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Visit Mount Vernon by Bike: Self-guided Ride with Optional Boat Cruise Return

4.5 (61)
Alexandria, US
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Visit Mount Vernon by Bike: Self-guided Ride with Optional Boat Cruise Return

4.5 (61)
Alexandria, US
Share
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Embark on a thrilling bike adventure and explore the historic Mount Vernon Estate like never before. This self-guided tour takes you along the picturesque Mount Vernon Trail, offering breathtaking views of the Potomac River as you pedal your way to George Washington's renowned home. Immerse yourself in the rich history of this 18th-century mansion as you wander through its stately rooms and lush gardens. With the option to upgrade, you can even relax on a narrated boat cruise back to Alexandria, marveling at the stunning vistas along the Potomac River. This active and scenic experience is the perfect way to discover Mount Vernon at your own pace. Don't miss the chance to cycle in the footsteps of one of America's founding fathers and make memories that will last a lifetime.

About this experience

  • Non Refundable There is no return, refund or cancellation possible with this product
  • Admission Included
  • 4 hours - 7 hours
  • Suitable for 1-9 Participants
  • Private Tour
  • Self Guided Experience
  • Scenic bike ride along the Potomac River
  • Explore historic Mount Vernon Estate and gardens
  • Option to upgrade to a narrated boat cruise
  • Cycle through Old Town Alexandria and learn its history
  • Experience the beauty of the Potomac River during the ride
  • Bike rental
  • Helmet
  • Equipment for kids of all sizes and ages
  • Narrated Potomac River cruise (if option selected)
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Food and drinks

Popular Hotels Closeby

More about this experience

Introduction:

Experience the rich history and breathtaking beauty of Mount Vernon on a self-guided bike tour. This unique adventure takes you along the scenic Mount Vernon Trail, offering stunning views of the Potomac River as you make your way to George Washington's historic estate. Immerse yourself in the 18th-century world of the first president of the United States as you explore his stately mansion, picturesque gardens, and engaging educational exhibits. Whether you choose to bike back to Old Town Alexandria or upgrade to a narrated Potomac River cruise, this tour guarantees an unforgettable and active way to discover Mount Vernon.

What to expect?

During this self-guided bike tour, you can anticipate a leisurely and scenic ride along the Mount Vernon Trail, a well-maintained path offering picturesque views of the Potomac River. Upon arrival at Mount Vernon Estate, you'll have the freedom to explore at your own pace. Wander through the beautifully preserved mansion, marvel at the meticulously manicured gardens, and delve into the educational exhibits that bring George Washington's era to life. If you choose the boat cruise option, you'll enjoy a narrated journey back to Old Town Alexandria, providing a relaxing and informative end to your adventure.

Who is this for?

This self-guided bike tour is perfect for history enthusiasts, outdoor adventurers, and anyone seeking a unique and active way to experience Mount Vernon. Whether you're a solo traveler, a couple, or a family, this tour caters to all ages and fitness levels. The flexible nature of the tour allows you to tailor the experience to your preferences, making it suitable for both first-time visitors and those who have previously explored Mount Vernon.

Why book this?

By choosing this self-guided bike tour, you'll have the freedom to immerse yourself in the rich history and natural beauty of Mount Vernon at your own pace. Unlike guided tours, you won't be rushed from one location to another, allowing you to fully appreciate the grandeur of George Washington's estate. The option to upgrade to a narrated Potomac River cruise adds a unique touch to your journey, offering a relaxing and scenic return trip. This tour provides an active and engaging way to connect with American history while enjoying the beauty of the surrounding landscape.

Good to know:

For the best experience, we recommend arriving between 8am and 9:30am at our store location in Old Town Alexandria. The boats depart from Mount Vernon at 1:30PM and return to Washington DC. This tour includes bike rental, helmets, and equipment for kids of all sizes and ages. If you choose the boat option, please select it at the time of booking. Hotel pickup and drop-off, food and drinks, and gratuities are not included. Be sure to wear comfortable clothing and bring sunscreen and water to stay hydrated during your bike ride.

