George Washington's Mount Vernon

It is an amazing experience. You get to see the rich history of George Washington's time at his favorite place. There is no shortage of interesting information and strange facts about how the buildings were constructed and maintained, the workers that live there (both hired and slave), the animals, greenhouse, gardens, resident blacksmith and more. Except for the slaves, I can understand what made Mount Vernon such a wonderful place in George Washington's mind. There are even cast members in epoch accurate costumes. This star (*) rating of this review is based on the many parts of the building that were under renovation. However, I'm sure that once the renovations are completed this locale would be a five star.

This was a nice historic tour at George Washington's home with beautifully maintained gardens, beautiful dwellings, and an excellent view of the Potomac River. Our tour guides were very knowledgeable. The only downside was that the site was under construction and offered a very limited house tour. For the price, it was sort of a letdown. However, the construction is much needed for such a historic site. It was also a beautiful place to relax. You can visit General Washington's tomb, along with the burial sites of his family. I'd recommend visiting after the restoration is completed. Otherwise, you're only going to see one finished room and obnoxious construction fencing.

Nice little day trip if you’re in the area. Beautiful views of the river. Nice museum and shops. Lovely displays outside. Great condition. The house is under renovation so I’d wait until 2026 to visit again. Free parking is a plus though I found the cost of admission quite pricey for the area given so many museums are free. The animals appeared well cared for and in clean spaces. Love that you can bring dogs in the outdoor space ! I deeply appreciated that the curators highlighted the number of slaves that worked on the land and didn’t try to cover that up or make it “prettier”. So many kind workers all who were very helpful. We did not take a river cruise that is offered but possibly another time. Great options. Went on a Saturday morning end of April, not crowded at all in the morning. Filled up after noon.

Mount Vernon – A Breathtaking Step Back in Time Visiting Mount Vernon, George Washington’s home, was truly one of the highlights of my trip. The property is absolutely beautiful — from the moment you step onto the grounds, it feels like you’re walking through history. What I loved most was the architecture of the mansion. It’s incredibly well-preserved and full of character, with so many small details that reflect the time period and Washington’s personal taste. Walking through the rooms, you can really imagine what life was like during the 18th century. The gardens were another favorite — peaceful, beautifully maintained, and full of charm. I could’ve spent hours just wandering through them. And the views of the Potomac River? Absolutely stunning. Standing there, looking out across the water, it’s easy to understand why Washington loved this place so much. It’s more than just a historic site — it’s a place that really connects you to the story of our country and the life of someone who helped shape it. If you’re anywhere near D.C. or Northern Virginia, Mount Vernon is a must-see.

A great family outing! We took our elementary school-aged kids on Saturday in Spring 2025 as the weather warmed up and we all enjoyed the trip. Notably, the mansion is undergoing major repairs and access is limited to a horseshoe-shaped path walking through the first floor, behind the back porch, and back to the front. They supplement by showing a video tour of the mansion in the auditorium before you enter the park. The mansion repairs didn't really detract from our experience, and I still would eagerly recommend a visit. The park had knowledgeable live actors in period outfits who answered questions and explained what it was like to live in George Washington's era. As an added bonus, if you keep your admission ticket, you can use it to return for another visit within one year.

A wonderful place to visit. Even though we didn't get to tour the whole mansion because of some construction going on it was still a 5. It was easy to get to using the Metro trains and bus which put us right at the front entrance. The staff were great. We were 6 hours. We had lunch there as well. Wonderful history.

There is a lot of construction/maintenance going on right now. I've been here before, but my husband has not. I hated that he didn't get to see the mid-section (Bedrooms, the stair banister) part of the house. But I love that such care is taken to preserve it. The grounds didn't disappoint and we still enjoyed every minute of our time there.

If you come to experience DC, please stop there first. It gave so much background and laid the foundations for us to enjoy the history of the remaining places on our trip. It set the stage for the monuments, seeing the Charters of freedom (declaration of independence, constitution, and bill of rights), just everything. Also, FYI it's under repair until November 2025 so maybe come after that if you wanna be able to see all the rooms ans the front without construction stuff everywhere.

