Mount Vernon: The First Presidential Residence

Mount Vernon was a busy tobacco and wheat plantation in colonial times, with a distillery, blacksmith shop, gristmill, greenhouse, and other facilities. Those buildings have been meticulously restored, decorated, and maintained over the centuries. Tens of millions of visitors flock to this historic Virginia site to learn more about the first U.S. president.

The Mount Vernon Mansion

Located a half-hour drive south of Washington, DC, the grand Mount Vernon mansion, 10 times larger than the average Virginia colonial home, is set on expansive grounds on the banks of the Potomac River. You can judge for yourself the likelihood of Washington's ability to throw a silver dollar across the river.

George Washington built the large Palladian-style residence in stages on land that he inherited. Since 1860, it has been owned and opened to the public by a philanthropic organization and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960. Mount Vernon is open every day, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day, and the holiday period is especially festive with decorations and special events, such as chocolate-making demonstrations and fireworks.

Inside the mansion, you can walk through the dining room filled with period furniture where George and his wife, Martha, entertained hundreds of guests each year. The tour takes you to the servants' quarters, kitchen, and the second-floor bedrooms. Be sure to visit the many outbuildings and barns to learn about blacksmithing, laundering, meat curing, and spinning in the original and restored workshops or stroll through the beautiful gardens and learn about the heritage-bred livestock on the grounds.

George Washington's Distillery and Gristmill

It's a little-known fact that Washington operated a distillery, located a five-minute drive from the Mount Vernon residence. He originally grew tobacco, but then switched to wheat and began distilling it to make whiskey. In 2007, his estate officially opened a fully functioning reconstruction of George Washington's distillery and gristmill at the original site and opened it for tours. If you're a fan of fine spirits, then you can take home a bottle of Washington's whiskey, available only at the Mount Vernon gift shop, along with other house-made spirits like brandy.

Old Town Alexandria

Continue your adventure with a visit to the Old Town district in Alexandria, about a 20-minute drive north of Mount Vernon. This quaint 18th-century waterfront area with its shuttered brick row houses and neatly landscaped parks makes you feel like you've strolled back to the colonial era.

Take a look at the hundreds of antique bottles of medical potions at the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, a historic pharmacy. Also in the neighborhood is the Alexandria Museum of Black History, where you can view paintings and artifacts that chronicle the African-American experience at Mount Vernon.

If you liked George Washington's distillery, then you can continue your whiskey tour with a visit to Gadsby's Historic Tavern Museum, where you can get a glimpse of the authentic settings in which the first president might have sipped spirits with the other founding fathers.

Where to Eat Near Mount Vernon

There is a food court pavilion at Mount Vernon for quick bites. If you want to linger over a traditional meal like Washington would have, then head next door to the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant for a romantic sit-down dining experience. The Inn also serves brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.

If you're already in Old Town, then you can still immerse yourself in the mood of colonial times at Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant, with its intriguing menu of historic specialties, such as peanut soup. Another great choice is the popular oyster bar at the Union Street Public House, located in a restored building dating from the late 1700s.

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