What a great way to see some of the monuments... We went on the Monuments by Moonlight tour. It was really cool to see the monuments lit up with the night sky as a back drop... gave them such a mystical feel. Only draw back... pictures, so much more difficult to take photos in the dark. The reflecting pool at night, with the Washington Monument reflecting of the dark skies... breathtaking (much prettier than in the day light). Our tour guide was full of jokes and funny stories... he kept us entertained between stops. He also gave us plenty of time to view each monument during our trolley stops. There were a couple of inconsiderate people that would come back to the trolley well after the designated time. Tip: make sure someone in your party is wearing a watch.

The tour is approximately 2 ½ hours long, from start to finish (which is at Union Station). Stops included in the tour: Iwo Jima Memorial, FDR Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, Korean War Memorial. Although not advertised as a stop… the reflecting pool sits in front of the Lincoln Memorial giving you those breathtaking views that I described above. There are also several notable points of interest that you ride by… for example, Arlington Cemetery and the Capitol Building. The tour guide/driver was very knowledgeable and would give us a bit of a history lesson and some quick trivia about different buildings and monuments around the D.C. area. This, keeping us entertained between stops. Prices are very reasonable at about $28 per adult, $14 per child.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at: www.trustedtours.com

We decided that on our last day in D.C. we would get a ticket for the Old Town Trolley Tour. We had seen the violently orange-and-green trolleys all over the city, and the map that we used was one that was given out by that company. There were a few things about it that appealed to us. First, they had a large route. The trolley takes you to stops like the National Zoo, the National Cathedral, Georgetown, and Arlington Cemetery, and provides a comprehensive route of all the monuments, which are quite spread out. Second, it is hop-on-hop-off, which I have always liked. That way, you get a chance to stop if you are suddenly so inclined. And third, the trams seemed frequent and efficient. It just seemed like a good idea.

You can buy your tickets for the tour from the company’s welcome center, from some of the stops (there are big signs that say “buy tickets here”), or from many concierges, which is where we bought ours. You CANNOT buy tickets from the drivers, so make sure you have your ticket before you get on, because otherwise you can’t ride. Your tickets last from 9am, when the trolleys start running, to 4:30pm in the winter months (5:30pm the rest of the year). Tickets were a steep $28, which seemed high for me. But we figured it would be more convenient and entertaining than taking the Metro and walking. Plus, we had hardly spent any money, since all the attractions are free, so it seemed okay to splurge.

I must say that I was actually quite disappointed with the whole thing. For one thing, the service was slow. Trolleys were supposed to come at LEAST every 30 minutes, but that was not the case for us. I had to wait for longer almost every time. And there was no excuse. It was a Sunday and there was hardly any traffic. They should have been more timely. Once you got on the trolley, things just got worse. These are guided tours, where the driver ells you stores and points of interest, etc. Out of the three drivers I had, only one was bearable. The first spoke so fast that no one could understand him, and when someone said something to him, he was very rude to them. The second driver at least had some personality, but she was a little irritating. The third was obviously bored with his job and just droned on. I am a tour guide. It isn’t really hard work, people.

The thing that finally got me was the price. It was just way too much to pay for mediocre service. Maybe if they gave you a second day free I would have felt better about it. Save your money and use the Metro. It’s quicker, cheaper, and much less annoying.

One of the best tours (and the one we took) is their 2.5-hour Monuments by Moonlight tour. It offers nighttime looks at the FDR, Jefferson, Lincoln, Korean War, and Iowa Jima monuments. These monuments are truly at their most beautiful and dramatic at night.

You first board the trolley at Union Station. If possible, try to get here early enough to take in the beauty of Union Station. Here you will find a variety of shops and restaurants.

The nice thing about their trolleys is they run on propane, which will help preserve the monuments for future generations to enjoy. Our tour guide, Alex, was friendly and very knowledgeable. Plenty of time is given to enjoy each monument. Information will be given on each monument prior to arriving. You also get to hear a ghost story or two along the way. This is definitely a great tour for both adults and kids.

Tickets will run about $30 per person. I strongly advise you to make your reservations in advance. You can make reservations on their website.

But it does take you near most of the landmarks, out to Arlington Cemetary, through Georgetown, past the various Smithsonian buildings, past the Supreme Court. My favorite was embassy row, to drive past all the buildings and houses of foreign diplomats. It was interesting; some of them looked very ordinary while others where constructed or decorated to the style of their native country. The one disappointment was we never came really close to Pennsylvania Avenue and the White House. There was a stop that was a short walk, however, we did not have a good view from the trolley. And speaking of views -- sit on the right side of the trolley -- it seemed that is where everything was at.