A must see if you're in the DC area. Some pro tips: 1. Listen to the self guided audio tour on your phone. The hand held devices they provide have poor audio. 2. Pay for the mansion tour. 3. Take your time. There's a lot of ground to cover. You don't want to miss anything. 4. Don't skip the museum and education center! It is fantastic. I HIGHLY recommend the 4D movie. 5. Bring snacks. Our daughter got hungry and there aren't options once you start the tour of the grounds. 6. There are ticket discounts, but only if you buy tickets in advance. 7. Wear comfy shoes. Have fun!

This is one of the best run historical destinations that I have ever been to So much care and curating has been done and continues to be done for the home of our first president The staff are incredibly knowledgeable, and the grounds are just beyond beautiful I was surprised to learn that this was privately owned, and I think it shows They know they have to put on a good show to keep people coming to pay the bills Happen to be there on a day where they had the revolutionary war days which included a reenactment of revolution era combat Absolutely a unique experience. It happens every year in May so keep your eyes open for that. It's an incredible monument to the story of the man and is one of the most important things one can do when touring Virginia

Great docent; well-maintained grounds; beautiful views; very informative; and with many aspects of Washington's life. My only critiques are that a lot of stuff happens to be seasonal/often closed; closes without notice at times; admission price is quite high; and less possessions and exhibits to view compared to other presidential estates. Nonetheless, a great testament to a great man.

Mount Vernon was a nice, touristy way to spend part of a day in the DC metro area. The grounds have a lot to offer, including GW's house, his tombs (old and "new"), a wharf, and quarters and working areas of enslaved peoples. The grounds are pleasant for exploring on foot, but the mansion tour (which costs extra) was pretty crowded and not the most well run. Overall worth a visit, even if it does get a bit crowded from tourist buses and school trips. Just plan ahead for lots of waiting in line if you go during busier hours/weekends. Oh, and don't throw your knives in the bushes, have some respect please.

A MUST SEE when in DC. So much history. So much to see. I can visit again and probably learn more as my brain was fried when we visitors form 3 days of other museums. I would go here day one. Tons of walking. Walk down to the water. Go tot he restaurant (very affordable) and delicious. Also has Gluten free options (besides salad!) and GF bread! I will definitely be back!

George Washington was truly a remarkable man! I didn't know what to expect but truly enjoyed myself on our visit. The website was easy to navigate, and so was purchasing the tickets online. Make sure you look at the activities you want to do as some of them require timed entries for a fee. We did the Mansion Tour which was less than 20 minutes, but nonetheless got to feel like we were guests in the Washingtons home. We got to view their backyard of the Potomac River, see the dining rooms, the guests rooms, and the room where President Washington passed away. The tour ended in the kitchen, and we got to walk the grounds. We saw the little houses dedicated to shoemaker, kitchen staff, etc. The more memorable part was visiting Mr and Mrs Washingtons Tomb in the lower lot, and strolling through the other memorial sites. We ended our adventure in the museum to learn more about Mr. Washington, and bought a souvenir in the gift shop. It's definitely a must do in Virginia! Happy Journeys

Beautiful grounds, expensive entry, and a mixed bag on the guides/tour. The tour, if you can call it that, was a walk through the house with guides stationed at a few points sharing information. It was unstructured and crowded (despite timed entry). At one point, when I asked a guide if he could repeat a word, he said curtly, "I was just getting to that." A few guides were informative and engaging. Most seemed like they couldn't care less. Come on people, we can do better!

Got the chance to take my grandmother here for a tour before the tour guide became woke. It was worth the trip for the two of us to be able to go and see a part of true American History, and the tour guides were very accommodating to a woman in her 90's.

This place is amazing! Can't imagine what these walls have seen or heard. We bought upgraded tickets for a 1 hour $60 tour inside the mansion. It was worth it! It was a long way from our DC rental and we struggled getting a ride which made us miss the first half of the tour. I called on our way, explained the situation and the nice gentleman I spoke to on the phone gave me the option of joining a later tour, getting a full credit for later use or to join the tour when we arrived. We opted for the 3rd and when we arrived, the entire staff at every point saw to it that we didn't miss out! After the group finished, our guide took us back and showed us what we missed, explaining everything in great detail. Incredible customer service! The grounds are stunning! Inside the home you'll see exactly what it looked like 250+ years ago when Washington & his wife/family resided there. Original pieces and personal artifacts can be seen throughout the home & grounds. Both are buried onsite, near the garden that is still used for donations & meals next door at the Inn restaurant. The stories, beauty of each room and history of these grounds will impress you. It's a hike out there but one you shouldn't miss!

