George Washington's Mount Vernon estate sits 15 miles south of Alexandria on a bend in the Potomac River, and it is one of the best-preserved historic estates in the United States. The mansion, slave quarters, kitchen, stables, greenhouse, and working farm have been extensively restored and are staffed by interpreters in period dress. The views from the riverside piazza down to the Potomac are as Washington designed them.
The estate is open every day of the year, including Christmas, making it unusually accessible for a major historic site. The museum and education center on the grounds provides context for Washington's life, including an honest accounting of the enslaved people who made the plantation function — an aspect of the estate's history that is handled more directly here than at many comparable sites. Plan on at least half a day; a full day is not excessive. From Alexandria, the estate is reachable by car (20 minutes), bicycle (the Mount Vernon Trail follows the river the entire way), or boat from the Old Town waterfront in summer.