Whatever the purpose of your group’s trip to Washington DC you will want to visit Mt. Vernon. Located in Mount Vernon, Uninc Fairfax County , Virginia, George and Martha Washington’s home is open to the public. You will join the 80 million who have visited the estate of our first president. When your group arrives pick up your tickets at the Ford Orientation Center. Each day the American Flag is raised over the gate and if your student group would like to participate in the raising of the flag arrive early and speak with the gatekeeper – you may receive the honor or raising Old Glory to her rightful place – waving above the land of the free and the brave. Groups will enjoy a 20 minute movie We Fight to be Free, that is an action- packed, adventure-filled documentary about the life and times of George Washington. I hope you have dressed in comfortable shoes that are suitable for walking because touring Mt. Vernon is more than just walking through the beautiful mansion where George and Martha lived. The estate also has twelve outbuildings that include the slave quarters, kitchen, stables, and greenhouse Be sure to allow for at least one half of your day to be spent at Mt. Vernon because after touring the buildings your group will want to walk through the four different gardens, walk and watch the workings of the four acre farm that has a re-creation of Washington’s 16 sided threshing barn and hike the Forest Trail. Your visit here will include a solemn stop at the gravesite of George and Martha Washington where there is a wreath laying ceremony each day. Take time to visit the Slave Memorial and Burial ground which is nearby. As if all this isn’t enough, while your group is walking along taking in the sights at the Pioneer Farm site of George Washington, you can participate in cracking corn, visit the animals, help build a fence and taste a hoecake. (Hoecake is a type of cornbread made of cornmeal, salt and water, which is very thin in texture, and fried in cooking oil in a skillet. It became known as "hoecake" because field hands (slaves) often cooked it on a shovel or hoe held to an open flame.) You take a step back in history when you visit Mt. Vernon. After your day of witnessing the beauty and rewards that came from the hard work of individuals like George and Martha Washington walk down over the hill and to the Potomac River. Your group can board the Miss Christin or the Spirit of Washington and enjoy a short narrated excursion along the Potomac River. Imagine how many times the Washington’s took a similar boat ride to fish, buy or sell merchandise or just to enjoy one another’s company in the peaceful land they called home. Mount Vernon is located 16 miles south of Washington, D.C. and 8 miles south of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia at the southern terminus of the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Your group can park for free. Lunch and dinner is also available on site. Groups can pre purchase meal vouchers for lunch to be used at the Food Court or enjoy a more upscale meal at the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant. Wherever you choose to spend your day, enjoy your travels.



Vickie Dodson