Washington makes a superb base for exploring nearby historic sites, from the Founding Fathers' birthplaces to bloody Civil War battlefields. Old Town Alexandria (reachable via metro or driving routes 1 or 395) and George & Martha Washington's home, Mount Vernon, can be combined in a delightful day … more trip if you're driving. If you don't have your own wheels, Alexandria can be reached by metro (King Street on the blue and yellow lines) while Mount Vernon is also accessible by a 90-minute Spirit of Washington II Potomac River cruise.