You’re in for a treat on this journey led by local musician and musical historian, Ken Avis.
Get set to gaze upon original murals featuring legendary history makers from D.C. such as Duke Ellington, music icon Marvin Gaye and many others, and hear stories of their relevance to DC and American music history.
Let’s delve into the Jazz and Cultural Renaissance that forged the path for today’s celebrated African American successes, musicians, talents, and heroes. Ken’s tour explores history through the lens of DC music.
With fascinating commentary, we’ll reminisce about U Street’s vibrant nightlife and glitzy attractions and make a stop to admire awe-inspiring entertainment venues.
Imagine, the more than 100-year-old Howard Theater and the glamorous Lincoln Theatre, graced by national recording artists like Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong during the early 1900s.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Howard Theatre Historic Music Venues
DC music murals and memorials Learn about musicians such as Marvin Gaye, Duke Ellington, Billie Holliday, Ruth Brown, Chuck Brown, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Jelly Roll Morton, and many more.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Howard Theatre
Historic Music Venues
Learn about musicians such as Marvin Gaye, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Pearl Bailey
Join us as we tour one of Washington DC’s first suburbs – Anacostia. Located East of the River in SE DC, Anacostia was founded as Uniontown in 1854 and still retains a lot of its working class architecture.
Led by Craig, whose lived east of the Anacostia for 50 years, we’ll explore the neighborhood’s history and development learning how it has and has not changed since the mid 19th century.
Sights we see or talk about on the tour:
Anacostia River
19th century homes
Historic Churches
The Big Chair
Hills of Anacostia
Frederick Douglass’ Cedar Hill (we see this from afar only)
Note: East of the River is part of DC, too and we want to share it with locals and tourists alike but we need to address safety “concerns”. We’ve never felt uncomfortable or unsafe on our visits to Anacostia – no more so than walking around any other part of a city. We hope that visiting Anacostia with a local guide will help everyone feel comfortable enough to show up and then discover this vibrant and welcoming community.
Stay after the tour for lunch at one of the local restaurants:
Reservations: REQUIRED. Click here to reserve.When:View our CalendarWhere: Tour begins outside the Busboys & Poets Restaurant on Martin Luther King Jr Blvd SE in Anacostia (map)Duration: Tour lasts approx. 1.5 hours. Total walking is about 1 miles.
★★★★★ Rated Excellent on TripAdvisor | Small groups | Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Just outside the original city plan, Washington DC’s most exclusive neighborhood tells a story that most visitors never hear. Wealth, power, intrigue, scandal, curses, and political assassination — Embassy Row has it all.
What began as Millionaires Row, where the nouveau riche built 60-room mansions on the outskirts of the capital, eventually attracted the foreign diplomatic community that gave the neighborhood a second life. Today it is home to the highest concentration of embassies in the city — and some of the most remarkable buildings in Washington DC.
This tour takes you around the world without leaving the city.
Check Dates & Book Your Spot
Spots fill up fast. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, so there’s no risk in reserving your spot now.
⏱ Duration: Approximately 2 hours
📍 Meets at: The fountain in the center of Dupont Circle. Look for your guide in DC by Foot attire. Tour ends near Dupont Circle North Metro at 19th and Q St NW. (map)
🚇 Getting here: Metro Red Line — Dupont Circle Station. Parking available nearby via SpotHero.
👟 Physical level: Easy — approximately 1.5 miles of walking. Some uneven terrain and narrow sidewalks along Embassy Row.
Massachusetts Avenue — once Millionaires Row, now home to the highest concentration of embassies in Washington DC.
We don’t just show you the sites. We tell you the stories.
Every stop on this tour has a story most visitors never hear. Our guides bring them to life.
Millionaires Row and the Mansions
The gilded age newcomers who built their fortunes in the industrial era wanted the world to know it. The mansions they constructed along Massachusetts Avenue are among the grandest private residences ever built in Washington DC — and the stories of the families who built them are even grander.
The Embassies
India, Indonesia, Ireland, Chile, Greece, Croatia and more — each embassy occupies a building with its own history, long before any diplomat ever set foot inside. Hear about the countries, the buildings, and the sometimes dramatic stories of how they came together.
Ambassador’s Residences
The official residences of the ambassadors of Turkey, Egypt, and Ireland are among the most impressive addresses in the city. Hear what goes on behind these doors — the diplomacy, the dinner parties, and the occasional scandal.
