The 5 Best Tours and Excursions From Washington, DC

Unearth America’s deepest historic roots on this transporting day trip of Gettysburg. Traveling by coach through the rolling countryside, you will learn how the 1863 battle turned the tide in the Civil War. The conflict is chronicled through enlightening stops at sites such as the Shriver House Museum – the restored 1860 home was situated in the bloodthirsty heart of the battle, with two sharpshooters meeting their untimely end in its attic. The climax of the tour is the battlefield itself, with a miniature military diorama depicting the event, and on-site experts who help bring it to life.

Trace the powerful footsteps of the first president of the United States as you explore the vast grounds of George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate – whisked away to the riverside plantation in a luxury SUV. Once you’ve admired the mansion’s Palladian-style architecture and colonial revival gardens, you’ll get to peek at its Neoclassical-inspired interior while hearing stories about its heritage. Afterwards, it will be on to other nearby historical sites such as George Mason’s Gunston Hall and Pohick Church. This is a private tour which can be tailored to your preference, so you can stroll along the Potomac River and explore stops such as the Old Town of Alexandria at your pace.

Sip your way through wine country on this small-group tour that takes you through vineyards twisted with grape vines and into the crisp, cool cellars of their accompanying wineries. Stopping at three acclaimed wineries scattered across the foothills of Northern Virginia, you’ll be given the chance to sample a diverse selection of reds and whites with fruity and earthy undertones to suit all tastes. Snacks and bottled water are at hand along the way, while an in-the-know guide doubles as your chauffeur to seamlessly ferry you between stops.

Explore the city on two wheels and take in the quintessential sights of Washington, DC. A combination of cycling and walking, you are led through the city at a relaxed pace. Along the way you will stop at significant memorials – admiring the stony glare of Lincoln, paying your respects at the granite foot of Martin Luther King Jr and taking a moment to remember among the stainless-steel figures of Korean War veterans. Then it is on to Arlington National Cemetery, home to John F Kennedy’s gravesite and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (an homage to unidentified American soldiers).

A perfect excuse to unleash your inner brewhound and indulge in a few pints (for variety’s sake) this deluxe tour takes you behind the scenes of four different breweries. Each has a story to tell about their distinct brewing process, showcasing the product’s transformation from its grain beginnings, through fermentation and eventually on to the final pint you gulp down in the taproom. Once you’ve had a glimpse behind the curtain, you’ll be treated to tastings of the hoppy concoctions – a hand-crafted selection of refreshing pale ales, barrel-aged brews and the golden hues of Belgian beers.