As the author of an award-winning D.C. walking guide and fellow traveler, I know what it means to have a friendly, knowledgeable tour guide on hand, not just to show you around a new place, but to craft an experience that you’ll savor long after you’ve kicked off your shoes.
I think you’ll find that a private walking tour with DC Jaunts is the perfect introduction to our fabulous American capital. If a richer experience with someone who really knows this place sounds worthwhile, then I hope you’ll get in touch!
Contact me (or your hotel consierge) to firm up a date and time and we’ll make it happen. See below for pricing and tour details.
Ken Wilcox
- D.C.-licensed tour guide
- Author of A National Jaunt: Footster’s Guide to Washington, D.C.
- Same/next day tours, day or evening
- Easy pace, family friendly
- Insider experiences, great stories, hidden gems
- Meet at your hotel (or wherever you prefer)
- All on-foot, or combined with vehicle or public transit (passes included)
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., truly is a truly amazing place… stunning monuments, memorials, museums, galleries, major parks, gardens, palatial public buildings, lively street scenes, miles of walkable waterfront, countless sculptures, fountains, and murals, and quaint historic areas with awesome architecture and boundless stories spanning hundreds of years.
There is so much here, in fact, it can be a little daunting deciding where to begin! Fortunately, I know this great city very well, and can help you discover the best there is to see and experience.
To make your visit as rewarding as possible, I offer small-group walking tours along three basic themes–Monumental!, Quaint & Historic, and the Classic Urban Trek. Or I can design a custom tour to suit the specific interests of your group.
Tours in a nutshell…
Monumental!
Explore the history and beauty of Old Downtown and the National Mall, including the memorials and monumental architecture that make Washington, D.C. such an incredible place. We’ll learn about the exuberant French architect who designed the capital, and the disappointing reception he received for his visionary work. From quirky to serious, we’ll share some of the more curious stories of each memorial and monument that we pass. Expect awesome views and brief stops for photos, stories and hidden gems. This popular tour is highly recommended anytime, day or night.
Quaint & Historic
A leisurely walk through DC’s favorite, bustling historic districts–Capitol Hill/Barracks Row, Georgetown/Dupont Circle or Adams Morgan/U Street, as well as Old Town Alexandria across the Potomac River in Virginia. Each of these areas is quite unique and a joy to explore on foot. Let us know which area has piqued your interest and we’ll provide a little more background on what we’ll see along the way. For a very cool custom tour, think about combining the Georgetown tour with a water-taxi ride over to Old Town Alexandria (we’ll arrange it all). But regardless, plan on rich stories, gorgeous old architecture, historic sites, boutiques, fabulous murals, walkable waterfronts, and more within each of these revered and inviting places. Adams Morgan and U Street are superb for local culture, music, and street art. Go where the locals go!
Classic Urban Trek
I like to recommend two scenic urban treks for people who really like to get out and see it all–Secrets of Old D.C. and a Waterfront Walkabout. These walks are both on and off the beaten path. We’ll ramble through historic areas, a bit of downtown, scenic parks and gardens, and along D.C.’s foot-friendly waterfront, encountering dozens of points of interest. These treks are ideal for first-time visitors, avid walkers and hikers, new residents of greater D.C., or anyone else, for that matter, who wants to better understand the geography of this complex city, leave the crowds behind, or at least see some of the great places they’ve been missing.
Pricing
The standard 4-hour walking tour (day or evening) is $425 for up to 8 adults/teens ($20 per person additional for larger groups; kids 12 and under free). A 2-hour tour is $250 and an all-day walking tour (up to 9 hours) is $825. Kids and teens under 18 must be with an adult. Cash or credit accepted.
How long are the tours? Most tours last four hours and cover about four miles, an ideal length and pace for enjoying the sights and stories without feeling rushed. An all-day tour runs about 8-9 hours, with breaks for a rest, beverage, or meal whenever you like. Custom tours can be of any length or group size, and can be reserved for any time and place that’s available. They can be based on any or all of the tours above or something totally different.
Where to meet: Details and directions are provided when you reserve your tour. Monumental! and Old D.C. tours typically meet at your hotel lobby or the U.S. Navy Memorial on Pennsylvania Avenue, next to the Archives/Penn Quarter Metro Station. The Capitol Hill tour meets at Union Station. The Georgetown/Dupont tour meets at Dupont Circle. Other meeting locations, any special things to know about, your guide’s cell phone number, and payment info are provided when you sign up. Let us know if you prefer to begin the tour at a particular location, such as a museum, restaurant, etc. and we’ll meet you there.
Thanks for thinking of us!
Driving Tours
Half-day and all-day driving tours can also be arranged for any size group. These might include sightseeing around D.C. or scenic Virginia backroads, historic small towns, wineries, waterfalls, natural history, hiking, spring or fall color tours and more. To check on cost and availability, please contact us.