Tour guide in Washington DC Joanne P.

Hi! I have been giving tours of Washington for over ten years. I have no set script - just lots of good stories to share - and pictures. Washington is easy to love - the world's most powerful city is also one of the world's most beautiful - wide avenues, old neighborhoods, abundant gardens, tree-lined streets and wooded parks. I think George Washington would be very pleased to see what became of the place he chose to be the new Federal City. The story of Washington D. C. is also the story of the beginning of a new nation. Its very existence is linked to the efforts of people such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton. Today, its memorials and buildings are part of our American identity and remind us of the important moments in our common history. These are the stories that inspire me and these are the stories I want to share. I have lived in Washington for over twenty years and am passionate about the history and people of this great town. The best part of being a tour guide is getting to meet wonderful people from all over the country and the world. I love making tours interesting and fun for people of all ages. But I think it is also important that each tour be meaningful - that the stories I tell and the places we visit reveal something essential about Washington and in a larger sense, about the history of our country. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Some notes about touring with children: After ten years of guiding, including more than one hundred 8th grade field trips to Washington, DC, here are some observations that I hope can help families know what to expect: Pre-school and kindergarten - they cannot do the walking required. And they need to be bribed with lots of treats! 5th grade and below - they love the Lincoln Memorial, White House and Washington Monument. After that - they are bored. 8th grade and below - they can do perhaps four memorials: Lincoln, Washington, Vietnam and Korea. After that, they are on their phones. High school - maybe an hour or so of touring before they are on their phones. I have also noticed that kids respond differently when they are traveling with their friends vs. when they are traveling with their parents. When they are with their friends they are more outgoing and vocal and enjoy the attention from a tour guide. When they are with their parents they seem more withdrawn and not as expressive. I am licensed by the city of Washington, D.C. as a tour guide and provide narrated tours of the city and surrounding area. I