Arlington House. You will also explore lesser-known graves, including famed boxer Joe Lewis and the astronauts of the space shuttles Columbia and Challenger.
Following this, your guide will take you to the highlight of the tour for many--The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where you will be able to see a Changing of the Guard ceremony and hear the harrowing efforts undertaken to uncover the identities of the nation's fallen soldiers whose bodies have never been identified.
Join us on select dates, March through October, for a truly American experience!
City Cruises' provides the only round-trip Mount Vernon cruises direct from Washington, DC - and includes admission to Mount Vernon with three hours to explore the estate and gardens.
- 3-hour round-trip cruise to the Mount Vernon estate
- 3-hour exploration and admission to Mount Vernon estate and gardens
- Narrated riverfront tour as you pass both historic and modern landmarks such as the Naval War College, Ronald Reagan National Airport, Old Town Alexandria, National Harbor, and Fort Washington
- Options available for breakfast, lunch, anytime snacks, and a full bar are onboard for purchase
Meeting point instructions
Departing Washington, DC to Mount Vernon: The vessel is accessible by wheelchair to Deck 2 of the ship. However, upon arrival at Mount Vernon, guests will disembark from Deck 1, which requires walking down a flight of stairs to exit the vessel.
Departing Mount Vernon to Washington, DC: Guests will board the vessel to Deck 1 of the ship from the Mount Vernon dock. In order to exit the vessel upon arrival at Pier 4 in Washington, DC, guests will be required to exit from Deck 2 of the vessel, which requires walking up a flight of stairs.
Included
Admission to Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens. A guide will be provided on the way to Mount Vernon.
Important information
The Mount Vernon excursion experience is not fully wheelchair accessible and requires walking down a flight of stairs.
Please read the bag inspection policy and prohibited items before you visit historic Mt. Vernon.
The eSIM All Access PassTM provides a fast, convenient, reliable, worry-free and economical way to connect your data, tether up to 5 devices and make and receive local calls whilst in the United States, with unlimited talk, text and data plans from just $3.60 USD or less per day.
The eSIM All Access PassTM includes:
eSIM Setup, provisioning & line activation
Works with any unlocked GSM & eSIM compatible smartphone
Device compatibility check
So long as you own your device, you will never need to order another SIM or eSIM again for access to any of our VIP Preferred Rate Plans
Unlimited access to VIP Preferred Rate Plans
Build your own unlimited 4G LTE & 5G Mobile Data, Text and Talk Plans for as little as PS3.00 GBP per day or less (to be purchased during the set up process)
Choice of 5, 7, 10, 15, 20 or 30 days of unlimited service
Local US phone number issued for use on date of arrival
Blazing Fast 4G LTE & 5G DATA
Unlimited Incoming calls from anywhere in the world.
Unlimited outgoing calls to any mobile or landline in the US
Text to over 200+ countries
Connect up to 5 additional devices using your mobile hotspot
Turn by turn sat-nav directions
Nationwide coverage on the fastest mobile network in America
Make international calls from your preferred social platform
Fast enough for live video chat
Important infrormation
Make sure your GSM Dual Sim/eSIM compatible device is unlocked (only your primary carrier can unlock your device)
At time of scheduling, upload and enter your device IMEI information as you complete the step-by-step onscreen instructions and complete check out to schedule your Airtime Plan. To find the device IMEI information, either go to your device settings, or simply dial *#06#from your mobile device and take a screenshot of the device information page for confirmation and upload when prompted.
Select your desired start/arrival date and the length of the Airtime Plan that you wish to have activated and complete the online checkout process.
On the morning of the selected start date for activation, and when in the USA, simply restart your device and connect to any Wi-Fi network to complete connection to the SmartSIM USA network powered by T-Mobile(r).
Just south of Washington DC sits Alexandria; a quiet little town filled with history. Discover the home of George Washington atop Mount Vernon and explore the cobblestone streets of Old Town. Unlimited Biking provides everything you need for an all day adventure!
* Ride along the historic cobblestone streets of Old Town
* Cycle along the scenic Potomac River
* Stroll along King Street Mile, one of the "Great Streets" of America
Please note: all guests must be able to ride a bicycle on their own (baby seats for infants, double trailers for toddlers and taga-a-long attachments for young children available at additional cost upon request, payable locally), no guest under the age of 18 will be given a bike without an adult over the age of 18 present.
