- See all of Washington's sights on a family-friendly tour of the city.Lincoln Memorial - Washington DC image by Misha Tyukin from Fotolia.com
Washington, D.C., has so much history and such notable historical sites that tackling the numerous museums and monuments can be quite daunting, especially with a gaggle of children in tow. Thankfully, a number of tour companies in the area have organized family-themed jaunts through the nation's capital that are fun and informative for all ages. - Taking a tour of Washington, D.C., can be a beautiful journey through history and politics, but imagine seeing the sites from the waters of the Potomac River. DC Ducks takes tourists and their families on an excursion through D.C.'s most exciting sites on the back of a fully-restored "Duck" amphibious vehicle. The DUKW was originally designed for moving soldiers and their gear over the toughest land and water during World War II, but they have recently been used across the U.S. as a method of transporting tourists from one site to another. The D.C. Ducks tour begins at Union Station then waddles its way through the area's famous monuments and museums. Once the banks of the river are reached, the tour gets waterborne for a whole new perspective on D.C. The captains of the Ducks entertain their passengers with fascinating stories and observations about the historic sites flavored with corny jokes the whole family can enjoy.
DC Ducks
Union Station
Washington, DC 20018
855-323-8257
dcducks.com - The cobblestones of London are not the only streets graced with bright red double-decker buses. DC Tours operates a continuously-running fleet of buses with open-air seating on the top level that take sightseers through many of the most popular areas of Washington, D.C., such as the Capitol, Chinatown, the Spy Museum, the White House, the National Aquarium, the National Zoo and the National Gallery of Art. The entire loop takes less than three hours and is narrated by knowledgeable tour guides. An innovative feature of the tour is the Two-Day Unlimited Use Ticket that allows passengers to get off the bus at any of the 25 stops along the way for extended personal exploration, after which they can get back on the bus at any time during their two days to continue the tour. This "Hop-On, Hop-Off" feature allows families maximum flexibility and freedom.
DC Tours
888-878-9870
dctours.us - D.C.'s seven-acre Lafayette Park has served many purposes since its inception in 1804--racetrack, graveyard, zoo, slave market and Executive Mansion playgrounds--and the more than two centuries of political intrigue and social upheaval have given the area a reputation for being haunted by ghosts of yesteryear. By day, the area is known for its large squirrel population, but by night, some say Lafayette Park is the most haunted spot in all of Washington, D.C. Washington Walks gives a lively tour of the dead spirits supposedly populating the landscape and roaming among the statues and monuments, and tour guides share spooky stories about the buildings and the personalities of those purported to haunt them. Along the way, the former homes of area luminaries are explored, such as naval hero Stephen Decatur and writer Henry Adams, as is the White House. The tour ends at what is called the most haunted home in the park, the Octagon.
Washington Walks
819 G St. SW
Washington, DC 20024
202-484-1565
washingtonwalks.com
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