Washington Walks
Take a tour of Washington by foot--and get an education from a professional guide as you go. Companies, such as Washington Walks, offer tours with a variety of themes to satisfy different interests. For example, you can explore Georgetown, the neighborhood renowned for shops, restaurants and political high life, or you can tour the buildings on Embassy Row. You also can visit Capitol Hill, or see Washington's famous memorials by the light of the moon.
Washington Walks offers family tours, but you have to arrange them ahead. You'll also find outings, such as "Moveable Feast," that lets you sample edible treats as you explore Washington's culinary history. The more macabre "Most Haunted Houses" tour takes you to Lafayette Park, where you'll learn about the area's violent past, and "I've Got a Secret" reveals little known but fascinating tidbits about life in the capital city.
Washington Walks
819 G St. SW
Washington, D.C. 20024
(202) 484-1565
Bike the Sites
If you want to move a little faster, take a bike tour to see the city up close. Bike and Roll offers rental bicycles and guides for tours covering a variety of subjects. Helmets, snacks and bottled water are included.
"The Capital Sites Tour" takes you around the city for about three hours, giving an overview of the Capitol Building, Washington Monument, Supreme Court Building, Smithsonian and World War II Memorial. You may prefer the "Monuments Tour," which includes the Vietnam and World War II memorials, plus the monuments honoring Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson. When the weather is nice, you can take a nighttime version of these tours, complete with a reflective vest and safety lights. In spring, the company also offers "Blossoms by Bike," a ride among the city's renowned cherry blossoms.
Bike and Roll
Old Post Office Pavilion
1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 842-2453
Segway Tours
Stay out of the Metro and go by Segway instead. Capital Segway instructs you how to use these two-wheeled electrical wonders, and provides a headset unit so that you can hear your guide's commentary as you tour.
You'll zip around famous sites, such as the White House, the National Archives, the FBI Building, Freedom Plaza, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the United States Botanic Garden. You'll also take in several monuments and museums, including the National Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian Institution, the Air and Space Museum and the Newseum, which is dedicated to freedom of the press.
Capital Segway
1350 I St. NW
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 682-1980
About The Author
Barbara Dunlap is a freelance writer in Oregon. She was a garden editor at "The San Francisco Chronicle," and she currently specializes in travel and active lifestyle topics like golf and fitness. She received a master's degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and has been a Knight Foundation Fellow.