Duration
According to the selected option
Meeting point
1199 N Fairfax Street Alexandria, VA 22314
Highlights
-Explore Mount Vernon, declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960, home and resting place of America's first president, George Washington;
-Immerse yourself in the lives of the US first President and learn all about the history of Washington's 500-acre estate, which was not only his beloved house where he lived until his death but the source of much of his wealth;
-Learn all about his life, and the history of his era while exploring this Founding Father's home;
-Enjoy a fascinating 4D video experience at the Revolutionary War Theater within the Education Center;
-Take a stroll down Old Town Alexandria, characterised by 18th-century townhouses and cobblestone streets;
-Walk along King Street, where your guide will happily show you some of the best local eateries;
-Learn all about Alexandria, a designated historic district, an architecture lover's dream destination with Georgian, Victorian and Mid-Century style structures;
-Visit Christ Church, built in the 18th century in an English country style, where notable literary figures attended services and were buried;
-Hear about the Gadsby Tavern where several important revolutionaries would meet, many of whom went on to become American presidents;
-Learn about the notable figures who called Alexandria home, including George Washington, who first fell in love while living in the city;
-See some of the country's greatest Georgian architecture, and stroll down Captain's Row, an iconic street of cobblestone blocks;
-Visit one of the largest art collectives in the country in a converted Torpedo Factory Art Centre;
-End your tour with a relaxing drive to DC.
Learn all about the life and revolutionary times of George Washington his achievements, his friends, allies, and enemies, and how he came to be America's first president on this private tour of his home at Mount Vernon, and his hometown of Alexandria - just a short drive from Washington DC.
Meet your guide and driver at your hotel and set off to Mount Vernon, your first stop. Mount Vernon is a sprawling 18th-century palladian mansion set on 500 acres of plantation land. It was purchased by the Washington family in the 1730s and would become the permanent residence of George Washington, a Founding Father, a general and commander of the Continental Army during the Revolution, and the man who would become the first president of the USA.
George Washington lived here with his wife Martha until his death in 1799. It is a large, sprawling Palladian mansion, situated on the banks of the Potomac River in Fairfax County. It is now considered an American landmark and welcomes thousands of visitors every year.
During your tour of the house, you will hear the many stories of Washington's life - how he became an unexpected military success, and how his wife stayed with him at the front.
He considered himself first and foremost a farmer; as an educated man and product of the Enlightenment he believed in the principles of freedom: however, he had a complicated relationship with the Native Americans, and worried about the negative consequences of slavery on the nation.
He and Martha had no biological children, but he had a huge family of siblings and stepchildren and step-grandchildren. A sickly man, he died of a throat infection, having set America on its road to independence.
After a guided tour of the mansion house, enjoy an immersive 4D video experience at the Revolutionary War Theater at the Education Center next door. Learn all about the rise of George Washington and his military and political successes.
After Mount Vernon, it's time to head to the historic town of Alexandria, you will hear about one of America's earliest cities, where many of the Founding Fathers gathered to discuss their revolutionary ideas, from Washington and Jefferson to Frenchman Lafayette and founding trustee John Carlyle.
After a hearty lunch break, you will explore Alexandria's historic district, on a fascinating walking tour as you learn all about the build-up to and success of the American Revolution. Visit various sites associated with Washington and his friends including Christ Church and Gadsby's Tavern, where you will hear of the letters written between other notable past presidents -- Thomas Jefferson and John Adams -- political opponents who went on to have an epic friendship, carried out largely through their letters.
In the churchyard, you'll find many notable gravestones. You'll see some of the country's greatest Georgian architecture, from Carlyle House to the City Hall, and walk along Captain's Row, where the cobblestone roads date back to the early 1700s. You'll learn about the city's inescapable colonial past, and how Alexandria was created, built on the backs of African American slaves for the landed gentry.
Visit the historic Alexandria waterfront, which is always bustling now with water taxis and private craft, and visit the Torpedo Factory Art Center to see the city's vibrant art scene.
Finally, hop in your private car for your return trip towards DC!
