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Hop into the water vessel of your choice and prepare to discover a new side of the nation's capital.
From upscale and casual dining cruises to traditional waterfront sightseeing, one thing you can be sure of with any experience on this list is a view like nothing you’ll find on land.
Mahogany Yacht Charters
Celebrate a birthday, anniversary, graduation or bachelorette party on the Potomac with Mahogany Yacht Charters, which was founded by a group of jet-setting friends looking to combine luxury, service and fancy-free fun. Full or half-day charters are available for up to 10 guests, with options to bring your own food and beverages or purchase a package with your reservation.
With a variety of year-round dining cruises to choose from, City Cruises’ bottomless mimosa brunch is not to be missed. Two hours aboard the stunning fully glass-enclosed vessel will leave you speechless.
Embark DC
One of the more unique ways to get out on the water, Embark DC Boat Tours presents fascinating experiences. Captains are able to provide a narrated tour of the monuments and history, and they'll happily accommodate any sightseeing, picnicking, fishing or other custom-created adventure you dream up, anywhere from Georgetown to George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
City Cruises offers an excursion to George Washington's Mount Vernon, March through October, with different experience options. One offers great sightseeing, while the other includes biking AND boating.
Potomac Riverboat Company
Alexandria boat tours are a highlight of the warmer months, usually beginning in May and running through the start of fall. Choose from an array of routes that offer views of Old Town Alexandria, Founders Park, Jones Point Lighthouse and more.
There’s a reason catching the fireworks aboard a boat is among the top places to catch the Fourth of July fireworks. Fourth of July dinner cruises book months in advance, and with good reason. No vantage point in the city can really match the panoramic display you’ll find on the water.
The Washington, DC area is full of fun water activities. Rent a kayak at any of the Boating in DC locations: Ballpark Boathouse in Capitol Riverfront, The Wharf Boathouse and Key Bridge Boathouse in Georgetown. The latter two options also conduct yoga classes on stand-up paddleboards. Learn how to row or scull at the Thompson Boat Center, located on the Potomac River near Georgetown or climb aboard a pedal boat in the Tidal Basin for a one-of-a-kind view of the monuments and memorials.
The Potomac Tiki Club is DC’s first and only tiki boat bar on the Potomac River. Up to 18 people can enjoy the floating experience in Georgetown. The teal-blue bar operates with an engine and requires no pedaling to move. You can savor 90-minute cruises that include views of landmarks like Georgetown University, the Kennedy Center, the Watergate Hotel, the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. There's also the Potomac Paddle Club, a rain-or-shine pedal boat that accommodates up to 16 people. The boat has 10 pedal stations, but there is also a motor so passengers are not required to pedal for its hour-and-a-half voyages if they prefer not to. Good to know: You can turn your aquatic spin class into a booze cruise with beers, seltzers, and canned cocktails available for purchase on board as well as the option to bring your own wine or champagne for a small uncorking fee.