Really cool experience with the VIP private guided tour. Our tour guide has worked here for well over 20 years and her attention to detail and explanation was apparent. This was our 2nd time visiting Mount Vernon but this experience was worth every penny! We were able to experience so many new things on the tour that were not obvious on our first visit (self tour) It was also great to see places that were under construction to refurbish and make sturdy and safe again for visitors that we couldn't see a few years back. We finished up our tour with brunch in the restaurant with our large party of 9. Brunch was great and on this hot day in August the endless lemonade was very refreshing and appreciated!

Spent the day with George and Martha Washington at their estate on the Potomac. Overall, lovely. We only bought the house and garden tours. The grounds were crowded with scores and hordes of school kids. Lines were long. The mansion tour was more like a walk through. It isn't a traditional museum exhibit with plaques and other information provided. There are guides in each room to keep all the kids on the path and answer questions. The tours seem to only be spaced by 5-10 minutes and it bottlenecks. You end up just standing waiting to walk to the next room. It's a supervised tour vs guided. The view of the Potomac is spectacular. They even provide a row of chairs to sit and enjoy it. So nice with a cool breeze on a hot day. The grounds themselves are gorgeous with well restored outbuildings that offer additional info about life on the grounds. It also acknowledges and has a memorial to the slaved that worked the land and ran the house. Great shops with lots of stuff you can't live without. There is a food court with decent burgers and onion rings. It's just spendy, which is to be expected. I would avoid being in the food court around noon. The sound of kids is deafening. If you want to eat at the Inn, get a reservation. Makes it easier.

A great tour:) Very interesting:) The staff are very friendly:) A bunch of history here:) Very beautiful terrain:) I came from California to see this place:)

JUST unbelievable. Can't comment on the food which is usually pretty good. What's unbelievable was our server. The story begins as I enter restaurant and sit down at a big table anticipating my family to join me shortly. Server appears and says I have no right sitting there. Okay says I, but have no chance to move before she tears off to get manager. Manager appears asks me to sit at a smaller table. Fine says I and proceed to other table where family joins me. Order drinks and engage in conversation. Suddenly we are confronted by two police officers who demand we leave immediately. Start to object, but waitress appears and says yes, that's them, disrupting entire restaurant. We begin to object, but officers begin to unholster their pistols. At this point, deciding that discretion is the better part of valor encourage family to vacate premises before things get worse. Unbelievable.

This place is wonderful and full of history! Highly recommend it to everyone There is a lot to see at this place. The staff was wonderful, patient, and knowledgeable about history, in general, and the site, specifically. This is a restored home and ground of George Washington. There is a parking lot to the north side outside the gate. I think on many days that this is enough parking for the site. There is a fee for entering but it is well worth it as there is so much to see and so much history to be learned from this site. There is an entry building called the Ford Orientation Center that has lovely displays and a running movie telling the history of the site. The grounds are very well maintained and include a garden, mansion, tomb, Slave memorial, and wharf. You enter at the top of the hill and getting down to the wharf is a long walk with a good slope. They are refurbishing many of the structures on site but you can look inside many/most of them to see their purpose and items. The views are spectacular from the mansion and the walk around the site is very peaceful. I plan to visit again and bought a year-round pass to explore more things in the future. I highly recommend this historical place to all my fellow travelers and history lovers.

I was in Washington D.C. and decided to visit George Washington's Mount Vernon for the first time. Mount Vernon is the former home of President George Washington. It is located in Virginia about a 30 minute drive from Washington D.C. The grounds cover 500 acres and allow you to walk where George Washington once did. The most notable part of Mount Vernon is the tour of George Washington's mansion. You cannot go inside many of the rooms, but you can walk through some of them and peak into others. You can touch the original hand rails Washington used, see some of the original doors and Washington's animal vases and many other areas. There are many other interesting sites to see at Mount Vernon including the tomb of George Washington and Martha Washington. Located nearby is the grave of George Washington's nephew and Supreme Court Justice Bushrod Washington. There is a daily wreath laying ceremony at the tomb and those there recite the pledge of allegiance and Washington's prayer for the nation. You can see many other parts of the grounds, too, including farming areas home to sheep and cows. Behind Washington's mansion is a beautiful view of the Potomac River and you can walk down to the water, too. The food court and gift shop are very nice. The gift shop ships internationally, too. Altogether, I would recommend visiting Mount Vernon. It is a great piece of American history. Really great?

