Learn about the life of George Washington, first president of the United States, on this guided tour of Mount Vernon, Washington’s home of more than 40 years. On your visit to this famous historical site, explore the mansion, gardens, farms and other buildings that show what colonial life was like on the grand estate. The tour includes a bus trip through Old Town Alexandria to see several key historical attractions including places that George Washington visited in his day.
Posted By : Barbara_I
Beautiful estate. Very insightful view into Washington’s home. Our guide, Robert, was very knowledgeable. The food in the pavilion was lacking. A better choice would be the Inn.
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Posted On : 2023-12-30 18:10:27 
Posted By : Maps08370630090
This review doe not reflect the driver, he was actually the helpful one. If you book this trip, be aware that your driver is not your guide. The people inside the museum gave us misinformation about where to be in the tour. There is alot of walking and there are many steps. The worst was the tour of the mansion, you get a guide for every room and its rushed, you cant asked more than 1 question because its all scripted and the next tour is right behind you in the previous room. The last room we got to see was the kitchen and this is the only time they asked if there were any questions. I would not recommend this tour, nor would I come back again unless maybe they have private tours that dont feel like they just want your money and rush you through. The tour could not have taken more than 20mins tops. Very disappointed as Mount Vernon is quite a long car ride outside of the DC area.
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Posted On : 2023-12-18 14:13:40 
Posted By : Erica_G
Let me start with the actual Mount Vernon Homestead was wonderful, it is a self led tour and it was so informational and amazing, the items they have to display and teach you about George Washington, I was in awe.
But let's talk about the Tour guide and travel to the Homestead.
He picks you up at a central location, the Hyatt Regency Hotel. He doesn't even bother to get out of the Van, he has the hotel staff "trained" to tell those waiting that he has arrived.
When you approach the van door, he assigns seats. He put a family in the back and then told my husband and I we had to sit in the first row as he wanted my husband to be the door opener and closer. Then tells a single female traveller to sit in the third row back.
He was gruff, never introduced himself, just takes off. Within a minute, he is out in traffic, driving erratically, honking at other vehicles and rolls down the windows. He has the heat on I believe, not sure, wore my hat, gloves, and coat the entire ride. The weather was like 35 or so degrees out. Why is the window down?! The family in the back complained of being cold, and he ignored them, or couldn't hear them as he put them so far away.
We never picked up any other traveller's so we had rows empty, the others could have sat closer to the front of the van. 6 of us total and seats available for 13 people in the back of the van behind the driver's seat.
He begins to attempt to speak about the items we are passing, but he is facing away from everyone and does not have a microphone or speak loudly to project his commentary to all passengers. Again, we are in the front row right behind him in out assigned seats and I struggled to hear what he was saying. He also again spoke very briefly, all factual, nothing informatory or interesting. For example, "this is the Potomac River." Not if you look to the right you will see we are crossing the Potomac River, looking in the distance is XYZ, and if you look left, you will see ABC.
Just crudely naming items as we pass by is not providing a tour.
But, let us continue, we get to the quaint adorable town of Alexandra VA. It is so picturesque and filled with history. NOTHING IS EXPLAINED, except that the people here are wealthy. After every comment he makes, he repeats, "so you get that right?!"
We pass a church, he advised the name of it. Stops for a brief second, not even long enough to snap a photo, and off we go again.
Explains that we are driving now along what he thinks is the most beautiful path to Mount Vernon, does not say anything else for about 10-15 minutes.
We arrive at the Homestead, he meets us at the Van door, advised us a time to return to the same spot for pickup. His appearance is very disheveled. Holes in shirt, sweater that is too small and covered in pet hair.
He walks us inside to get our tickets for the grounds pass and the mansion tour. After giving out the tickets, he takes us to the atrium/lobby to begin our self guided tour.
A Mrs. Washington reenactment is there to welcome us. He speaks so abrasively to this poor woman, and aggressively tells her to do the spiel that she did a few days ago as it was better than what she was currently telling us. She looks at him and responds, I'm sorry sir. Do you have a question for me of something you would like to know. He again pressures her to do her spiel. I am cringing for her sake as this is so unprofessional and such appalling behavior from him especially being a "tour guide". He reminds everyone of the time to meet back here (the lobby) for the mansion tour as it is a timed entry. We express understanding and eventually leave him behind thankfully. We ask his name. He responds "Co, like company".
We head out to the grounds and explore, we watch interactive films that advise that you ate to meet for the mansion tour out on the grounds not in the lobby as he advised.
We follow our map and enjoy our time exploring. We make it to the mansion tour, but no one else from our group is there in line even though we all have the same time of entry tour planned.
After the tour, we see the guide, Co, out on the grounds exploring as well. We nod to acknowledge him and continue on our way.
We head back to the main building after exploring the grounds and begin our time in the museum, it is MUCH bigger than it seems, it winds around and around once inside, so please plan time accordingly. Not having been advised this, we did not realize and were late 7 minutes back to our departure point just trying to get thru some exhibits we didnt get to actually spend time looking at everything.
