Fifteen million tourists flood Washington, D.C., each year to visit the historic monuments, national museums and government buildings. In a city of political power struggle, the pulse of activity--of history in the making--is an almost tangible force. Nighttime tours lend an additional aura of mystery, as lights bounce off the black surface of the Reflecting Pool and throw into relief the gargantuan statue of Abraham Lincoln. While sight-seeking tourists could easily become overwhelmed by the wealth of attractions to see in a short time, motorized Segway tours provide the perfect solution. It should be noted, participants for all Segway tours must be at least 16 and between 100 and 250 pounds, and no pregnant women are permitted to ride.
Ranked highly by reviewers on Zerve.com, City Segway offers Segway tours with guides who educate while you glide past the U.S. Capitol Building, the Washington Monument, the White House, the National Gallery of Art, the National Museum of Natural History and the National Air and Space Museum.
This tour company offers a three-hour evening tour of the National Mall, starting at $70 (as of 2010), although they require an additional deposit on credit card, which they cancel at the end of the tour. Thirty-minute training is provided, and their i2 Segway machines have an attached pouch for visitor belongings. Discounted rates are offered for specialty tours like the Lincoln Assassination tour. Private and corporate tours also are offered at special request.
624 9th Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20001
202-626-0017
citysegwaytours.com/washington-dc
Claiming to be the only Segway-authorized tour in Washington, D.C., Capital Segway uses the newer Segway i2 and the offroad x2 machines, allowing tourists to use the full 12.5 mph capacity while listening to the tour guide through headsets.
A 20-to-30-minute training session begins the tour, and visitors are able to store their cameras and purses in attached pouches. Although the standard rate ranges from $65 to $80, as of 2010, the tour group also offers military, student and group discounts. No deposit is required. Ranked 4.9 out of 5 stars by more than 1500 tourists on Zerve.com, Capital Segway offers a two-hour twilight tour of 25 attractions for $70.
Capital Segway
1350 I Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20005
202-682-1980
capitalsegway.com
Offering a 2-hour evening tour on Saturdays and Sundays from April through October, Segs in the City guides visitors on a different route past the embassies circling the National Cathedral. Given an average of 4 out of 5 stars by customers on Zerve.com, this smaller company has received mostly good comments, although some complained about the lack of training time (only 10 minutes) as well as the lack of an attached pouch for cameras and water bottles.
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20004
800-SEGS-393
segsinthecity.com