Very cool experience. Extremely busy and poor weather but not the places fault. You will enjoy your visit and all the cool things to see!

Being at Mount Vernon where the first president of our nation is truly a historic site. It is over 500 acres and there is a lot to do in one day. There are several packages they offer but you do have to purchase separate tickets to go inside the Mansion. My only complaint with the mansion tour I felt like I was rushed coming in and out of the rooms. The tour doesn't take to long about 20 minutes total. I highly recommend sitting outside in the back as you get an unobstructed view of the Potomac. There are several chairs lined up as this is how Washington had it originally placed. Truly a marvel Washington got this view everyday. There is a lot of ground to cover on the estate and beyond. I also recommend going to where George and Martha are buried. Washington was also an avid Whiskey drinker. You can drive to the original gritsmill and distillery. The tour guides were very knowledgeable and had a passion for their respective trade. Mount Vernon is a must if you are an avid history and George Washington buff.

Lots of walking, great to spend a day here! Highly recommend doing the mansion tour, just get ready to walk a lot

Historically, one of the best locales that we've seen. We took the extended manor tour which was a little bit more expensive but soooo wooeth it.

Although Washington didn't spend much of his life at Mount Vernon, he worked hard to build a beautiful home and estate. Our group visited on a day trip from DC, and we spent nearly 6 hours here! Ticket price includes admission to the grounds and the museum, which details George Washington's life through artifacts, quotes, videos, and interactive exhibits including a 4D movie about the Revolution. For $2 you can add a tour of the mansion, where you can see the main rooms on the ground floor, and the many guest bedrooms upstairs. The tour concludes outside where a guide is available to answer any questions. Make sure to take time to explore the many outbuildings on the grounds, especially Washington's tomb and the memorial to the enslaved workers of Mount Vernon.

We had an amazing time. The site is so large you can come back multiple times and not experience everything. Everything is well maintained with lots of signage to provide background details. The musician demonstrating all the instruments was outstanding.

First time coming here, and it was a lot. I was not prepared. You can buy tickets online or at the door. Lots of walking and a lot of history here. We easily spent 3 hours and I felt like we needed more time. I did appreciate all the benches throughout the grounds. There Alot of uneven pathways as well as stairs. So be mindful when looking at the map. I didn't get to go to the distillery or the other off-site places as I didn't have time.. here are some photos. I had a hard time uploading to Yelp, so i couldn't upload everything.

Is there honestly any other house you would rather visit than the General's house? It was an amazing experience, from the museum to the house tour and everything in between. If there is ever a chance to visit Mount Vernon it is always worth it. I am looking forward to the many future visits that I will make to the property. Thank you God for the General - what an amazing blessing to walk in his footsteps and peer into more of his life.

Considering the history of the site and given the fact that the lineage of the President Washington is not running this place, it is a great historical site the Association kept up very well throughout the years. 1. The house tour - mess in organization The biggest complaint I had visiting was with the house. The line was unorganized, regardless of the time of your scheduling, if a school group comes, suddenly you find yourself behind 200 people who weren't in front of you lining up. It seems like certain dates/times should be kept for school groups and rest for tourists and visitors, it was a mess. 2. Lack of labeling Inside the house, you will not find out which is which as they did not bother hanging any labels. You have to find someone who works there to answer a question, but they are visibly annoyed, probably because I am the 500th person asking the same question. All this hassle could have been resolved IF only they had a description by all those bedrooms. 3. Dust those who haven't visited here before should remember that it will be very dusty here, don't wear white shoes or clothes you don't want to turn brown or covered in dirt/mud. 4. Air - is fresh, the view is great, nicely elevated, surrounded with water. 5. You will get some idea about how he lived, how big of a farmer he was, a lot about his dentures, but not much about his person, what lead him to make certain decisions, how he felt not having kids of his own, and why he didn't, who owned the estate upon their death and how it came to possession of the Association.. there are some bits and pieces but not a clear timeline. I just wish the quality of work was in par with that those of museums at the National mall, especially considering this was way more expensive vs free.

Loved the views looking over to Maryland. Road to get there is a bit bumpy and could use some work. Handicap parking for our guest was pretty close enough, but large part of the park wasn't accessible for someone with just the basic wheels of a walker. Wish we had brought the electric wheelchair. Cafe food was pretty good, nothing special, the restaurant would probably be better if you have the time. Loved the house tour and seeing the camel and other livestock. Slave memorial was very peaceful and I'm glad we got to see it.

