Mount Vernon & Alexandria: Private Day Trip from Washington DC

What your day looks like

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! Attractions along this route: - Christ Church Alexandria: With over 250 years of history, the church has served as the parish to notable founding fathers and has found itself the subject of an early case before the Supreme Court. - Gadsby Tavern: The tavern is renowned for its litany of connection to the Founding Fathers, including as the site where Jefferson held his inaugural ball. - Adams-Jefferson letters: Though they were lifelong political opponents, Jefferson and Adams wrote letters to one another over 50 years, and their correspondence sheds light on life in the young republic. - Alexandria City Hall and Market Square: Originally a market square and the courts of the eighteenth century, the building standing today was erected in 1872 and remains at the center of life for Alexandrians.