I planned a very short visit to Washington, D.C. with my son and my niece to celebrate her 15th birthday. Due to the time constraints I wanted to find a way to visit many of the monuments on the National Mall at night with transportation. I found Tours by the Hour online and I knew that this company probably could accommodate us. I paid $328.77 for four and once my friend decided to join us it cost an additional $85.00 which I consider a bargain for a 4 hour tour with transportation to a variety of monuments on a beautiful evening in Washington, D.C.
Tunde our driver did an excellent job with getting in touch and accommodating the changes that I had with my reservation. I appreciated his professionalism and his willingness to make sure our tour needs were met. We decided to move the tour up by an hour because we had children in the group. Tunde arrived before our designated time and was very personable and friendly. I was really excited because I knew we were going to have a magnificent evening. Once I saw the U.S. Capital I immediately began to photograph it from the van however, he explained that it was not necessary because we would receive a better view later. He was absolutely correct. The first place that we saw was the Supreme Court building. The building is absolutely a work of art and I was simply taken away not only by its architecture but by the work that takes place in this building everyday. So many groundbreaking cases have been decided in this amazing beautiful building that have lifelong importance for the citizens of the United States. It was a wonderful opportunity for my son to stand on the steps of the Supreme Court where history has been made and will continue to be made. Next, we were taken to the U.S. Capitol which is another architectural masterpiece. Tunde brought us to a spot where we were able to take some amazing photos. We also took a few photos on the lawn of the U. S. Capitol. It truly was an awe inspiring moment for my son who just read a story about the U.S. Capitol to see it in real time. As we traveled to the White House Tunde provided so much information regarding the history of these monuments and Washington, D.C. I truly enjoyed his commentary. Our next stop was to see the White House however, so much has changed since my last visit. We were able to get a bird’s eye view however, due to the barriers we were not allowed on the sidewalk near the White House. That was disappointing but unfortunately those are the current circumstances and by no means a reflection on the tour or our wonderful guide. We then made a stop at the Institute of Science where we had an opportunity to see an enormous statue of Einstein E=mc2. We had such fun taking photos near the statue.
We then went to visit the World War II Memorial which has such significant meaning for us because we had the honor of visiting Pearl Harbor in July of this year. This memorial is beautiful at night and we took a moment to reflect about the sacrifices that past and present members of the U.S. military make each day. We also took some time to find Louisiana and the state of Hawaii. Next, we visited one of the most recognized U.S. monuments, the Lincoln Memorial. We had an opportunity to visit the museum prior to taking the elevator upstairs
to see the Lincoln Memorial. The museum is quite interesting and visiting takes you on a journey which includes how the museum was built and the vast number of people who have performed or given speeches at this very location. The spot where Dr. Martin Luther King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech is marked for visitors to see. The Lincoln Memorial is iconic and is one monument not to be missed because of its historical significance.
We also had an opportunity to learn more significant information from Tunde on our drive to the Jefferson Memorial. Once we arrived there was an opportunity to visit the museum and learn more about Jefferson’s important contribution to the United States. Finally, we visited the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial one that I have been interested in seeing since it was constructed in 2011. Tunde even took time to show us the location of a time capsule before we entered the area of the monument.
Our guide Tunde was indeed exceptional!!! He did a stellar job of providing excellent information regarding so many historical moments, providing comfortable transportation, and bringing us to see so many beautiful monuments. Tours by the hour is definitely a great way to enjoy D.C. with your private group. It was so worth the cost because the company adjust to the individual interests of your group. I must say that Tunde went above and beyond to provide us with an experience worth remembering. I definitely made the correct choice when I selected this tour company. Tunde, thank you for your hospitality, knowledge, patience with our kids, and your love of Washington, D.C. that was reflected in our tour. We are so grateful to have met you. We appreciate how you went above and beyond to make our visit to Washington, D.C. one that we will always cherish. As they say in Hawaii….Mahalo. Thank you!!! You are the best!!!!!