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    DC Design Tours

    4.9 (96 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 9:00 pm

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    This is from DC Design Tours' escapade in Rock Creek Park -- history, discovery, nature, and a bit of exercise (walking)!

    I took the Rock Creek Park tour on Labor Day -- it was my third tour with this organization and I hope to eventually take all of them. It was fun, enlightening, and an absolutely GREAT experience!

    I've taken five walking tours with DC Design Tours, and each one has been outstanding. They blend history and architecture in a way that's engaging, insightful, and refreshingly different from the usual museum experience. Whenever I have guests in town, this is my go-to recommendation--they always love it, and it's consistently a highlight of their trip. Highly recommended!

    Sheryl N.

    We took the Georgetown tour with Sam yesterday as a family (ages ranging from 9-74) and all really enjoyed it. We learned a ton... about the architecture, the history of Georgetown, the dubious nature of historic landmark plaques, current local scandals, and how racial politics shaped neighborhoods. He made us laugh, taught us a ton, and even recommended great lunch places when the tour was over. Great addition to our trip!

    My family and I loved Carolyn's tour. She's so great on architecture but her stories and knowledge are good for everyone.,
    Jenny D.

    Carolyn is warm and personable. She told stories about the monuments that were full of interesting tidbits. Her iPad was full of great historical photos that helped us understand the origins of many of the monuments. We all loved it (5 of us aged 2 years to 68 years). Bring your walking shoes and water ... we had a stroller, too. There's no way we would have learned as much or had so much fun without Carolyn's great tour!

    Pamela P.

    Outstanding tour. Knowledgeable and friendly, Sam (our tour guide) did an amazing job. Highly recommend to anyone visiting DC or locals that live here like me. You will learn something new and interesting.

    Washington Monument through the Cherry Blossoms

    We did the Cherry Blossom walking tour and throughly enjoyed it. Our guide, Sam, was very knowledgeable about the history of the monuments, cherry blossoms, and the area. It was a delightful easy walk loaded with interesting history.

    Dupont Circle tour.
    Austin G.

    My wife and I have lived in DC for ten years and have joined a number of tours and this one is by far the best. We joined that Dupont Circle waking tour on a Saturday at 1PM. Our tour guide was named Kelly and she was the perfect blend of funny, real, and knew really interesting facts about the neighborhood and design. She was able to break down design using fashion metaphors that made it more accessible. The Dupont Circle tour started by the Dupont Circle Metro. We walked past the Philips Collection up the Spanish Steps into Kalorama. You pass many embassies, the Woodrow Wilson House and to the Anderson House. It ends at the Dupont Circle Fountain. It lasted 1.5 hours. If you're a tourist or a resident, this tour is a must do!

    Front of National Cathedral
    Gregg R.

    We took DC Design's National Cathedral tour and were blown away! Carolyn gave an interesting, engaging, and informative tour of the National Cathedral and Cleveland Park neighborhood. We've taken many tours throughout DC and found this one to be one of the best and most interesting! We can't wait to take another one of DC Design's tours. You won't be disappointed

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    Carolyn M.

    We really appreciate your review, Anna!

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    4 years ago

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    Carolyn M.

    Thank you so much for your review and support!

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    5 years ago

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    Carolyn M.

    Thank you Donna! What a nice recommendation!

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    5 years ago

    Great tour of Georgetown from a local tour guide. Would recommend to anyone who wants to learn the interesting history behind Georgetown.

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    Carolyn M.

    Thanks for your recommendation!

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    4 years ago

    Amazing tour! We learned so much and would recommend everyone in DC to take it. Sam was amazing!!!

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    4 years ago

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    Carolyn M.

    Wow, thank you Rachel! We're so glad you stumbled across us! :)

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    Carolyn M.

    That's so great to hear, thank you Monique!

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    4 years ago

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    Carolyn M.

    Jane, thanks for your kind review!

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    6 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    Carolyn M.

    Thank you Robin!

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    4 years ago

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    Carolyn M.

    We really appreciate your review, Kelly!

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    5 years ago

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    Carolyn M.

    We really appreciate it, Stephanie!

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    7 years ago

    Loved the tour!! Carolyn did a great job providing a bigger context. I would recommend booking her or her team for a private tour.

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    10 years ago

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    Carolyn M.

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    8 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Such an awesome way to learn the city and it's neighborhoods in a totally unique way. I especially recommend the tour for locals, actually!

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    6 years ago

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    Carolyn M.

    Thanks Jillian! We're so glad to read your review for Sam's tour!

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    Page 2 of 3

    Ask the Community - DC Design Tours

    Review Highlights - DC Design Tours

    Carolyn has been my tour guide for five years now with my group of fifth graders I bring to DC every Spring Break.

