A trip down memory lane
Mount Vernon is blast from the past but continues to make history
Conservatory and Upper Garden: In the spring and summer beautiful flowers crowd the well-kept beds. Sometimes speakers present in the conservatory. Adjacent to the conservatory is a speciality gift shop. PHOTO BY SARAH SETTER
By Sarah Setter
April 25, 2008
For an adventure to take with friends or family, try Mount Vernon, George Washington’s home. Open 365 days a year, including all holidays, it’s a good destination to brighten up a boring day.
With beautiful gardens and views of the Potomac River, Mount Vernon is a picturesque place to spend the day with a picnic on the bowling green or a boat ride aboard one of Mount Vernon’s two ships for a river view of the Mount Vernon estate. The 40-minute rides leave the Mount Vernon wharf and are offered multiple tides a day, except on Mondays. The tickets have to be bought at the ticket counter when general admission tickets are bought.
The upper and lower gardens are a gardener’s paradise, abundant with beautiful flowers in the spring time. Perpendicular to the upper garden is the greenhouse where special guests sometimes visit to talk.
The tour of George Washington’s mansion, one of the main features of Mount Vernon, is a continuous walk-through tour that takes about 10 minutes, but the wait for to get into the house can range anywhere from five minutes to over an hour. The tour is interesting to older age groups but probably will not hold the attention of younger children.
Forest trails, which take about 15 minutes to hike, are not extremely trying for someone in good shape but may be difficult for children because of steep inclines and uneven pathways. During certain times of the year wagon rides through Washington’s Pioneer Farms are offered and are free of charge.
Mount Vernon has multiple tours available, some seasonal, some year-round, including a landscape tour, a tour of Washington’s Grist Mill and Distillery and the popular National Treasure tour. Some tours are seasonal and available only for a limited amount of time. Make sure to check their web site often for the most reliable updates and list of available tours.
Also on the estates are farm animals such as ox and sheep. Guides are located at some of the pastures to offer insight to the animals and to also enlighten guests of how life was on Washington’s farm before, during and after the Revolutionary War.
On the way out, make sure to walk through the Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center. This interesting display of interactive information is appealing to adults and young kids. The museum and education center have many theaters within the exhibits that show short films that give insight to the Washington’s life at Mount Vernon.
Also located at the exit are the food court and gift shops. The Mount Vernon Inn is also open for lunch and dinner.
SPOTLIGHT
National Treasure Tour
Tour Times
April 5-Oct. 31 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m.
Tickets
$5 per person, per tour (in addition to general admission).
This tour is an hour-long walking tour that highlights and includes behind-the scenes information from the Disney feature film, “National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets.”
During the hour, an educated guide takes visitors around the estate sharing information of the filming of the movie and secrets of the estate. The tour includes a the mansion’s basement which is closed to the public and is shown only during this tour. Guests are also treated to information and views which the public is not privy to.
This tour is appealing to all age groups. It is a walking tour and depending on the day, some of the tour goes over steep inclines and muddy paths. Young children might enjoy the tour but may not be able to cope with all the walking.
But fair warning: tickets sell out quickly and the tours only accommodate 25 people.