George Washington's Mount Vernon

This is one of my favorite historic landmarks in Virginia. The guides there really help you envision what it was like when George Washington lived there. Being there in the fall is a real treat.

The gardens and grounds are beautiful, as is the house. I went for a school field trip in 8th grade to Washington D.C. and we took a day trip to Mt. Vernon. I remember being so amazed at the beauty of this place. I recommend planning on being there 2-3 hours and if you can go early in the day to avoid massive tour groups it'll be much more enjoyable.

A must see!

If delving into American history is on the agenda for your DC adventure, you may want to detour over to George Washington’s Mount Vernon in Virginia. Near the Potomac River, this historical site is one of the country’s most visited, because it was home to America’s first president.

The mansion home was built in 1734 and was acquired by Washington in 1761. Visitors can tour the grounds, as well as the mansion itself. Some highlights of the mansion tour include portraits of the Washington family, Washington’s private study, and even the Key to the Bastille, which was given to Washington by the Marquis de Lafayette.

It should be noted, as is the case with many of the Founding Fathers, Washington was a slave owner. According to the Mount Vernon website, nearly 600 enslaved people worked at Mount Vernon during Washington’s lifetime.

On the Mount Vernon property, not far from where Washington and his wife are buried, there is a Slave Memorial dedicated to all of the enslaved individuals who never got a proper burial. Be sure to learn about their lives while visiting Mount Vernon.

We think a visit here makes for a great day trip from DC.

Lovely place, went for George Washington's Birthday. As well as the lovely grounds and tour of the house itself they had musicians, hot apple cider and a birthday cake presented to George Washington himself. Definitely recommend going on a nice sunny day

Really wonderful experience for my family, beautiful grounds and really interesting to see. Staff was great and informative, especially Lady Washington. A must see outside of the city!

I've been here several times and enjoy it with every visit. Very cool history, gorgeous views and fun. It can be VERY hot in the summer, so I suggest a spring of fall visit.

Not too far of a drive from DC. You can check out the historically accurate Washington Home exactly like it was when George lived there over 200 years ago. The grounds are beautiful and the tour I took brought you across most of the grounds. It took about 2.5 hours but I believe there are shorter tours if you're pressed for time.