Reviews:

Guests who have experienced this self-guided bike tour rave about the unique opportunity it provides to explore Mount Vernon at their own pace. They appreciate the scenic beauty of the Mount Vernon Trail and the captivating history of George Washington's estate. Many find the option to upgrade to a narrated Potomac River cruise to be a delightful way to end their day. Overall, visitors express satisfaction with the knowledgeable staff, well-maintained bikes, and the seamless experience provided by this tour. Whether you're a history buff or simply looking for an active and scenic adventure, this self-guided bike tour to Mount Vernon is highly recommended.

How long before the event do I need to book?

  • You can book at any time before the event

Vouchers accepted in the following formats

  • Mobile

Is an adult required for the booking?

  • At least one adult or senior required per booking

Your Itinerary

Alexandria

(Pass by)

Explore Old Town, Alexandria, learn about the history and take photos!

Unlimited Biking: Alexandria

Unlimited Biking: Alexandria is located right next door to the Union Street Public House on 125 S Union Street Alexandria VA 22314.

George Washington's Mount Vernon

Admission to the grounds included in your experience.

Admission Included

Mount Vernon

(Pass by)

Explore Mount Vernon, learn about the history and take photos!

Potomac River

(Pass by)

Ride along and enjoy views of the Potomac River. Route is relatively flat with a few rolling hills. Ride is approximately 10 miles to Mount Vernon (about a 1 hour ride). You may go direct or take your time and stop and see various sites, such as Jones Point Light House.

City Cruises Washington DC - Pier 4

This option is SEASONAL depending on when the boats run (End of May-September) and the boat back to Mount Vernon is only available for those that purchase the option. Otherwise, guests can bike back or opt to leave the bikes at Mount Vernon (after letting our staff know)

Admission Included

Reviews

(61)

4.5 (61)

Denise_A

The ride was beautiful and we enjoyed Mt Vernon mansion tour and museum. It said we could leave the bikes at Mt. Vernon and take our own ride back. Not so! When we arrived, the operator said that we would have to bring the bikes back (from a 10 mile trek each way). So we had to Uber to our rental car to pick it up and then go back to Mt. Vernon and retrieve the bikes .. place them I the vehicle and then travel back to the bike office. This took approx 1.5 hours out of our vacation (and we were lucky to have a rental vehicle that would hold 2 bikes). So call and double check as what they adversitied re: the return option was not at all reality. We wanted to ride 1 way to MT Vernon as advertised and to leave the bikes there (we wanted to ride 10 miles 1 way and then return on our own and NOT have to return bikes as advertised if we told them in advance..However this was not honored on account of it being a “very busy day”. We’ll then I would have appreciated getting 1/2 my money back for our added time and hassle as a visitor to the area.

Tracy_S

We did this tour in the fall when the leaves were changing and beginning to fall. The colors along the path were so vibrant and beautiful. Highly recommend!

Jeniffer_R

We loved the ride, It was quite the ride for someone that is not athletic so be ready. We did get lost and got out of the trail in error, map or guided direction signs would be so helpful.

Charlenenguyen

That was an amazing trip. Alexandria is soo beautiful. All the scenery and glimpses of the river along was amazing.

Brie3333

We were met at the storefront and quickly and easily got our bikes. The boat cruise was not in season when we went so enjoyed the 10 miles there and 10 miles back. Weather was perfect and the trail was just challenging enough. Mt. Vernon was a nice way to break up the 20 miles of riding. Parking our car was a bit tough as everything close by was only 3 hours and the tour is all day. Make sure to have a plan in place to park your car for the day. Would definitely recommend and do it again!

