DC Duck Tours
 

Seems a little pricey but we're still looking for alternative "tour methods" for the kids, ages 4, 7, 11 and 14. If you had to choose, would you do Duck Tour or on/off Trolley Tour?

I haven't experienced the Duck Tour in D.C., but we did in Boston and it was fantastic! The fact that it's a narrated tour through the city streets then goes onto water is unique and terrific.

I have been on several Trolley Tours both in D.C. and New York. The problem with the "on and off" trolley tours is trying to get back ON at various trolley stops. Many times the FULL trolleys would come by and no one would get off, so no one could get on. You end up waiting for another trolley. I still recommend the trolley tours, but just plan to stay ON the trolley...or atleast for most of it.

I really enjoyed the "Monuments by Moonlight" trolley tour. It begins around 6:00 or 6:30 in the evening and lasts 2.5 hours. It's a narrated tour that takes you to the memorials and monuments with several stops that allow you to get off and visit the spot. You get back on the SAME trolley at a specific time. Usually the stops last about 10-20 minutes. Viewing the lit monuments at night is just awesome. My favorite memorial at night was the Korean War Memorial, especially the wall with etched faces. It's hard to describe, but at night, they look like holograms...very moving experience.

I'm doing the nightime tour again in October. I'm purchasing my tickets online in order to receive a discount. If you decide to do the same, please note that you will still need to make reservations by phone for the Monuments by Moonlight. I'm waiting until we get to D.C. to make my reservations so I can see which night is best due to weather.

I think the best way to get around D.C. is by subway...very clean and I always felt very safe.

I'm curious...why the night time tour of the monuments? I've read in several places that this is not to be missed but why not see them on your own rather than use a tour company?

I thoroughly enjoyed the narrated overview of all the monuments and memorials first. Then we went back to the ones we wanted to revisit at our leisure during the day. The trolley allows you to see alot in a short amount of time. I would NOT, however, get on a tour bus to do the monuments/memorials. Again, it's hard to describe, but you get a totally different perspective viewing them at night. I've seen them all during the day and at night. As I said earlier, I enjoyed the Korean War Memorial more at night...same feeling with the Roosevelt Memorial.

Definitely the Duck Tour with kids.

Although I didn't do a tour at all when I visited DC (alone), I have done a Duck Tour in Seattle, and a Trolley Tour in Boston. I loved both -- but the duck tour was infinitely more fun.

I don't know if all the duck tour companies are part of one big company, but I suspect that they are. The biggest difference is that you don't get off the vehicle on a duck tour, and it's a bit harder to take pictures. It's also shorter (1 1/2 hours, as opposed to half a day), fun (humorous narration, music, etc.), and you don't have to worry about one of the kids wandering off. If you see an attraction you want to see more of, you can always go back later.

The most fun part of our duck tour in Seattle was when the driver "rocked the boat" to music during the water segment.

Donna

One factor to consider about the Duck tour in Washington is that there's not much on the waterfront in DC or Va. near the monuments -- it is almost all parkland on both sides of the river between Georgetown and Alexandria (maybe 8 to 10 miles). The aquatic part of the trip may not offer much more than the thrill of driving into the Potomac and a view of miles of pretty green riverbank.

To see Washington, Tourmobile or Trolley is the better choice. But if seeing the monuments etc. is secondary for you, the Duck could be a blast.

The DC Ducks tour is a lot of fun, but it is not really a way to see any monuments, you merely drive by them on the way to the river. There is narrative commentary by the driver pointing out the sights, and you do have a good view of those on PA and Independence Ave, which are however mostly museums, IRS, Justice Dept, i.e. building rather than monuments. The river portion is quite short, you go into the water near Regan Airport, sit under the flight path of some planes (pretty thrilling) drive out into the middle of the river, the driver lets the kids all take a turn at driving the boat, and you get back out of the water. It is a hoot to be driving along on the highway in an amphibious craft that does 35 miles while all the cars are whizzing past. However, you spend more time on the highway getting to the river than you actually do ON the river. As noted above, the scenery is not that interesting at that part of the river and the river is in fact quite wide so you don't see much on the far shore. A 4 and 7 year old may not appreciate any part of it other than the river ride, IMO.

I used to live in DC and know the city and all the monuments well, so I was not disappointed with the DC Ducks tour which was fun. However, I would not use the Ducks tour as your only way to see the monuments. You won't get a good view of the Washington, Lincoln or Jefferson Memorials, you won't get near the White House, you won't get near Arlington Cemetery. The hop on and off tour mobile is a great way to get to all the sights, as they are quite far apart, and you can also get off and go into and/or up the monuments you are interested in.