The perfect weekend date night idea doesn't exi-…read more BAM! Want to nail being the top date planner? Here's what should be at the top of your list. The summer breeze running through my hair as I breath in the scene of the wharf on both sides for 2 hours as we engage in small talk with the crew and other patrons - what more could I ask for on a Saturday evening? It's BYOB and food so we stopped by Chop't, grabbed a couple wraps so we could eat something easily handheld, and 2 bottles of wine. Make sure to bring your own cups and utensils. There is a tiny bathroom downstairs (I believe they're called "heads"), but I'd suggest you use the bathroom before heading on board- never fun to be drunk and crammed into a coffin sized bathroom with nowhere to wash your hands (they do have sanitizers though). The staff will guide you to the bathroom beforehand so take advantage of that. There's no "tour guide," but feel free to engage with the crew and ask any questions. We're technically from the area, and I'm very familiar with The Wharf, so I didn't need any of that. I was more in it for the scenery and being on water while watching the sun set. We had a fantastic time and would definitely do it again!

They had a Mothers Day trip and I wanted to treat my mom so we came out for it. It was overall a…read morenice experience but the crew was not very engaging. I get they were mainly coordinating the many things that come with sailing, and I wasn't looking for a tour guide or anything, but mom and I only knew what we were near because we happened to overhear it since we sat right next to one of them. Even when we tried to initiate conversation and ask questions, they weren't very talkative. Even though mom and I were talking, it was still a quiet and awkward ride. At the end, he went around and chit chatted a little bit with all the different groups, but not with us, maybe because we already talked to him by asking him questions? We definitely got a weird vibe from it all. The check-in process is smooth and the boat is spacious with a bathroom below deck too and they let you bring your own drinks and snacks, but I'd probably go for another company next time

Great group of people to learn to sail with. It is also a very effective way to get time on the…read morewater on a budget. Could not be happier

The Pentagon Sailing Club provides an amazing opportunity to gain sailing skills, for both novice…read moreand experienced sailors, in the DC area! Sails on the Potomac and on in the Chesapeake Bay, and classroom training will prepare you to handle a 20 to 40ft boat in any conditions. It's an amazing club of volunteers who will teach you the theory and build your hands on skills at a pace that works for you. It's a great club with amazing instructors!

Very rude and impersonal on the phone when I called to ask about my sailing class after I put a…read moredeposit down. I tried to give my availability and was cutoff---she said I will contact you if we have an instructor. Ok, well I can't just drop everything when you call to go sailing, please take my updated a availability? I hope other employees are better-suited to customer service and maybe kayaking and other options are still worth it, just wanted to let everyone know of my experience. I've never left a bad review, but I was excited to learn to sail, sad this had to be my experience. On to the next place!

Learning to sail had been on my bucket list forever so when I saw that the Mariner Sailing School…read moreoffered sailing lessons for adults every week of summer I decided to sign myself up for my own "summer camp". I have to tell you that learning to sail was an excellent decision because I actually learned to sail a 19 foot flying scot independently! My lessons consisted of four 2.5 hour morning sailing lessons out on the Potomac, Monday through Thursday. The sailing school also offers adult weeknight and weekend classes and different kids camps. The instructors split my class up into groups of two or three, went over some of the materials and then out onto the water we went to learn how to rig the boat and raise the sails. My instructor Ray was awesome, he taught us what we needed to know and even pushed us to run docking drills by ourselves on the last day of classes. Yes, at times the lessons were super challenging and nerve wracking, but once you get some practice time in, you'll get the hang of it. It's worth it to learn how to sail. I myself now find sailing enjoyable and ridiculously relaxing. Everyone I have encountered at the marina either teaching lessons, working in the office or out on the dock have been super friendly and helpful. They give you a free week of practice sails after your lesson so that you feel totally comfortable sailing independently and the people at the dock give plenty of tips to help you continue to hone your beginner skills.

Dan set us up with safety precautions to ensure that we had an excellent day on the water. He was…read morekind, thorough and helpful in lining our boat back up correctly. Demetri helped us us get set up for the "last mile" of boat operation so that it was easy to learn before we set out. Thank you both for an amazing day with Goboat. I'd highly recommend visiting this business for a fun activity and hope to be back soon! Sameer

