Pay the extra money and take the private tour. It's so worth it. My daughter was able to lay a wreath at Washington's tomb, we didn't have to wait in line, we were able to go into the basement of the home, and we were able to see the top cuppola. Our guide was so passionate about the history and the man who was George Washington. I cannot say enough about this tour. It was amazing.
We booked a private tour and it was well worth it. Our guide Gail K. was fabulous and we got to see some of the behind the scenes stuff. Also, we got to ride around the property on a golf cart which was good for us due to arthritis. It was a great place to visit on a beautiful day and there were not a lot of tourists. I definitely recommend this tour!
John did a great job. The whole family really enjoyed the experience. John also took great pictures and engaged the whole family. We stayed at the Embassy Suites in Old Alexandria and the trip down was easy and enjoyable as well. John was witty and made the tour memorable.