The Cosmos Club and Anderson House
Two of the most exclusive addresses on Embassy Row — one a private club that has counted presidents and Nobel laureates among its members, the other a Gilded Age mansion that houses one of DC’s most undervisited museums. Both have stories worth hearing.
Woodrow Wilson House and the Spanish Steps
The only presidential museum located in a private DC residence — Wilson’s home after he left the White House is frozen in the early 1920s and open to visitors. Nearby, the Spanish Steps are one of the neighborhood’s quietest and most charming secrets.
Dupont Circle
The tour begins and ends here — one of DC’s most vibrant and historically layered neighborhoods. Hear about the circle’s transformation from a genteel residential enclave to the culturally diverse, politically engaged community it is today.
Why tour with a guide?
You could walk Massachusetts Avenue on your own. You’d miss almost everything.
Embassy Row looks like a street of beautiful old buildings. To our guides, it’s a map of money, power, and international intrigue spanning more than a century. Without a guide, you’re looking at facades. With one, you’re hearing the stories behind them.
Stories most people never hear. The curses, the scandals, the political assassinations connected to these addresses. The history of Embassy Row goes far deeper than diplomacy.
A genuinely international experience. In the space of two hours you pass through the cultural territory of dozens of countries — each with its own history, architecture, and connection to the United States.
Buildings brought to life. Our guides know who built these mansions, who lived in them, and what happened inside. The architecture alone is worth the walk — the stories make it unforgettable.
Your questions get answered. See something that catches your eye? We stop and talk about it. No audio guide ever did that.
Everything before you book.
Meeting point
The fountain in the center of Dupont Circle. Look for your guide in DC by Foot attire at the fountain.
End point
The tour ends near Dupont Circle North Metro at 19th and Q St NW. (map)
Getting there
Metro Red Line to Dupont Circle Station. Parking is available nearby — book a guaranteed spot in advance via SpotHero.
What to bring
Comfortable walking shoes — approximately 1.5 miles including some uneven terrain
Water bottle
Camera — the mansions and embassy buildings along Massachusetts Avenue are spectacular
Weather-appropriate clothing — tours run rain or shine
Accessibility
This tour includes some narrow sidewalks and uneven terrain along Embassy Row. Contact us in advance if you have specific accessibility needs and we will do our best to accommodate. For fully accessible options please contact us about a private tour.
What’s included
Licensed professional historian and tour guide
Dupont Circle and Embassy Row restaurant and experience recommendations from your guide
Advice on must-do experiences in the neighborhood
The mansions of Embassy Row tell the story of wealth, power, and international diplomacy spanning more than a century.
Ready to Walk With Us?
This tour fills up fast. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, no risk.
No — this is a street-level walking tour. We view all buildings from the street and do not enter any embassies, residences, or private buildings. Your guide will share photos and details of the interiors where relevant. Some buildings on the route, such as the Woodrow Wilson House, are independently open to visitors and can be visited separately.
Is this tour family-friendly?
Yes — this tour is suitable for all ages. The stories of wealth, power, and international intrigue are engaging for curious adults and older children alike. Children under 4 are free.
Do the embassies on the tour change?
The core route and main stops are consistent but our guides have the knowledge and flexibility to adjust based on what is happening in the neighborhood on any given day. The list of embassies and buildings covered may vary slightly between tours.
What happens if it rains?
Tours run rain or shine. Bring an umbrella and weather-appropriate clothing. In the event of severe weather we will contact all guests by email and text with alternative options or a full refund.
How do I cancel or reschedule?
Reply to your confirmation email to cancel or reschedule. Full refunds are available up to 24 hours before the tour. We offer flexible rescheduling and can often accommodate you on another date with short notice. Guests who booked via a third-party platform must cancel through that platform.
Your guide meets you at the fountain in the center of Dupont Circle — one of DC’s most vibrant and historically layered neighborhoods.
Alexandria is so close to D.C. that it actually used to be a part of the federal district, yet it manages to feel as it belongs to another world … another era. Home to one of the oldest historic districts in America, Alexandria boasts a heavy dose of colonial charm.
From its founding in 1749, you’ll learn about this pre-Revolutionary home where George Washington worshiped and occasionally stayed, Robert E. Lee grew up, and other stories of this historic town.
Check out our Guide to Visiting Alexandria for directions, restaurant recommendations and self guided tour options. Check out our audio tours for before or after your visit!
