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ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Alexandrians can travel to Mount Vernon by water on a round trip that leaves from the Alexandria City Marina and includes admission to the estate.
Visit Alexandria announced the service Tuesday and described it as new this week. The city's tourism organization encouraged travelers to board in Old Town and reach the estate the way George Washington once did.
City Experiences operates the boats under its City Cruises brand and lists the trip as a Mount Vernon excursion serving both Alexandria and The Wharf in Washington.
The schedule
Boarding in Alexandria is at 9 a.m. The vessel leaves at 9:05 a.m. and reaches Mount Vernon about 9:45 a.m. The return boards at 1:45 p.m. and arrives back in Alexandria about 2:40 p.m., a little under six hours door to door.
That leaves roughly four hours at the estate. City Cruises advertises three hours to explore the grounds and gardens, which appears to account for the walk up from the wharf.
Fares start at $56 with fees and taxes included, and admission to Mount Vernon is part of the price.
City Cruises runs the trip daily Tuesday through Sunday from April through August, and Fridays through Sundays in March, September and October. It also runs on Memorial Day, Labor Day and Indigenous Peoples Day.
A caveat worth checking before booking
City Cruises says that on some dates the Mount Vernon vessel does not stop in Alexandria, running only between the estate and The Wharf. The company tells travelers to check its online schedule before planning a trip.
Passengers boarding at The Wharf leave at 8:30 a.m. and pass through Alexandria on the way south.
What's at the other end
Visit Alexandria pointed to two recent additions at Mount Vernon: the newly restored mansion and a new exhibition, "George Washington: A Revolutionary Life."
Getting to the dock
The Alexandria dock sits at the foot of Cameron Street. City Cruises calls parking near its boats very limited and recommends rideshare, listing garages at 102 N. Union St. and 220 N. Union St. as the closest options.
The narrated route passes Reagan National Airport, Old Town, National Harbor and Fort Washington.
