#105 Go to Mount Vernon

When the hubby told me we were going to Virginia for vacation, I started studying the bucket list and seeing what was on the list that would:
    a. Interest the hubby
    b. Be on the way home or not completely out of the way

Since we've gone east for the last couple of years, the things left on the original bucket list for the East Coast is dwindling fast. We didn't have many options but Mount Vernon was doable. I've always wanted to see Mount Vernon when I've been in DC but never had the opportunity.

Mount Vernon is George Washington's Estate. It is located in Mount Vernon, VA which is about 1.5 from Richmond or 30 minutes outside of DC. Since we were headed to Baltimore, this was actually a good stop.

Our admission ($18/person online) allowed us not only to see the Mansion but the out buildings, George and Martha's Graves, the grounds, the Pioneer Farm, the Museum and Educational Center, and the distillery down the road. One could spend one or more days here. There is a lot to see. If it wasn't so hot, we would have probably have seen more than we did.

When you get your tickets (online or in person), you either pick a time to tour the mansion or are assigned a time. Everything else is self-guided. There is a trolley and shuttle to take you to the lower parts of the grounds.

While we waited to tour the mansion, we saw the gardens and several of the out buildings. Many of the out buildings were where Washington's slaves worked and lived. To run a farm of this size, he needed a lot of help. It was very interesting to see how the slaves lived and worked.

Once it was time for our tour, we got in line for the tour. You can't the line before you assigned time and there is still usually a 5-10 minute minimum to get inside the mansion. They only allow about a dozen or so people in each group. There are no pictures allowed in the mansion and each room has its own tour guide. They give you a short spiel about the room and Washington before they direct you to the next room/building. I would have preferred one tour guide for the whole thing with smaller groups. The mansion was very neat to see.

We then headed down the hill to the Washington Tomb. A few people were ahead of us visiting the tomb. The original burial site was a short walk from the tomb.

On the way back to the car, we stopped in the museum to see more of Washington's history and artifacts. Somewhere along the lines we did watch a movie about Washington crossing the Delaware.

I'm glad I got to see Mount Vernon. Would I go back, probably not without the right group of people. It's one of those been there done that for me. If I were to have kids, I would take them here to show them this part of our history. It is something everyone should see at least one.. history buff or not. M non-history loving hubby even enjoyed it. My only disappointment is that Mount Vernon is not part of the National Park Service, so no passport stamp.