Can anyone tell me whether it is worth it to pay $28 (including $11 entrance fee to Mt. Vernon) to take the Gray Line Tour to Mount Vernon? My other option is to directly take the Yellow Line Metro to Huntington Station and then Virginia Fairfax Connector Bus.

I will be traveling with my husband and two young children. The Metro part I'm fine with but I have not read much about DC Metrobus. I don't mind paying the extra $ for Gray Line if it is less hassle free then the bus.

Using public transportation to get to Mt. Vernon is quite easy although the one complication is timing your Metro arrival and departure with the hourly bus service. Can your two kids handle the wait if you miss the bus? I'd be inclined to pay the extra $ if it's not a budget buster.

You've probably already visited the MV website but just in case, there's a good description on their directions page:

http://www.mountvernon.org/visit/directions/bus.asp

I use to take that same metrobus back in the 80s (when I lived in the area) a few times to Mt. Vernon. If it were only you and your husband that would be fine, you could easily waste time between taking the metro and bus by strolling down King Street but with children I'd take the Grey Line Tour. In fact when I go to D.C. again I'd take the Grey Line to just about all the attractions.

For $17 extra per adult, plus perhaps $10 per kid, that really adds up. Even all those Metro trips would come to at least $20 for 4 people; I'd consider renting a car!

Stephanie, Just in case you ever go back, it's easier to take the Metro to the Huntington Station and catch a bus directly to Mt. Vernon from there. Cost to ride the Fairfax Connector is 50 or 75 cents. Definitely the lowest cost option.

I did this last summer and it was easy. The bus ride takes about 20 min. through Virgina suburbs, I chatted with other tourists.
The bus stop is directly across the street from Mt. Vernon.
I arrived early and was able to see all I wanted to see in one hour.You can hang out in the gift shop and see the bus pull up.
Grab a transfer from the machines as you enter the Metro, it will work on the bus.

We took the Gray Line tour last September after the hurricane made our boat trip impossible. It was nice but we felt very rushed at Mount Vernon(just my husband and I). Christ Church was beautiful and the trip through Alexandria was educational. I still don't know how our bus driver made it down all of those narrow streets. It's hard to judge with the children. If you are content with walking around Mount Vernon and not standing in line to see the house tour, the bus may be easier.

I just did this and it was easy by public transport take bus 101 from Huntington Station. IT is a lovely ride and only $.35 with the metro transfer, the driver gave us a return tranfer so it was econonmical. Just check the times of the bus in the off season they don't run frequently.

Is it still possible to take a boat from D.C. to Mt. Vernon? We lived in Washington for four years, left in '83 and, unfortunately, haven't been back since. But while we were there we took a tour boat to Mt. Vernon several times. It was a really nice, relaxing trip. And, if I recall correctly, the boat let us off very close to where the Washingtons are buried. I'd love to take that trip again someday.

The boats do still run during the peak season. I dont know the exact period.