One Star -- Safety and Customer Service Should Come Before Blame…read more I genuinely wish I could give zero stars. What was supposed to be an enjoyable birthday outing became one of the worst customer-service experiences I've encountered. Our reservation was 7-9 p.m. GoBoat emphasized arriving by 6:40 to avoid losing rental time, so we arrived at 6:15 p.m. After approximately five unanswered calls and watching groups who arrived after us get boarded first, we finally departed around 7:12 p.m. Our boat wasn't even fully prepared--the top covering we purchased had to be installed after we reminded staff. Jamal provided basic operating and route instructions, which we followed. However, no joint pre-rental inspection of the boat, electric motor, or propeller was conducted with us, so its condition was never established to us before departure. At approximately 8:12 p.m., while following the instructed route, another passenger and I heard/felt something underneath the boat. It was nighttime with low visibility, the water was not transparent, and debris was present. Immediately afterward, everyone noticed the motor/propeller making a noise it had not made previously. We immediately reported it rather than continuing the outing. Jocelyn placed the boat in neutral and steered toward the dock. Jamal and Miles were genuinely concerned and assisted us back safely, and I appreciate them. Unfortunately, management's response was entirely different. General Manager Steve immediately blamed us, stated we should be financially responsible under the waiver, and came across as rude, accusatory, and condescending. The owner, Roberto, also attributed the damage to us, discussing the expense of propeller repairs and stating they hadn't "even reached the surface" of what repairs could cost. Yet neither management response began with the most important questions: Is everyone okay? What happened? That bothered me more than anything. We followed GoBoat's instructions, promptly reported the problem, stopped operating the boat, and had never been shown the propeller's condition beforehand. Jamal also told us we weren't the first group this had happened to. I am not claiming the equipment was previously damaged--I simply disagree with immediately assigning fault without first investigating what happened. GoBoat ultimately decided not to charge us, but maintained that we caused the damage. By the time everything was discussed, it was approximately 8:43 p.m., making their offer to restart on another boat impractical due to our other obligations. We effectively received about one hour of a two-hour birthday outing. Roberto promised a gift card for our unused time, valid through October 31. As of this review, we still haven't received it. Frankly, the gift card is the least of my concerns because this experience has made me reluctant to operate another GoBoat. For a business putting customers on the water, SAFETY SHOULD BE PARAMOUNT. Management should first ensure everyone is safe, determine what happened, inspect the equipment, and then determine responsibility--not immediately blame customers and discuss how much they'll potentially owe. I appreciate Jamal and Miles for their assistance, but the delayed/unprepared departure, unanswered calls, lack of a joint pre-rental inspection, lost rental time, immediate presumption of fault, management's tone, and lack of initial concern for our safety made this an exceptionally disappointing experience. The mechanical issue could have simply been an unfortunate occurrence. Management's handling of it is what earned the one-star review. DON'T GOBOAT, GO ELSEWHERE!

Denny is amazing. We had so much fun. Learned historic facts but also current events. Highly…read morerecommend Denny and his food suggestions. -Nora and Doug

My wife and I took a private sunset cruise with Embark DC from 5:00-7:00 pm, starting in Georgetown…read moreand ending at The Wharf. It was absolutely amazing! Our captain, Denny, could not have been better -- he was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the entire experience so enjoyable. We saw beautiful sights along the Potomac, learned some interesting history, and had an unforgettable evening. Highly recommend Embark DC for anyone looking for a special way to experience Washington from the water!

Near Reagan Airport. So you get to see planes arrive & depart. Also visible is a view of D.C.,…read moreCapitol building and Washington Monument. Nice place to get a shot of nature and relax. Parking is free for non- boaters. Boat shop & bathrooms are open. Also it's near the catboat pizza bar you will really enjoy that place.

This a nice marina run by the park service. They accommodate both sail boats and motorboats. They…read morehave a small shop & a seasonal restaurant with a deck. It's a nice place to sit by the water and watch the planes land at DCA.

Staff was very friendly. There were five of us, two doubles and one single. One of our doubles…read morewas struggling with the paddling. When asked the guide that was at the end of the group for help, they didn't receive much guidance. They eventually turned back and never finished the route. Seems like you need to have a little experience in kayaking.

Terrible customer service. No instruction and the two people on the dock just kept looking at their…read morephones. Would not recommend.

Friendly service and guys in the staff who made sure we were taken care of. Great bar staff and…read morefun, but loud music. Beautiful views of the city!

This was such a fun experience! Two hours boating up and down the Potomac river with fun music and…read moreviews. It's open bar and they have a variety of cocktails and canned beverages including high noons. Plenty of seating upstairs with a dj downstairs/inside. We booked the 545-745 cruise which was perfect timing With the sunset!

The visit is worth the price. Mount Vernon is a great experience for those who live in DC or just…read morevisiting. It's a great contrast to the city but it has so much history and interest. The tour of the house was my favorite part. The house is on a beautiful hill and the back porch faces the river! So beautiful! As you go through the house there are people in every room to tell you about the history of it. There are pigs, goats, even a camel! You can also view the family tomb and all the workshops around the farm.

This is definitely a unique fun way to visit the famous Mount Vernon. It's $50 per person and an…read moreoptional extra $10 for a breakfast buffet (eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, pastries, croissants, OJ/coffee/tea.) I recommend the breakfast option if you have a good appetite and it's a good deal. Mount Vernon has a food court and restaurant in their visitor center, but nothing special. The $50 includes the round trip ferry cruise, admission and mansion tour of Mount Vernon. The cruise leaves at 8:30a and takes 1.5 hours to reach Mount Vernon as it passes through the Potomac River. Throughout the ride, there is some commentary about some sites we pass by. You arrive at Mount Vernon at 10a and have to meet back at the port by 1:15p, leave by 1:30p and return back to DC by 3:00p. I thought it was a good amount of time to tour the mansion and explore Mount Vernon grounds, along with the visitor center that has a George Washington exhibit. Highly recommend the Spirit cruise!