5. Washington DC: Potomac River and Georgetown Walking Tour
Gain an in-depth understanding of the US capital on this tour combining a Potomac River cruise with a foray into the past on a walking tour of Georgetown. Other tours of this historic neighborhood are difficult to reach, but on this tour, you’ll disembark from your cruise ready to explore! Alongside an expert guide, the area’s past will be brought to vivid life before your eyes.
Meet your guide at the wharf and step onto the ferry to see DC from the water. Hear about the history of the nation's capital as you pass by the district’s key landmarks. One of the first sights you’ll see is the Titanic Memorial, organized by US women of high society to honor the men who lost their lives so that women and children could board the limited lifeboats during the ocean liner's tragic sinking. Further down the channel, you’ll lay your eyes on one of the most filmed and photographed statues in the country: the Lincoln Memorial.
Your guide will explain the story behind the "Stairs to Nowhere" before seeing Teddy Roosevelt Island. In memory of America’s 26th president and avid adventurer, this memorial was once neglected, overgrown farmland. Now it’s a lush woodland featuring trails and guided nature walks.
A tribute to another influential American president is up next as you pass by the Kennedy Center, a bustling space for the performing arts. But let’s not forget about presidential scandal! See where the Watergate Scandal got its name as you pass by the complex where the infamous incident originally occurred.
After you land at Georgetown Port, the second part of your tour begins. You’ll get an introduction to the oldest neighborhood in Washington DC as you head towards C&O Canal. Hear how George Washington himself was instrumental in redesigning the untamed wilderness here, transforming it into a national monument.
You’ll stop into a favorite local spot for something sweet afterwards. Try a delicious cupcake from a family-run bakery that’s earned the reputation as one of the best in town.
Afterwards, it’s time to continue to explore the fascinating neighborhood of Georgetown. Your guide will invite you into the past with anecdotes behind the sights as you pass. Learn about the oldest house in DC and the story behind buildings connected to the Kennedy family, including the church where JFK attended his last service before he was assassinated.
More riveting stories await when you get to Georgetown University, which counts "The Exorcist" author William Peter Blatty among its alumni. See the "Exorcist Steps" and hear about the true story of an exorcism that inspired him.
By the end of the afternoon, you’ll have an in-depth knowledge of this fascinating corner of DC and all the tools to explore further on your own.