*See the famous buildings synonymous with American power and democracy the world over
*Learn about the 4 presidential assassinations from Abe Lincoln to JFK, and the many attempted assassinations - and how they were thwarted
*Enjoy stories of how during the Prohibition era, DC was likely, and hypocritically, the least dry place in the United States
*Get to know the main sites around the White House neighbourhood, where so many national & international scandals have started or taken place, including Old Ebbitt Grill and the Willard
*Hear tales of corruption, secrets and lies at the heart of political power in Lafayette Square, including of Kennedy's affair with suspected East German spy Inga Arvad and how his father involved the notorious FBI director, J Edgar Hoover, in ending the tryst
*Hear all the historical and very latest gossip about what goes on behind those secure, closed doors protecting those in power, and the various drinking holes that litter the city
*Your tour ends at the White House, where you'll hear about the wild parties thrown, including Andrew Jackson's inauguration party in which he slipped out of the house through a back window to escape the rabble
Washington DC has a reputation as a wheeler-dealer city where billion-dollar contracts, cosy media deals, and political alliances are sealed in smokey bars, boardrooms, and dinners hosted by power brokers in swanky Georgetown townhouses. On this experience down memory lane of scandals past, discover the secrets, lies and backstories behind DC's congressmen, journalists, military men and politicos throughout history.
Your guide will spill all the details of the stories of the occupants of the White House - both those from the recent past, including Nixon, Kennedy, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Obama and Trump - and its nineteenth-century occupants.
You will trawl the haunts associated with some of Washington's greatest rumours, indiscretions and media storms, security details, news-hounds, senators, lawmakers, cable news stars and White House officials.
* Explore the vast National Gallery of Art with its incredible collection of 4,000 European and American paintings, 31,000 drawings, and 3,000 sculptures plus an expansive library of 70,000 prints and 12,000 photographs
* Learn about the history of the building itself - a neo-classical design (similar to the facade of the National Gallery in London) with very modern additions, consisting of the West Wing, the East Wing and the beautiful sculpture garden
* Walk along the mesmerizing subterranean concourse, a tunnel of light that links the West and East Buildings and is called 'the Multiverse';
* Admire an extensive array of art dating from the medieval and High Renaissance periods, through the Impressionists and renowned artists of the 20th Century
* See world-famous works from the Renaissance by Raphael, Titian and the only Da Vinci in the Americas the portrait of Ginevra de Benci, dubbed Washington's Mona Lisa
* Admire the Rembrandts Rubens and Vermeers while learning all about their lives and their groundbreaking techniques in painting
View the extensive collection of Impressionism including works by Mary Cassatt, Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Gauguin and Monet's iconic Japanese Bridge
* See works by legendary artists of the twentieth century Kandinsky, Picasso, Pollock and Warhol.
* Discover the origin story of the collection and the Gallery's wealthy benefactor, Andrew W Mellon - a great philanthropist and former US Ambassador to the UK
* Wander around the beautiful sculpture garden and end your tour within the grounds of the gallery to enjoy exploring at your own leisure
The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DCis one of the most important art museums in the world, with masterpieces dating from the 12th century to the present day, and welcomes over 4 million visitors per year. It is a hugely impressive complex, founded in 1937 by Andrew W Mellon, a wealthy philanthropist and patron of the arts. It consists of two buildings, the West and East Buildings.
The neo-classical West Building was designed by John Russell Pope and is home to earlier collections including one of the most prestigious collections of Renaissance works anywhere in the world.
Enjoy hearing about the life and legend of Da Vinci, Raphael, Titian and many others as you gaze at their beautiful masterpieces. The East Building houses a vast collection of twentieth-century art, with pieces by Picasso, Rothko, Pollockand many legendary contributors to modern art. It also hosts contemporary exhibitions and immersive, interactive art experiences, print and photographic collections.
It was opened in 1978 and is a much more modern edifice designed by I.M Pei the Chinese-born American architect who also designed the Louvre in Paris. The tranquil sculpture garden was opened in 1999 and is a lovely way to end your guided tour.
Highlights
-Be accompanied by a private tour guide throughout your tour.
-See the best of the monuments, when the people have largely left, and each monument is lit up to best display itself.
-See the iconic Washington Monument looming over the city.
-Walk by the World War II Memorial honouring the soldiers and civilians who served during the war.
-Experience the moving monuments of the Korean Veterans Memorial and Vietnam Memorials.
-Stand in awe of the immensity of The Lincoln Memorial, and stand on its steps, gazing out over the city and the reflecting pool.
-End your tour at the iconic White House, residence and workplace of the United States President.
Washington DC is ideal to explore after sunset when crowds disperse and buildings light up. On this tour, you will explore the most important national memorials of America's capital, as you understand their place in the country's history.
