Fun & Different Ways to Tour DC

We’re affiliated with the military so chances are most of us have PCS’d more than one time.  Believe you me, I know that we know how to see the hot spots in whatever city we move to.  Normally, we have only three years to see it all and do it all.  Talk about boots on the ground…we come into a new city with exploration on our minds.  And, of course, we have to become sight-seeing experts for family and friends who follow.

For me, I love to see new things and experience new cities but I like to do it in different ways.  Sure, I can walk endless city blocks and stand in long museum lines.  It’s just that no of that sounds fun or exciting.  I want to make the most of my time and make a super cool memory while exploring my new city.  Not only do I sincerely believe you can do both…I strive to do both!

I’ll be honest, though.  I was a little nervous about the Washington DC metro area.  The DMV (District, Maryland and Virginia) is not exactly known for being super cool or exciting.  Sure, we sit in the lap of the most powerful country on earth but can you say that’s super cool or exciting?  Tense?  It can be.  Crowded?  For sure.  Progressive?  Not so much (but we’re getting there).  Cool? Maybe some neighborhoods are.  Exciting? The verdict is out on this one.

Still, I was pleasantly surprised to see the super cool and exciting ways the DC metro area has for visitors to tour the famous hot spots.  Keep reading for some great ideas on how you can impress your family and friends when they come for a visit!

Old Town Trolley

Enjoy a narrated tour of Washington DC covering over 100 points of interest, including the Lincoln Memorial, Georgetown, Washington National Cathedral, the White House, the museums of the Smithsonian Institution, and Vietnam Veteran's Memorial. On and off privileges at 17 stops allow you to tour at your own pace.

Monuments by Moonlight

Old Town Trolley Tours show you the sights of Washington, DC after hours on its 2 ½ hour tour. Enjoy the sights of the illuminated monuments and memorials, the Capitol Building, the White House and Georgetown. Stops include: FDR Memorial, the Iwo Jima Memorial and the Lincoln and Vietnam Veteran's Memorials. Hear entertaining stories and learn of the ghosts whose spirits haunt our nation's capital.

DC Ducks

Climb aboard an authentic, fully restored 1942 "Duck" and see the sites of Washington DC. Ninety minute tours begin at Union Station, continue to the National Mall where you'll see the city’s monuments and Smithsonian Museums. The tour concludes with a cruise along the Potomac River all in the same vehicle!

Washington DC Capital Bike Tours

Enjoy a tour of Washington DC while riding a bike. Learn about the city's monuments, museums and other sites from the seat of a 21-speed mountain bike. Visit the most popular sites of the National Mall, including the Lincoln Memorial, White House, Washington Monument, Supreme Court, Union Station, the Capitol and more. Trailers are available for young children.
 

Segway Tours

Segway tours are a hip way to explore Washington, DC!  A Segway is a self-balancing, personal transportation device that's fun and easy to operate.  Cruise past the monuments, the Smithsonian museums, the White House, the Capitol and more as your guide entertains you with stories and historical facts about the nation’s capital.

Washington DC Cruises along the Potomac River

For a different view of Washington DC, take a cruise along the Potomac River and see breathtaking views of the Kennedy Center, Watergate, the Washington Monument, the U. S. Capitol, the Jefferson Memorial and more.

Spy City Tours

This interactive tour launched by the International Spy Museum combines a Washington, DC city tour and espionage. See more than 25 of Washington's most notable espionage sites used by some of the nation's infamous spies from the World Wars to the Cold War to the present.

Pedicab Tours

On a nice day, take a bicycle-powered taxi ride around the national landmarks and enjoy the amazing architecture of the nation's capital. Customize your own tour and explore wherever you want to with a licensed driver.

Ghost Tours in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia

Take a walking tour and hear ghost stories and legends about infamous haunted places such as Lafayette Square Park, Historic Alexandria or downtown Annapolis. Find spooky tours around the region.

Tour information taken from http://dc.about.com/od/walkingtours/tp/Washington-DC-Tours.htm. 

There are so many things to do and see in the Washington DC area, you’ll want insider information (something DC is known for) to help plan how to get around.  Visit the Community Activity Center at 228 McNair Road, Bldg. 405, Fort Myer, VA or call 703.696.3469/70.  These guys know the best places to visit, the best times to go, and most often will have a discounted admission ticket for sale!  They’re the ones to know!

Have fun and take plenty of pictures!