This is quite the historical site, so I decided to visit it. Mount Vernon is much more than just a house. There are multiple houses, but the waiting line is incredibly long, especially if it's a hot day. If you head to the bottom right of the map which you receive there is a nice little nature hike, which I personally enjoyed. The rest of the place is great too. I'd recommend people to visit this place on their own, as this cool historical museum-like site deserves to be visited. Overall, this place is great.

I've been to Mt Vernon many times over the years. The mansion tour is always nice with amazing views of the Potomac River. You can walk the grounds and they have annual wine tastings, Washington Birthday celebrations and Christmas candlelight tours. They have a nice restaurant and a lovely gift shop. Free parking but there is an admission fee

A nice weekend activity. There was no problem finding parking. After a quick bag check at the entrance we were able to get the self guided audio tour devices. You just point it at the corresponding readers on the signs like a TV remote when you arrive at a point of interest. It was about a 5 minute walk to the mansion. If you haven't before would highly recommend doing the mansion tour. Some cute things to see like a hedgehog cake and all the different rooms. After the tour we really enjoyed wandering around the grounds to the wharf and nearby farm where there were sheep. Aladdin the camel was also a surprise near the front entrance. The gardens were cool to learn about and there were quite a few indoor exhibits that seemed very educational.

This place is awesome! Ok! So my #1 memory from George Washington's Mount Vernon was the honor of our family laying a wreath at George Washington's tomb. 1st of all, not everyone gets the chance to do it. So it was an honor. Walking into there felt different. And since I was right there, I touched the sarcophagus. Some may say "George Washington had slaves! Why would any black person want to go to Mount Vernon?!" To that question, I would answer "I thought the same thing when I was informed that we would be going." BUT then, I went! I recommend EVERYONE, especially black people, to make a stop in #MountVernon. It's our history too. They make a great effort to use the term "enslaved people" instead of "slaves" when referencing them. And they say & use their names like "Marcus, Cyrus, Christopher Shields, and William Lee" because they are people. But you don't have to take my word for it. Go experience for yourself. The Enslaved People Memorial is steps away from the new tomb. Had to pay my respects to them too!

Walking in comfortable shoes is mandatory. Lots of interesting stops besides grave (old & permanent grave site). Kids will enjoy the farm. Museum is educational on Washington's life.

Mount Vernon itself was better than expected. Just something about being in the place where our first President lived and was buried that gives you goosebumps. My issue/complaint is with the National Treasure tour. I was expecting to go down into the cellar for the full affect but learned upon arriving that there are renovations going on which prevented that. Instead we were shown pictures from the movie and walked through other sites on the property that is part of the regular grounds tour. I don't think they should charge extra for a specialty tour when the main part is inaccessible. This was quite disappointing when I'd been looking forward to the tour for months now. I would have given an extra star had I been advised about this prior to arriving.

Definitely worth a visit - the grounds are just gorgeous- with amazing views everywhere- especially of the Potomac River! Not to mention the sheer historical value of the estate - I mean, this is George Washington's home!! Wow!! There are paved and gravel trails all over the estate...so when you're done with your mansion tour, you can spent as much or as little time as you like exploring. But if you only do one trail/path, make sure you take the path to see the Washingtons' tomb! He and his wife are entombed on the grounds down the hill from the house - and it's a lovely stroll down a brick path from the house. There are also some displays in the barns on the way to the tomb of things like carriages and tools used in those times etc. There are maps in the visitor center which is where you start, as well as plenty of staff all over the estate for questions and guidance. The visitor center is nice too - has a lovely stained glass mural, displays and interesting info - well worth a look! At the time I visited (back in May of 2021), you had to reserve a time for the mansion tour due to Covid restrictions. The tour of the mansion is fairly short - I'd say around 30-40 minutes. But you can take as much time as you want exploring the grounds and outside of the mansion. There's plenty of parking spread out over several lots. Just remember where you parked bc it's a large estate with lots of parking.