    Mentioned in 43 reviews

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    Free Tours By Foot - Old Stone House. First stop on the tour

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    4.9(711 reviews)
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    Georgetown, Washington DC - My handsome husband surprised me with Saturday night tickets for the…read moreGeorgetown Ghost Tour. We are local to the area and love history, spooky stories and corny jokes so for us this is a fun date :-). The tour began at the Old Stone House where we were checked in and divided into two groups of about 18 people each. Everyone in our group was from out of town except us and our amazing tour guide Sonia. She effortlessly led us from site to site while allowing time for questions and photos. She also made sure our group stayed together and safely crossed the streets. I was concerned that it would be hard to hear given the traffic and Saturday night usual cacophony that is Georgetown but that generally wasn't a problem. We didn't see any ghosts - DRAT! But we did have fun and learn some history along the way. We would recommend this tour company and this particular tour.

    Took the Ghosts of Georgetown walking tour. Our guide Georgia was fantastic. Her knowledge of the…read morearea and history of otherworldly happenings was great. She also was very knowledgeable and respectful of current tenants of the buildings and made sure that the group was also respectful for those living in the area. Love the tour especially with it ending at the Exorcist stairway.

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    Free Tours By Foot - A stop on the Georgetown Ghost Tour. Former home of a Washington Post Editor Ben Bradley

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    Private Tours of Washington

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    5.0(10 reviews)
    1.8 km

    They gave us exceptional service and were very receptive to our wants. We had a great tour of the…read moreChristmas lights and attraction in Washington DC.

    After having submitted our email inquiry of tour interest, I really felt good about receiving a…read morecall from the founder and president of PTW, Bill Thomas, as he seemed particularly detail oriented and interested in our trip and interest in touring Washington DC.. My gut feeling was spot on. What a FANTASTIC tour!! We were assigned Tony and Cheikh (pronounced "Shake") and they were just incredible and both--together--toured my family around Washington DC like absolute professionals. Years in the business, each of them, we saw and experienced the District of Columbia in a very nice black SUV--super clean and comfortable. We toured in the evening, and I'd say that the words "Paris on the Potomac" are not used in vein. This city is absolutely spectacular at night--but what made it even better was Tony and Cheikh. We would not have been anywhere near as efficient nor as well informed as we were this evening without them. We found ourselves at every single stop asking questions along our tour. Why this? What's that? When did so and so happen? What is the significance? What's that over there? And so many more. Frankly, Tony was probably tired of it--but my real sense is that he enjoyed it too! Here's the difference with PTW--your tour guide stays with you answering all your inquisitive questions and your driver stays with the car and drives up to meet you whenever and wherever the tour guide shares with him to be. Walk into one side of a memorial, come out another--no problem. You may think only one person can handle both tasks--but that would be an incorrect assumption. Not here in DC--just too much to see and do. Do yourself a favor and book with PTW--and you'll be forever grateful for the totally inclusive and immersive experience in our nation's Capitol. It was simply unbelievable for us. Thanks to Cheikh, Tony, Bill & Team PTW.

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    The L Ron Hubbard House Museum

    The L Ron Hubbard House Museum

    4.8(12 reviews)
    1.0 kmDupont Circle

    One of D.C.'s more obscure museums is in a 1904 rowhouse in Dupont Circle. The home of L. Ron…read moreHubbard starting in 1955, the building is now a museum about Hubbard, the founder of Scientology and the world's most prolific fiction writer. (It's an actual Guinness World Record.) Tours are given daily from 10am to 6pm, but it's best to call in advance to secure a spot. One day, I walked in and they didn't have availability for that day so I made a verbal reservation for the next week. The tour is guided by their tour guide and lasts around 90 minutes. The guide shows you four floors of rooms with artifacts. You'll learn about Rob Hubbard's impressive life, see his office with original artifacts inside including a Mongolian drum from Genghis Khan's army that's over 800 years old. You'll also see a library with his books, see where he recorded his lessons, and learn about Scientistology. As someone who is not part of their church, I didn't feel evangelized to during the tour. The guide was very nice.

    The restoration and history on display is exquisite. Bill was charming and really have a personal…read moretouch to L. Ron Hubbard and the humble beginnings of Scientology. We intended to spend an hour going through the house museum and ended up being there for 3 1/2 hours. There is just so much of Mr. Hubbard's life chronicled here. I am told you can move through the whole museum in 20 minutes if you are short on time, but I highly recommend taking a longer tour.

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    The L Ron Hubbard House Museum
    The L Ron Hubbard House Museum
    The L Ron Hubbard House Museum - Free tours daily.  Beautiful townhouse which was the first Church of Scientology.  L. Ron Hubbard worked here from 1955-60.

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    Free tours daily. Beautiful townhouse which was the first Church of Scientology. L. Ron Hubbard worked here from 1955-60.

    DC Design Tours - architecturaltours - Updated May 2026

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