The home of the Father of Our Country, George Washington's Mount Vernon, is a plantation on the banks of the Potomac River. Originally on land owned by Washington's great-grandfather, expansion of the estate started in 1739 and continued under Washington, who acquired the estate in 1754 and became sole owner in 1761. The plantation was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960. According to Wikipedia, Washington wrote in a letter to William Pearce in 1796: "I have no objection to any sober or orderly person's gratifying their curiosity in viewing the buildings, Gardens, &ca. about Mount Vernon."
Best and Worst Times to Go to Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon is open year-round, but busiest from March until June, and on weekends September through October. As expected, traffic is high on President's Day and July 4. Other busy times, according to the Mount Vernon web site, are Palm Sunday weekend, Easter Sunday weekend, and the weekend after Thanksgiving.
Must See/Do at Mount Vernon
According to the Mount Vernon website, Washington loved dogs. Special dog-friendly tours are available in spring and fall. A must-see is the Distillery and Gristmill, located about three miles away from the mansion on Route 235. Free parking is available and admission is included with your ticket. Also worth seeing is the Pioneer Farm--baby lambs in the spring is a major draw.
Admission to Mount Vernon
Admission is cheaper for members, with about $30 for a basic membership, which includes unlimited admission for one person for one year. Non-members can expect to pay $17 for adult admission (ages 12-61), while seniors pay $16 and youth pay $9. Discounts are available for members of the military, veterans, and their dependents.
Parking and Public Transportation for Mount Vernon
Visitor parking is free at Mount Vernon, and is located on the east and west sides of the George Washington Memorial Parkway. An overflow lot is available if these lots are full, and the east and overflow lots have spots available for RVs and trailers. Public transportation is tricky--take Metrorail's Yellow Line to Huntington Station, go to the lower level exit, then board the Fairfax Connector Bus 101, the Fort Hunt Line. For more information, contact the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).
Food at Mount Vernon
The Mount Vernon Inn accepts and strongly recommends reservations, but accepts people on a first come, first served basis. Tickets are not required. The hours are odd, so call ahead. Prices are moderate and food is best described as American comfort food. Try the Cornbread with Vanilla Bean Honey Butter or the Fried Green Tomatoes at lunch or Sunday Brunch, the Soup Trio at dinner, and the Creole Mussels during Happy Hour.
Insider Tip for Mount Vernon
The key to the notorious French prison, the Bastille, is on display in the first floor passage. The key was given to Washington by the Marquis de Lafayette.
Author's bio: Becky Oberg is a history buff who lives in Indianapolis and descendent of Shadrack Byrd, a spy for the Americans during the Revolutionary War who saw combat at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge. Her hobbies include acting, reading, singing, writing, and playing video games.
Named one of the 10 Great Streets in the USA by the American Planning Association, and the only street in America listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Monument Avenue is a beautiful street to drive or walk during a visit to Richmond. You'll enjoy the breathtaking, larger-than-life monuments to some of Virginia's great influential people while you take a trip through one of the great upper-class neighborhoods of historic Richmond.
Parking and Public Transportation at Monument Avenue
Parking availability will vary depending on whether or not there is an event occurring at Monument Avenue, such as the Monument Avenue 10K Race. On most days, parking is available in the private lots of local businesses or in city owned lots, which are marked and easy to find. Parking is not strictly necessary to see Monument Avenue, since visitors may drive down this street and see the sights from their cars, but for those who want to spend more time and get a closer look at the tremendous monuments, parking in any of the lots along Monument Avenue is not difficult. GRTC buses are available and there are stops directly on Monument Avenue, though most visitors prefer to drive.
Best and Worst Times to Visit Monument Avenue
Before planning a visit to Monument Avenue, check to see if there are any events that might block access to this historic street. Bicycle and foot races through Richmond generally use Monument Avenue as part of their route, and while this is exciting to watch, spectators will not be allowed to roam at will and explore the various statues and historical markers. Other events occur periodically, especially during springtime, that do not block access to the monuments, but may make parking challenging to find. Warm, sunny afternoons in spring are the ideal conditions for a visit.
Must See and Do at Monument Avenue
The monuments along Monument Avenue honor General Robert E. Lee, J.E.B. Stuart, Jefferson Davis, Stonewall Jackson, Matthew Fontaine Maury, and Arthur Ashe. Take special note of the beautiful old mansions in the 3100 block, as these are historic buildings notable for their architecture and for their representation of posh Richmond life in the 1800s. The Virginia Center for Architecture is located on Monument Avenue in a Tudor Revival mansion that was designed by the same architect who designed the Jefferson Memorial, John Russell Pope.
Other Places to Visit Near Monument Avenue
For a stroll through another picturesque outdoor location with ties to Civil War history, a visit to Hollywood Cemetery is only a few minutes drive from Monument Avenue. Historic Carytown is within walking distance of Monument Avenue and boasts a plethora of dining options ranging from inexpensive comfort food to chic, elegant experiences. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is a great option to stroll indoors on hot or rainy days with no admission fees required.
Insider Tip for Visitors to Monument Avenue
Do a little bit of research on the figures depicted in the monuments before your visit. Not only will you be pleasantly surprised at what you find, but you'll enjoy your visit more with a little bit of context as to why these men were chosen and what they mean to Richmond. Bring your camera, too. A picture of a loved one at the base of one of the monuments shows the magnitude of the sculptures and makes an impressive addition to a photo album.
Author's bio: Kitty Lusby is an author and self proclaimed adventurer from the Richmond, Virginia area. She believes that travel is a necessity and does it as often as possible.