Visiting George Washington's Mount Verson home was a great experience. Not only was it cool walking in the house where he lived, but it was a great learning experience to get to know about his childhood and the obstacles that he overcame to become this nation's first president. The Mansion tour was $28 and I think it's worth it for anyone that likes history. You can also walk outside the Mansion at no charge. The outdoor consists of the farm, the garden, the tombs and a beautiful view of the Potomac River.

I love Mount Vernon! The people who work here are very passionate about their work and very friendly. I'm a big history nerd, but even if you're not big into history, it's a wonderful time.

The website was down to purchase tickets online but we called and they said to come by and that they would honor the 20% online coupon code. My brother discovered in the FAQ section that if you work at another museum as an employee, you get free admission (includes the mansion add on tour) if you can show ID. I only had my business card so I showed the ticket sales person that and was admitted. I so appreciate that sentiment. The complimentary ticket is not well known buried in their FAQ section on their website. It is worth it to pay the extra $8.00 to tour inside of the mansion. You are admitted by group times. It did not take us long to queue and get inside. We went around 11:15am. In each part of the home, there was docent standing there giving you information about the history of the particular space. Very informative without being too long. I did appreciate the docents acknowledging the slaves that toiled at Mt. Vernon. There was a display that allows you to scroll through the names of some of the slaves and what they contributed to Mt. Vernon. There is also a museum where you bought your tickets and it is worth a look. There is a gift store. I found a beautiful vase that I actually saw in West Virginia and decided I didn't want to risk carrying it while traveling. But when I saw it again here, I felt it was a sign to buy it. My brother saw a sign that said they ship. So I paid 20.00 to have it shipped home, which was worth it to me. Also, once you walk down to the farm and slave memorial, there is a shuttle at the bottom which will take you back to the visitor center. That was hugely helpful as it's not a really long distance to walk but because of the heat of summer, it would be miserable having to walk all the way back. If you are in Virginia, I would recommend visiting this historic landmark. Thank to Mt. Vernon for preserving this important piece of history. Surprisingly, Mt. Vernon does not receive any government support. I was happy to know that ticket sales and gift store purchases go directly to supporting the organization.

If you are taking a trip to the DC area and you would like to visit Virginia you need to stop by and check out Mount Vernon. I didn't even know there was such a beautiful place that George Washington lived in. When you take the tour and see that some of the items inside the home are still there. I find it fascinating and almost soothing when you look at the water in the backyard. This place is very large and has multiple areas. There is even a small farm with sheep and different animals around the property. This place is well taken care of and the people that work here really enjoy their job! You can see where George Washington was buried and actually in his will, he was reburied at another place around the grounds. It is interesting to see the first area and also the second! The property is quite large so I would say it does take half a day to wander around and the gift shops even carry some whiskey and wine as well.

Beautiful home but I think Mount Vernon should get a consultant to fix their queue problem for house tours. Also, the historians on the tour just crowding people into rooms so they can give their spiel, not very COVID friendly y'all. I think taking the time to create curated experiences for smaller groups of people will create a more pleasant experience for all. If they have experiences like that, I didn't see on their website. Also, what's the purpose of my QR code? Didn't use it as people use paper lists to check-in visitors for their tours. Let's become paper-free Mount Vernon.

It's a great place to visit if you have the time or live here. The tour of the home is definitely a bearding cattle event. You often get pushed along as the previous section finishes before your group and they force them into your section. The grounds are beautiful and I think better than the house. The trails would be great for walking or running although I don't think they allow you to enter just for that. The museum after is also better than the house tour. Between the exhibits, interactive movies, and interactive events it was amazing. I think that experience is worth the price you pay for the tour. I recommend it if you have time but not necessarily a must do for the area.

Thank you to the Mount Vernon Ladies Association of the Union, a private, non-profit organization for maintaining the property of our nation's first President. The tour of the home is timed with small groups, and there's a pretty garden of the pathway while you wait. They encourage questions and pictures (no flash) while on the tour of the home. There is a lot more to see and learn other than the home itself. Stop by and made it a half-day experience, walk down to the river, and visit the animals. Upon leaving there's a visitor cemetery that has an amazing museum where you'll learn even more about General Washington.

