About a 30-minute drive south of Washington, D.C. along the Potomac River, you’ll find Mount Vernon, which was loved by the first president, George Washington. He built his mansion and extensive polantation there and spent half his life there.
This time, I will tell you about the charm of Mount Vernon, which can be called the home of the American heart.
Must sees in Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, which was loved by President Washington, is located in western Virginia in the lower Potomac River basin, about 30 minutes south of Washington, D.C. by car.
It is dotted with many attractions, including the mansion where he spent half his life, a sprawling plantation, and the graves of President Washington and his wife Martha.
Here are five places you should definitely see when you visit Mount Vernon.
Washington Presidential Family Mansion and Related Buildings
The first thing you should see when visiting Mount Vernon is the mansion and related buildings where President Washington’s family spent time.
After passing through the visitor center at the entrance and walking along the road, you will see a colonial building with a red roof and cream walls on your left. The large building in the center is the mansion where President Washington’s family spent time.
The inside is open to the public, and you can see what it looked like back then, but be aware that photography is prohibited inside the mansion.
However, there are many highlights such as the huge hall reminiscent of the East Room of the White House, the bedrooms of President and Mrs. Washington, and the study, so please come inside.
After you’ve toured the mansion, you can visit the adjacent stables on the south side, where the horse-drawn carriage used by President Washington is on display. This horse-drawn carriage can be said to be the first official vehicle of the United States.
Magnificent scenery seen from the east of the mansion
There is a large lawn on the east side of the mansion where President Washington spent time, and beyond that you can see the Potomac River and the forest on the opposite bank.
The Potomac River overlooked from here is in the lower reaches, so the width of the river is very wide, and it feels more like a lake than a river. In addition, you can enjoy nature to your heart’s content because you can’t see any man-made objects from here.
A vast farm that spreads south of the mansion
A vast plantation spreads out on the south side of the mansion, and there is a landscape that has not changed since then. Even now, various kinds of vegetables and fruits, livestock such as cattle and sheep are cultivated and bred there.
The crops harvested there are served at the attached restaurant, so please stop by. If you think that you can eat the same ingredients as those days, you will be able to enjoy your trip more deeply.
Grave of President Washington and his wife Martha
A walk south through the plantation leads to the grave where President Washington and his wife Martha are buried.
At the entrance of the tomb, there are two obelisks on the left and right sides, and behind them stands the mausoleum where President Washington and his wife Martha are buried. Inside the mausoleum are two marble coffins, with President Washington on the right and his wife Martha on the left.
On the left and right of the entrance of the mausoleum are the American flag and the flag of President Washington, and you can feel that this is an important place for America.
On-site museum and restaurant
The museum, located in the same area as the visitor center, displays various materials related to President Washington and Mount Vernon.
Also, at the restaurant, you can enjoy dishes using the crops harvested in Mount Vernon, so please try it.
Mount Vernon where you can experience majestic nature and history
Located on the lower Potomac River, Mount Vernon was a favorite destination of President Washington, with historic buildings and plantations in a majestic setting.
You can feel as if you have traveled back in time to the area that has not changed since President Washington spent his time there.
There are other ways to get to Mount Vernon besides cars, such as bicycles and trekking, but we recommend a local tour for more efficient access. In addition to Mount Vernon, the local tour will stop at the ancient city of Alexandria and Arlington National Cemetery where many heroes are buried, so you can go to more places.
Why not take a break from Washington D.C. and enjoy Virginia’s majestic nature and early history?