Sights we see or talk about on the Old Town Alexandria Walking Tour
Market Square
Carlyle House
Gadsby’s Tavern
Secret Garden Walkways
Christ Church
and more!
We will discuss the history and development of this neighborhood, along with some of its secrets!
Note: We will view the above sites and homes from the street and will not be entering any residences.
Tour Information
Duration: Approximately 2 hours. Total distance 1m (1.6k)
Where: Meet at your guide
Cost: This is a small group (10-12 people) ticketed tour with rates from $39.00. While you may see more spots available, we sometimes run this tour with multiple guides.
CANCELLATION POLICY: Tours are rain or shine. In the event of adverse weather, we will email and text with alternative options or offer a refund.
If you need to cancel, please reply to your confirmation email. We hope you don’t have to but if you cannot attend the tour, we can only offer a refund with 24 hours’ notice before the start of the tour. After that time frame, we are unable to refund. Guests who booked via a third party ticketing site must cancel via the platform they booked on.
We offer a flexible rescheduling option and are often able to accommodate you on another tour with even short notice if a comparable tour is running during your visit!
★★★★★ Rated Excellent on TripAdvisor | Small groups | Runs daily at 10:30 AM | Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Georgetown is older than Washington DC itself. It was a prosperous port town before the capital existed, and its streets still carry the stories of the people who built it — from the Nacotchtank tribe and a thriving free Black community to Cold War spies and presidents who lived here before the White House.
This is the original Historic Georgetown walking tour, developed by our own COO Canden Arciniega — an expert in Georgetown history and the author of Wicked Georgetown and Images of Georgetown. It has been so widely copied that other tour companies have started running versions of it. There is only one original.
Not to be confused with our Ghosts of Georgetown Tour — this daytime tour focuses on the history, architecture, and the stories of the people who shaped one of DC’s most iconic neighborhoods over 300 years.
Check Dates & Book Your Spot
This tour runs daily at 10:30 AM and spots fill up fast. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, so there’s no risk in reserving your spot now.
⏱ Duration: Approximately 2 hours
📍 Meets at: C&O Canal at Lock 3, between 30th and Thomas Jefferson St NW. Tour ends near Georgetown University at 37th and O Streets NW. (map)
🚇 Getting here: Metro Blue or Orange Line to Foggy Bottom/GWU Station. Georgetown is approximately a 15-minute walk from the station. Parking is available nearby via SpotHero.
👟 Physical level: Easy – approximately 1 miles of walking through Georgetown’s historic streets. Some uneven terrain and hilly sections.
Georgetown’s streets predate the capital itself — and our guides know every story behind every building.
We don’t just show you the sites. We tell you the stories.
Every stop on this tour has a story most visitors never hear. Our guides bring them to life.
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
The tour begins here at Lock 3 — the waterway that once ran through Georgetown’s industrial heart. Hear about the canal’s role in shaping the neighborhood and why it nearly disappeared entirely.
The Old Stone House
The oldest unchanged residential building in Washington DC, built in 1765 and now a national park site. Most visitors walk right past it. Our guides stop and tell you what happened inside.
The Kennedy Homes
Before the White House, the Kennedys lived in Georgetown. Hear about Jackie and John’s time in the neighborhood — before and after his assassination — and the houses that still stand today.
18th and 19th Century Architecture
Learn to read Georgetown’s buildings the way our guides do — original firemarks, coal chutes, ironworks, and gas lanterns that tell the story of who lived here and when. Few neighborhoods in America have this density of architectural history still intact.
Black Georgetown, Immigrants, and Women Who Broke the Rules
Georgetown’s history is not just the story of wealthy white families. Hear about the prosperous free Black community that shaped the neighborhood, the immigrants who built it, and the women who defied the social norms of their time.
Martin’s Tavern and Georgetown University
The oldest family-run restaurant in DC has hosted presidents, power brokers, and one very important marriage proposal. The tour ends near Georgetown University — hear how the neighborhood shaped the institution and vice versa.
Why tour with a guide?
Georgetown has 300 years of stories. You only have two hours.
You could walk Georgetown’s streets on your own and admire the architecture. But without a guide you’d be looking at beautiful buildings without understanding what happened inside them — or who lived there, or why it matters.
The original tour, by the original expert. This tour was developed by Canden Arciniega, author of Wicked Georgetown and Images of Georgetown. No other company has this depth of research behind their Georgetown tour.
Stories most guides don’t know. The Cold War spy connections. The Civil War hospital where a female doctor may have been a double agent. The truth about Georgetown’s “cobblestones.” These are the details that make this tour unlike anything else in the city.