Not only will you uncover the monuments dedicated to historical figures such as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, but you will also have the chance to commemorate Vietnam and Korean veterans, as well as those lost during World War II.
Throughout your walking tour, your guide will tell you stories about the circumstances around how the National Mall was built over the centuries - from Dolly Madison and Eliza Hamilton's efforts to build the Washington Monument to then-21-year-old Maya Lin's design of the Vietnam Memorial.
End your tour in front of The White House where you are free to continue exploring the lighted city at your own pace.
Please note: In summer, the sun sets as late as 8:30 PM. Please be in touch with us if you wish to have a later start time.
Highlights
-Stroll the cobblestone pavements and admire the historic C&O Canal;
-Walk along tree-lined streets past some of the city's most famous homes;
-Discover a host of iconic names that have resided in the neighbourhood - including John F and Jackie Kennedy, inventor Alexander Graham Bell, Hollywood actress Elizabeth Taylor, and chef Julia Child;
-Marvel at the pre-Revolutionary buildings and admire architecture that dates from after 1800 that is preserved by the National Park Service;
-Learn about the neighbourhood's post-Civil War flourishing African American community, its early 20th-century slump and its ascent to the it-place of DC in the 1950s;
-Learn about young JFK and see the tavern booth where he proposed to Jacqueline Bouvier;
-Stroll the historic Georgetown campus, and learn about the relationship between the school and the rest of the city.
Described as a "dirty little hole" by Abigail Adams, the former First Lady of the United States, Georgetown had humble beginnings: as a working port, on the banks of the slurry-filed Potomac River. Named after King George II, and founded in 1751, Georgetown served as a depot for the collection and shipment of military supplies during the Revolution.
A textile factory, paper mill, grain stores and more flour mills were added and when the capital was established to the east, Georgetown's character became more distinct. Georgetown became renowned as a fashionable quarter of the capital, drawing visitors from all over the world and becoming part of Washington City in 1871.
After the Civil War, large numbers of freed slaves migrated to Georgetown and a thriving African American community flourished, establishing businesses and neighbourhoods. However, by the 1890s, the area had undergone a drastic decline and in the aftermath of World War I, it was considered one of Washington's worst slums.
However, within a generation, the trend had all but completely reversed. When a young Senator John F. Kennedy resided in the neighbourhood in the 1950s, Georgetown was the place to be and be seen.
Home to world-class shopping, rich history, five-star restaurants and one of the world's best universities - in fact, the university for anyone looking to enter a career in Washington - Georgetown is a neighbourhood that simply cannot be missed.
Upscale dining and unparalleled views make for an elegant afternoon on the Potomac River with our Washington, DC Premier Lunch Cruise.
You'll be treated to a chef-prepared plated meal, creative cocktails, and exceptional service whilst a live DJ sets the mood.
Capture photos against the backdrop of Washington DC's famous landmarks, such as the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial, and soak in the sweeping 360deg panoramas from the comfort of our warm and comfortable indoor lounges and open-air decks. Set sail for the most picturesque and unforgettable afternoon lunch cruise along the city skyline.
* Stand in awe of the Washington Monument, once the tallest structure in the world, in 1884
* Visit the National Mall and delve into the history behind each monument
* See the World War II Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr Memorial and the Korean War Memorial
* Stand by the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to see the Reflecting Pool
* See the iconic White House home to each of the Presidents of the United States
Visit the immense world of the Smithsonian Museums, with a 2-hour guided tour of the National Museum of American History.
At 68 square miles, Washington DC has more than the political arena to seduce its many visitors, from the secrets of the FBI Building, and CIA Headquarters to over 70 museums devoted to almost every topic, including an International Spy Museum, American Indian art and African-American culture.
On this tour, you will discover the heart and soul of America's capital district, on a guided journey to its key attractions that do DC justice - politics and all. you discuss the city's role in historical events, you will journey around DC's most famous memorials, monuments and landmarks to read the Gettysburg Address inscription at the Lincoln Memorial and reflect on the impact of America's Civil War.
The beautiful Korean War Veterans Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial both evoke the sobriety of America's involvement in overseas conflicts. At the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, it is impossible not to feel uplifted and inspired by the power of the words he penned for his famous "I Have a Dream" address. You'll be able to see views of the White House before enjoying a respite for a lunch break. Please note your guide will happily recommend different lunch options for your price point, as lunch is not included in the tour. In the afternoon, you will enjoy a guided tour of the Smithsonian Museum of American History.
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