Now here is the part, that is completely unbelievable to me.... I completely understand we were late, again 7 minutes, but the van was literally taking off from the spot when we exited the building. We had to run and wave our arms to stop him from leaving us.
We have travelled quite extensively and complete tours like this frequently.
I have NEVER in my life been left behind or witnessed anyone be left behind for being a few minutes late.
He stops the van we get into our assigned seats again, and he says " I thought you guys must have taken off on your own to somewhere else". MIND YOU, we had just seen this man on the grounds a little over an hour before, so he knew we were still here. Also, if we planned on taking off on our own, we would have been courteous enough to let you know that was our plan so you wouldnt be looking or waiting on us to return. So with that same expectation, why would he not call us to check on us when late a few minutes before departing without us?! This was the most ridiculously absurd thing to me! What kind of PERSON (tour guide) does that?!
I'm sorry, but this epically horrible tale continues, he takes us out of town back thru Alexandria, to the water front he says. We literally drive thru the town, not even near the waterfront, you can see it from a distance about 3 blocks away thru the van windows as he drives by, no information shared other than talking about street names and again asking "we get that right?!"
This is not a tour of the city of Alexandria, this is a drive thru, missing all sorts of opportunities to share stories of this charming little old time town.
He then advises as we are driving back, that he has arranged with the family in the back to drop them off at the white house and asks where we are staying, we mention our hotel, and he states if "we took care of him," we could get dropped off directly at our hotel since it was close by to the white house.
He then asks the female traveller, by calling her "the Singapore girl" where does she want dropped off. So very disrespectful to be treated this way.
We eventually stop 3 blocks from the white house and the family exits, we advise we will get off here as well, as I cannot imagine "treating him well monetarily".
He continues on with the single lady. I feel worried for her safety being alone with that man.
The family then advises us that he was trying to leave even sooner than when he did, but that they were begging him not to leave us behind.
This "TOUR" was a nightmare all because of the guide you employ. I cannot fathom how he was hired for this role. But please reevaluate his employ.
I hate to say that, but with his actions and rude behaviors, it is ruining people's travel adventures and upsetting the local Mount Vernon employees and that alone is completely unacceptable. He is a liability waiting to happen.
If you book this trip, ask ahead of time who your guide would be and CANCEL if "Co".
This tour could have been amazing except for the person leading the group.
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Posted On : 2023-11-29 11:10:37
Posted By : Marlene_M
Robert was fantastic! Very informative and engaging, which is no small feat with our kids (12yo and 10yo) who love to act like they are bored everywhere. Robert also gave very helpful tips on visiting the property.
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Posted On : 2023-11-23 09:13:58
Posted By : Michael S
Visited a couple weeks ago and I left a little disappointed. Our first visit, so we wanted to do the Mansion tour and the grounds. Once we got to where the house tour begins, we're told they had overbooked, we wound up waiting in line longer than the actual tour was. Once inside it felt extremely rushed, and did not get the experience I was expecting. The house and grounds are beautiful, the people there are very nice and helpful. We will go back but if we do the house tour, might go in the middle of the week, instead of the weekend.
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Posted On : 2023-11-12 08:29:56
Posted By : Laura C
Go on the earlier tour this time of year. Mount Vernon closes the grounds at 4pm. You don’t have time to see anything. Driver was very slow. Speeding up and slowing down, Swerving into other lanes etc. Left at 2 got there at 2:50. Watched the welcome movie and stood in line for the house tour for the 3:15 tour. VERY long line. Stood in line for approximately 45 minutes. When we got to tour the house were told they close the house at 4 starting in November. But they ushered us through at a expedited rate. At one point they said on their radios”open door “. We later discovered that was code for run them through as fast as you can! Museum was open until 5. Then we drove through Alexandria and he slowed down to show us a few historical highlights. Was back by 6. Probably wouldn’t take a tour with this company again. The driver spoke on his phone multiple time’s discussing where his next bus was at for his next tour. Last I checked it was illegal to talk on the phone while driving a tour bus.
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Posted On : 2023-11-11 14:44:38
Posted By : Phillip_N
So impressive! Have to come back. Would need all day to see all of it. Robert was very interesting. Enjoyed the trip to and from Mt Vernon. Mini tours of Alexandria and DC were great.
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Posted On : 2023-11-10 09:14:53
Posted By : Tate_H
Walking tour of Mount Vernon was great! Beautiful location. Tour guide very informative. Will recommend to friends and family.
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Posted On : 2023-11-10 09:11:09
Posted By : Bridget_C
Nice, knowledgeable driver. I enjoyed exploring the grounds on my own, and the mansion tour was interesting.
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Posted On : 2023-11-07 16:23:13
Posted By : M9181ZHab
I highly recommend this tour. The driver was extremely knowledgeable and provided a lot of insight about DC, Mount Vernon and Old Alexandria. The tour of Mount Vernon was wonderful. I learned so much about George Washington. I am glad that the Mount Vernon tour acknowledges the enslaved people that lived there and provides some insight into what their lives might have been like.
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Posted On : 2023-11-01 23:41:37