Architecture brought to life. Our guides know how to read a building — the firemarks, the coal chutes, the ironwork. Every detail tells a story about who lived here and when.
Your questions get answered. See something that catches your eye? We stop and talk about it. No audio guide ever did that.
Georgetown’s architecture tells the story of 300 years of American history — if you know what to look for.
Everything before you book.
Meeting point
The C&O Canal at Lock 3, between 30th and Thomas Jefferson St NW. Look for your guide in DC by Foot attire at the canal. Parking is available nearby — book a guaranteed spot in advance via SpotHero. (map)
End point
The tour ends near Georgetown University at 37th and O Streets NW.
Schedule
This tour runs daily at 10:30 AM. Check the booking calendar for availability during your visit.
Getting there
Metro Blue or Orange Line to Foggy Bottom/GWU Station. Georgetown is approximately a 15-minute walk from the station. Rideshare is also a convenient option. There is no Metro station in Georgetown itself.
What to bring
Comfortable walking shoes — approximately 1.5 miles including some uneven terrain
Water bottle
Camera — Georgetown is one of DC’s most photogenic neighborhoods
Weather-appropriate clothing — tours run rain or shine
Accessibility
Georgetown’s historic streets include some uneven terrain and hilly sections. This tour is not recommended for wheelchairs or strollers on public departures. For accessible options please contact us about a private tour.
Buildings visited
This is a street-level walking tour. We view all sites and homes from the street and do not enter any private residences.
What’s included
Licensed professional historian and tour guide
Georgetown restaurant, bar, and experience recommendations from your guide
Tour developed by the author of Wicked Georgetown and Images of Georgetown
The map below shows the approximate tour route. Your guide may adjust based on group pace and conditions.
Ready to Walk With Us?
This tour runs daily and fills up fast. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, no risk.
What is the difference between this tour and the Ghosts of Georgetown tour?
This is a daytime history and architecture tour focused on Georgetown’s 300-year story — the people, the buildings, and the neighborhood’s development from a colonial port town to one of DC’s most sought-after addresses. The Ghosts of Georgetown tour is an evening tour focused on the darker, more mysterious side of that same history. Many guests do both.
Do you enter any buildings on this tour?
No — this is a street-level walking tour. We view all sites and homes from the street and do not enter any private residences. Your guide will share photos and details of the interiors where relevant.
Is this tour family-friendly?
Yes — this tour is suitable for all ages. The stories are engaging and the route is manageable for older children. Children under 4 are free.
Is there a Metro stop in Georgetown?
No — Georgetown does not have its own Metro station. The closest station is Foggy Bottom/GWU on the Blue and Orange lines, approximately a 15-minute walk from the meeting point at the C&O Canal. Rideshare is a convenient alternative.
What happens if it rains?
Tours run rain or shine. Bring an umbrella and weather-appropriate clothing. In the event of severe weather we will contact all guests by email and text with alternative options or a full refund.
How do I cancel or reschedule?
Reply to your confirmation email to cancel or reschedule. Full refunds are available up to 24 hours before the tour. We offer flexible rescheduling and can often accommodate you on another date with short notice. Guests who booked via a third-party platform must cancel through that platform.
How early should I arrive?
We recommend arriving at the C&O Canal at Lock 3 at least 10 minutes before the tour begins. The area around M Street can be busy so allow extra time to find the meeting point. Your guide’s name and phone number will be in your reminder email the day before.
Can I do a self-guided audio tour instead?
Yes — if our guided tour schedule doesn’t work for you, we offer a GPS-enabled self-guided audio tour of Georgetown recorded by our expert guides. You receive an MP3 file, a PDF, and an embeddable Google Map so you can explore at your own pace. Book the audio tour here.
Can’t Make a Guided Tour? Try Our Self-Guided Audio Tour.
Our GPS-enabled Georgetown audio tour was recorded by our expert guides and lets you explore the neighborhood at your own pace — with the same stories and local knowledge, on your own schedule.
After booking you receive an MP3 file, a PDF guide, and an embeddable Google Map. An offline option is available so you don’t need data running while you walk.
We also offer GPS-enabled audio tours of the National Mall, Arlington National Cemetery, Embassy Row, Old Town Alexandria, Georgetown University Campus, and East Georgetown.
Your guide meets you at the C&O Canal — the starting point of a neighborhood whose history stretches back more than 300 years.