This is a beautiful place with lots of land. The grounds are well maintained. As an added bonus you get free parking in one of their two lots. The main attractions of Mount Vernon include, the mansion, the slave memorial, George Washington's tomb, a replica slave quarter, a museum, and an educational center. Of course there is a gift shop and a little food court. An audio tour is included with admission. You can either use one of their devices or your own cell phone. At $28 I think this place is a bit over priced. You also have to get a timed ticket to the mansion if you would like to take that tour. I found the Slave memorial very interesting. It is a memorial that is placed where many of the slaves from the plantation were buried. It is estimated to be the final resting place of about 150 of them. The Tomb is nice to see, but you can't get really close. You have to view it from a far. The water front is nice and picturesque and a nice place to just hang out. There is also a shuttle stop there. I really liked the replica slave quarters. There are some characters at this and some of the other replicas that will explain what you are looking at. I was really not a big fan of the mansion tour. It was a quick walk through of the first floor of the house. You are not supposed to talk during the tour either. Most of the mansion and surrounding structures are original with the exception of the room. Across from the mansion grounds is a snack area that has some tables with umbrellas and chairs, serving food from a food truck. I really liked the education center and museum. They are right next to each other and and both huge. They are the reason I bumped my rating up from 3 to 4 stars. The education center is focused the slaves of the GW farms and plantation. They have a bunch of exhibits and I learned a lot walking through there. The Museum is focused more on George Washington and Mount Vernon. They have a pair of his false teeth, chronicles his last day, and has statues of what GW would look like at different ages. As with most every tour, this ends in the gift shop and food court. The gift shop is decent sized and has toys, stuffed animals, magnets, key chains, shot glasses, and t-shirts. They are reasonably priced for souvenirs, but if you have kids the trick is to get them out of there without buying something. A lot of people come to this park to walk their dogs and hike the trails, especially members. My visit was ok, but kind of pricey for what you get. I recommend leaving the traditional DC attractions/museums/memorials behind, jump in a car and checking this place out once, if you can. Now will I probably be back? No.

I visited George Washington's Mount Vernon for the first time a few weeks ago, and overall I think it's a place anyone interested in history should visit. With the regular Grounds Pass, you get access to the mansion, outbuildings (like outhouses, blacksmith shops, salt house, etc.), gardens, George and Martha Washington's tombs, a farm (with some pigs and sheep and other animals), a few trails, and more. While a tour of the mansion is included with the Grounds Pass, you have to select that you want a mansion tour and choose a time when you buy your tickets. The mansion tour is a walk through tour with tour guides stationed in each room; your group moves from room to room and gets an explanation from the tour guide in that room when you get there. The mansion tour was okay (it felt rushed and short and crowded), but I did enjoy walking on the grounds. We walked for an hour, so I think we saw everything that we could. Highlights were the Slave Memorial, the greenhouse and slave quarters, the views of the Lower Potomac from the patio of the mansion and the wharf, the 16-sided barn, and the tombs. They offer additional add-on tours (some for an additional cost): the National Treasure Tour (re National Treasure: Book of Secrets), the Enslaved People of Mount Vernon, Hamilton the Musical, and an in-depth tour of the mansion. Unfortunately, I think these tours are something you have to book further in advance. I would have done the enslaved people tour, but it was sold out. (I am not sure if there is a set schedule/day for these special tours or not; I wish the website gave more information to help in planning the visit.) There are certain things at Mount Vernon that are only open seasonally - the distillery and gristmill, for example - so if you want to visit once and get everything done, I would recommend checking their website to see if everything is open. Visiting Mount Vernon is pricey ($26 for an adult's grounds pass), but you can spend hours here if you choose. There is also a museum and an education center that we didn't get to see on this visit. For food, there is a restaurant that looks really nice and a food court that is pretty awful (standard museum/zoo food court fare), but there was a wait at the restaurant and we didn't want to wait around (you can make a reservation at the restaurant, I believe). I would say a visit to Mount Vernon is something everyone should do once, but I'll probably do it twice (to take the enslaved people tour and visit anything we missed - the gristmill, the distillery, the museum, the education center). Definitely visit if you are interested in history and in the area.

I thought the timed 'tour' was rather unnecessary. You just kind of get herded from room to room and there is a guide in each room that tells you a brief description. I'd rather just go at my own pace since it wasn't a 'tour'. The grounds were nice to walk in. It can be a long walk from the wharf up, so I'd advise catching the shuttle if you can. My husband got to take part in the wreath laying ceremony at the tomb which was pretty cool. They have a food court with food such as pizza and sandwiches, or also a sit down dining area in a beautifully decorated space. The place is generally stroller friendly, but not the mansion itself. Overall, I feel like the mansion itself could've done with chances of more exploration.

