Peachy Ahoy: Spirit of Mount Vernon by Spirit Cruises in Washington, D.C. Highly Recommended by Whom You Know Our Coverage Sponsored by Martin's Tavern of Georgetown Est. 1933
Established in 1933, Martin's Tavern is one of Washington DC’s most historic family-owned enterprises. For 80 years, Martin’s Tavern has been a renowned fixture in the mid-Atlantic and a must-visit establishment in historic Georgetown. In the late 1890's, William S. Martin traveled from Galway, Ireland to America. Forty years later, he and his son, William G. Martin, the current Billy's grandfather, opened Martin’s Tavern on the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and N Street NW which is run today by our friend, William A. Martin Jr. You can call him Billy! From sitting Presidents and media icons, to city residents and worldly travelers, Martin’s Tavern is a welcoming home to the many who have long embraced its warm atmosphere. Its quintessentially classic American fare has delighted discriminating palates for decades from the Oakwood Atlantic Smoked Salmon to the Filet Mignon to whatever your little heart desires from the convincing menu. Every President from Truman to George W. Bush has happily dined at Martin's Tavern, and you can see the delicious culinary choices preferred by each in our review: Martin's Tavern is Highly Recommended by Whom You Know:
The President’s favorite booths, The Proposal Booth of Jack and Jackie Kennedy, Mickey Mantle in The Dugout Room, George W. Bush and family at Table 12 are just a few of the iconic stories. Fourth generation owner Billy Martin, Jr. continues the tradition of Washington’s oldest family owned restaurant and Georgetown landmark.
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Patriotic People and History Enthusiasts: Your Ship Has Come In.
It's not every day we find ourselves on a boat: it is an extraordinary day.
And in keeping for our Peachy Ahoy aspirations, The Spirit of Mount Vernon rose to the occasion. We love boats. Picture yourself shipside, far away from your office and your computer. A nice thought, n'est pas? We suggest you schedule today, and commit to going because you will enjoy yourself. Our readers are forward-thinking so if you are planning your Cherry Blossom Spring trip now, include this.
If you have not been to the Spirit of Mount Vernon before, do heed their map. Closely! The dock is located south of L'Enfant Plaza, in a nutshell. There are many, many boats in this general area, and when you see the Maine Lobster Man above, that is a clue you are very close to the right boat.
Spirit Cruises, Pier 4, is precisely where you want to go.
You'll know you're at the right boarding spot when you see:
If you are an inside-kind-of-person, or go on a chillier day, there is plenty of room inside.
It's clean, and the bathrooms are clean.
It's clean, and the bathrooms are clean.
We went on a picture-perfect day, and the weather was with us. (We cannot say the same for our scheduled golf reviews, so stay tuned on those! Our clubs are in tears.) One of the best ways to see a place is on the water, and the day we went to Mount Vernon with Spirit Cruises was definitely one of the most serene days this year for Whom You Know. And for more on serenity, read Father Morris.
Definitely arrive with time to spare in the morning because there would be nothing worse than missing the boat, literally, and know that there are bagels on the ship for purchase and we liked them. We suggest you dress in layers, and sit on top of the ship. You can see the best from up there and the breeze is amazing. Coco Chanel will be with you in spirit if you are trying to get a little color...bring your SPF too and lip protection. We liked how it was not crazily crowded, but rather punctuated with cultured, interesting people and we liked the couple from the UK that we met on the trip. The trip was smooth sailing all the way, both ways and super relaxing.
We really enjoyed seeing the planes fly into and out of Reagan on the way there and back; remember we also have a column called Pilot Peachy. It is phenomenally exciting to be so close.
You'll see gorgeous views on the way and we actually visited this lighthouse in person on the ground prior to going by it by ship, coincidentally. It's on beautiful parkland with lots of recreational options, and too many mosquitoes for us. We didn't realize how few mosquitoes are in Manhattan until we left it! We did not see one mosquito or bug of any kind on the Spirit of Mount Vernon.
After a relaxing trip down the Potomac, where you will also meet other boats, you will see George Washington's vision, Mount Vernon. The dock area looks like this, and you'll be given time to tour the grounds and come back to the boat. We had never been before and found it extraordinary; we have been to Sturbridge Village a number of times since we are from New England however, and found it somewhat similar.
Here is Mount Vernon up close, and the first thing you should do is take the tour inside.
Be sure to making your boarding time on the return trip, and get a great seat on the roofdeck!
This is definitely something we would do again, and we look forward to experiencing other talents of Spirit Cruises.
This is definitely something we would do again, and we look forward to experiencing other talents of Spirit Cruises.
In case you need another endorsement, even Queen Elizabeth has been to Mount Vernon. If it's good enough for her, it's good enough for you too, silly.
The Spirit of Mount Vernon Cruise from Washington, D.C. to Mount Vernon roundtrip by Spirit Cruises is Highly Recommended by Whom You Know.
#SpiritofMountVernon
Please visit www.twitter.com/SpiritCruisesDC
And www.facebook.com/SpiritofWashington
Please visit www.twitter.com/SpiritCruisesDC
And www.facebook.com/SpiritofWashington
Spirit of Mount Vernon ship facts:
Built in 1989
Renovated in 2012
Boat length: 176’
Passenger capacity: 500
Spirit Cruises has had excursions to Mount Vernon earlier than 1989- but that is when this particular ship was built.
SPIRIT CRUISES: MOUNT VERNON EXCURSIONS
March through October annually
Kicking the spring excursion season off in mid-March just a few days shy of the first official day of spring, Spirit Cruises is inviting locals and visitors alike to enjoy this seasonal and historical excursion along the Potomac to the Historic Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens – home to our first President George Washington. Spirit Cruises offers the only direct cruise to Mount Vernon from DC and is metro-accessible. Tickets include a roundtrip voyage to Mount Vernon and discounted admission to tour the estate.
During their 90-minute trip to the Estate, guests will enjoy a historical narration as they take in the spectacular sights along the Potomac. Upon arrival, guests will have three hours to explore the estate and grounds at their leisure. The return trip to DC departs at 1:30 pm docking at 3:00pm. A cash bar is available on board providing an assortment of beverages and snacks to and from the Southwest Waterfront. For additional information, to view the complete cruise schedule, or for reservations click here.
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