Private Washington: New York Times Journeys - Washington Insiders Tour
Washington, D.C., USA
Office phone number: +1 202 810 1700
Private Washington: New York Times Journeys - Washington Insiders Tour
Washington, D.C., USA
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Get a sneaky peek behind the scenes in Washington DC on a tour specially curated by the experts at The New York Times and Urban Adventures. Take home a unique souvenir from the Library of Congress, drink in the same bars as some of DC’s most famous politicians (past and present) and taste some of the best food and drink in the city. Learning about politics has never been so much fun!
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Highlights
- Enjoy a locally brewed beer and hobnob with Washington’s Very Important People at one of the oldest watering holes in the city
- Get an inside look at where some politicos and stars of Washington call home when they’re off the clock
- Taste a delicious treat at a dining spot popular with local military personnel
- Stroll through the most historic neighborhood in the city and shop like a local
New York Times Exclusives:
- Behind the Scenes Access: Meet the owners of District Winery and chat about all things vino as you enjoy 5 glasses of wine and an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the production side of the business
- Hands-on Element: Create your own mini-pizza at locals' favorite 7th Hill Pizza, with help from their expert pizza makers
- Local Interactions: Taste local specialties and talk with stall owners at Eastern Market
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Schedule details
- Duration: 4 hours
- Meeting point:
Cannon House Office Building – the corner of Independence Ave and 1st St SE
See meeting point on Google maps
Exact GPS Coordinates of the meeting point:
38.887436, -77.003853 - Starting time: Various
- Ending point:
District Winery
Language: English
Inclusions: Local, English-speaking guide, Library of Congress library card, beer tasting, cheese tasting, pizza, wine tasting (5 glasses), bus fare
Exclusions: Items of a personal nature, additional food or drink, personal shopping and souvenirs and gratuities for your guide.
Your Washington DC adventure begins at the Cannon Office Building, the oldest congressional building in the city, where your local guide will give you a brief history of the capital of the Unites States and the world-famous buildings of Capitol Hill.
As we stroll to our first stop, your guide will discuss where off-the-clock politicos spend their time in the city and about the influence that prominent members of the government have had on Washington DC, past and present.
We will arrive at the Library of Congress, where your guide will treat you to a fun experience that will leave you with a once-in-a-lifetime souvenir. We can’t reveal anymore than that, it’s top secret!
One of the city’s oldest and most well-known watering holes is next on our political agenda. We’ll enjoy a locally brewed beer at the Hawk ‘n’ Dove and take a peek at where many backroom Congressional deals are made…
From there, we will head to Eastern Market to explore the only remaining market in DC — introduced by Thomas Jefferson, no less. It’s still the shopping market of choice for the neighborhood. We’ll try some local cheese and chat with some of the stallholders as we soak up the hustle and bustle of this busy shopping mecca.
Then, keeping with the cheese theme, we’ll take a short walk to 7th Hill Pizza, a popular place for happy hour. Here, we’ll chat with the friendly chef as we create our own mini pizzas. Mangia!
Time for dessert now, at Ted’s Bulletin, a local treasure on historic Barracks Row. Here you’ll be let in on a little military secret: the store is a favorite of the Washington military elite. The pop tarts are mind blowing but they’re pretty much unknown to the hordes of tourists enjoying their meal in the dining room.
We’ll hop on the DC Circulator bus next, past the historic Navy Yard to the Yards neighborhood and District Winery. Here, we’ll meet at least one of the winemakers, find out all about the production process and taste 5 of their wines in the atmospheric winery itself rather than at the Tasting Bar with all the other tourists (another exclusive experience — you’re welcome!). Our tour ends here but you can stay as long as you like. We have negotiated a special discount for our customers, with 10% off any bottle you’d like to take home.
If you need help getting back to your accommodation your guide will be more than happy to help. If you have any more questions about the city or if you’re looking for recommendations for what else to see, do and eat during your stay, now is the time to ask!
New York Times Reading List:
- Edward Lee Takes His Show to Washington
- Suddenly Intrigued by Scandals and Spies? Here’s What to See
- In Washington, D.C., Columbia Heights’ Hip Strip
- Junk Food Is a Source of Comfort on Capitol Hill
- Even on Urban Excursions, Finding Mother Nature's Charms
- Visiting the African-American Museum: Waiting, Reading, Thinking, Connecting, Feeling
A City Tour gift certificate is the perfect present for any occasion. Select a specific tour and date, or choose the value and let the lucky recipient decide how to redeem it.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local, English-speaking guide, Library of Congress library card, beer tasting, cheese tasting, pizza, wine tasting (5 glasses), bus fare
Exclusions: Items of a personal nature, additional food or drink, personal shopping and souvenirs and gratuities for your guide.
Dress standard: Please dress comfortably and appropriately for the weather, tours will take place in the rain so make sure you bring an umbrella if it’s due to rain!
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Closure of sites: Peaceful demonstrations, a mainstay of life in Washington, DC, may close sites but they also add to the enrichment of the experience!
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page
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Dietary Notes
We can accommodate vegetarians and other dietary restrictions. Please notify us in advance if you have any dietary requests. You can do so in the ‘Additional information’ box at checkout, or by emailing us at info@washingtondcurbanadventures.com.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +1 202 810 1700
Email address: info@washingtondcurbanadventures.com
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