I've been coming to Mount Vernon for over 18 years now, as I've been a lover of George Washington and American History for over 20 years. This visit, however, was especially meaningful for me, as it was the first time my 7 y/o son got to see Mount Vernon for the very first time. He was extremely excited in the days leading up to our visit (he even wanted us to get dressed in period attire!), but I'll remember all of my life his unbridled joy that began as soon as we pulled into the parking lot! Every single time I've been to Mount Vernon, there has always been something new to see and experience, and just when I think there's no way the most recent visit can be topped, there is something new and amazing. Throughout the entire visit, my son was beyond excited to see and experience everything everything Mount Vernon had to offer, and learn about George Washington. He said it was very hard for him to pick his favorite part, but it was a tie between the key to the Bastille and Washington's Tomb. We wrapped up our visit by dining at the Mount Vernon Inn. Guaranteed, our family will be coming back several times a year, for years to come! No doubt about it, Mount Vernon has MANY things for adults and children of all ages to experience and enjoy, and even in one full day, it's impossible to see everything. Not only should you visit Mount Vernon, but you should come back as much as you can!

I've visited plantations all over The US including Jefferson's Monticello right up the street. I think this one I enjoyed the most, lets be clear, I DONT enjoy what happened here, or ANY of the plantations. I liked how they had live re enactments of actors acting out what happened during the time this plantation was running and their ACCURATELY using phrases like the enslaved . Making the distinction that people were forced to work on this site and it wasn't a choice. The enslaved cabin had a recreation of what it looked like back then and they had other items from back in those times like his actual horse Cartridge he rode in. Overall, a learning experience for all.

I spent a week seeing the sites in DC but have to say this was the top highlight. While all the other items were impressive you cant compete with the actual residency of George Washington. There is so much history here and it is truly amazing. I was literally awestruck to see his home library office. To think that George Washington sat at the desk doing important paperwork was impressive to see. It was nice to pay my respects to his final resting place as well. I wish I had more time to visit the museum part as I had ran out of time and had tom hurry through the artifacts and exhibits which were plentiful. I can see why George liked to stay at Mt. Vernon as it was peaceful and beautiful.

My wife and I spent a bunch of time here on the last leg of our road trip as we were heading home. It was a great historical experience and really interesting to learn facts about the U.S.'s first President and First Lady. The grounds are beautiful and we really enjoyed our time here!

Was very good information tour of a historic site with plenty to see and do. It can't be done in 1 day. We did the house tour and river cruise and both were so worth it. The exhibit in the museum of the enslaved was well presented in a dignified manner on its last day of a 3-year run. I wish that I had seen it earlier. Need to a complete the presidential library, museum, four gardens and out buildings. Something for everyone.

Love the grounds here at Mt Vernon, the only thing I would recommend is to not come in the off season (aka winter) less is open to tour etc. I loved walking around looking at the property that George Washington built his home, it was just way too cold. Loved the house tour, wish I could have seen the third story but they don't do those tours until spring/summer. They also have a boat ride where you can see the property from the Potomac river. They have a nice cafe and gift shop with bourbon!

I came to George Washington's Mount Vernon in January 2009 the week before Barack Obama's first presidential inauguration. I was in Washington D.C. as a participant in a Lead America Presidential Youth Leadership Conference with high school students from around the United States of America. As part of the week leading up to the presidential inauguration we went around and toured a number of the historical sites in the District of Columbia (Washington D.C.) and Virginia. The lines at Mount Vernon were LONG. Turns out a lot of people were doing the same thing we were, going and seeing the sites since they were in town for the presidential inauguration. We walked slowly through different parts of the property, though our main focus was the main house. We didn't go to some of the other parts because there was just too many people. So we left seeing a few of the areas on the property but not the full story, one of the downsides of going during a busy season/time. On the plus side though it gave those of us in the Leadership Conference time to get to know each other and a little about the states/cities we each came from better as we talked while waiting in line together. One other thing about going in January is that it can be cold. That is daily highs in the 20s (degrees Fahrenheit) so make sure to dress warm, especially if you think lines might be long and you might be waiting in line outside the buildings like we did.

Amazing experience- catch the wreath laying ceremony at Washington's tomb. We are at the restaurant on the property which was a little pricey but worth it to sit in air conditioning & relax after a long day.