Resort54719370747

Getting the bikes was easy, and the contact person we spoke with was super friendly. We loved the bike route to Mount Vernon, but the bikes were not of great quality. No matter the gear or surface, it was a lot of pedaling, and often the gears stuck. However, we still enjoyed the beauty of the landscape and our trip to see Washington's home. If you get a chance, have lunch at the restaurant not the food court. :)

amyfromMICH

George Washington’s Mount Vernon is an American treasure and is being cared for as such. The tour is as cursory or immersive as one wants it to be. We toured both the grounds, mansion and museum for around 2.5 hours. We had a light lunch from a food truck on the grounds and that was refreshing. The bike route was lovely, shady, scenic and of mild difficulty. The path is not particularly smooth so speed is not your friend on this trip. The bikes are of marginal quality and condition. One of ours shifted roughly and both squealed out of poor lubrication the whole trip. The attendant was adequate but no better than that. So go for the great scenery and a wonderful historic opportunity.

365sherrid

Because the boat no longer returns you to Alexandria but to Washington DC and the boat doesn't allow you to take the bike aboard, I rebooked to just the bike rental and Mount Vernon. We enjoyed our day too without the pressure of needing to meet the early afternoon boat dock time. Mount Vernon was a pleasure. The bike path there and back wasn't easy, but was beautiful.

79kirrah

The bike ride and the cruise back were both cool ways to see the area from different vantage points. We had a good time with both. The not great review is meant to be a review of the third party who put together the package, not the biking or the cruising or Mt. Vernon. This package didn't leave us enough time to actually be able to tour Mt. Vernon. There is only 1 boat back, that leaves at 1:30 and boards at 1:15. We arrived around 11:15, which gave us a couple hours to spend at Mt. Vernon, which would seem like enough time. However, we were given tickets to *get in line* to tour Mt. Vernon at 12:50. The wait in line is *at least* 20 minutes, so we didn't get in until 1:10--at which point we about needed to leave to catch the boat back. They really need to arrange it so you get a mansion tour *entering the line* time at 12:20 or earlier. Or else, they need to be clear that they can't guarantee that you'll be able to tour the mansion. (We are slower bikers, and also had a gear problem on one of the bikes where the lever to shift down wasn't working, so it got stuck in high gear, making it necessary to walk up hills. It also took a while to find the person with the bikes. The park where you pick up the bikes is fairly big. Maybe if we were faster and arrived earlier, we would have gotten an earlier tour time. But we had no way to know that we were under those kinds of time constraints. They need to communicate better, and work something out where they ensure people get a sufficiently early tour time.) Also, you should know that the boat cruise is only narrated on the way *to* Mt. Vernon. If you only take the boat back, as you would in this package, you won't get any narration. That was not communicated either. The company sent us a schedule for the day that had a time (9:00) and location for picking up the bikes, and listed an end time of 7, but no other details. (That probably should have been a signal to me that this wasn't the most professional organizer.) I don't know where the end time came from. The cruise back is at 1:30 and lasts an hour and a half. A surprise was that the cruise goes into Washington DC, not Alexandria where you leave from. It was cool to be able to see some of the Washington monuments from the water, so we were happy about that. But that's the kind of thing you might mention on the schedule you send to people.

Jennifer_P

We arrived at 9am where it was very easy to find the bikes. We were told to see if the bikes fitted to us, but were told NOT to ride them. Once we felt our seat and helmets were correct, we were off. Within 1 mile, my gears started jumping and my chain eventually came off. I thought it was just me, so I continued on. It was fairly flat until we arrived at a large hill and my chain fell off again. Again, I thought it was me, however this continued all the way (9 miles) to Mount Vernon. We did contact the place and they brought another bike to me at Mount Vernon. And the ride back was great! I gave them a 4 star because my chain came off at least 18 times. My hands were full of grease when I arrived and I was sweating from trying to pedal so hard up the hills (it only would go in one gear). I want to give a fair review, so this is only my experience. I would definitely do it again. I would just take the bike back immediately if the gears start jumping. The employees were all very nice, the bike ride views were gorgeous on the bike path, the Mount Vernon tour was informational and quick (which was nice because it was not information overload). The overall experience was good!
Collected by Evendo, Tripadvisor & Viator
2024-05-05 09:40