Cruising through the Nation’s Capital

By Peter A. Janssen

Arrive at our nation’s capital by water and gain a whole new (non-political) perspective.

It’s hardly a secret that Washington, D.C., is a wonderful place to visit; just ask the 20 million people who explored the area last year. Most of them, of course, arrived by car, train, bus, or airplane. But the best way to visit Washington is by water. The real secret is that our nation’s capital has always been boat-friendly, and now it’s even more so with some brand-new marinas and others newly improved. Here’s a guide to Capitol cruising:

Many of Washington’s marinas offer front-row seats to the capital’s many attractions and are within walking distance of the iconic monuments, memorials, and museums that draw large crowds. Others are destinations in their own right and still offer easy access to the capital. And there’s so much to do in Washington—countless great restaurants, boutiques, historic areas, art galleries, parks, bike trails, jogging paths, and more—you’ll barely scratch the surface of this city’s sights in a long weekend. A week or longer would allow for a solid city exploration.

Washington is certainly easy to access by boat. The mouth of the Potomac is about 90 nm up the Chesapeake from Norfolk, Virginia. Another 96 nm up the Potomac leads you right to the District. You know you’re getting close when you see Mount Vernon, George Washington’s magnificent plantation home.

If you want to visit by boat, hail the dockmaster on VHF 16. The small Mount Vernon wharf is built for tour boats, but there’s usually room for a few recreational boats, too. As you pass by Mount Vernon, make sure you toll your ship’s bell, a tradition that dates back to December 14, 1799, the night Washington died.

After Mount Vernon, it’s only eight miles to the capital. The channel quickly winds to the right, hugging the Maryland shore close to Fort Washington, and then the massive Woodrow Wilson Bridge comes into view, which has 76 feet of vertical clearance and carries both I-95 and Capital Beltway traffic across the Potomac. Just before the bridge on the Maryland side is the National Harbor Marina—hard to miss with its 180-foot Ferris wheel at the end of the dock.

The marina is part of the nine-year-old National Harbor complex, which has a 2,000-room convention center, 4 hotels, 150 shops, and 30 restaurants on a 300-acre waterfront, and a 350-room MGM casino is scheduled to open just up the hill at the end of 2016. The marina welcomes transients and provides 80 slips (max 220-feet LOA), immaculate restrooms and showers, free laundry, pump-outs, phone, cable, Wi-Fi, and all of the comforts of home.

Less than a mile up the river, the Alexandria (Virginia) City Marina is in the midst of the charming Old Town district. Founded in 1749, the quaint area has restaurants, boutiques, and a Metro subway to Washington. The beautiful waterfront is home to 23 acres of parks, walking and biking trails, and a view of Washington just a few miles up the river. The marina has 40 slips (22 reserved for transients) as well as restrooms and showers. A Chart House restaurant is at the top of the dock, as is the Torpedo Factory building, which dates back to WWII and is presently filled with working artists’ studios.

Also on the Virginia side about a mile north of Reagan National Airport at the Pentagon Lagoon is Columbia Island Marina, which only welcomes powerboat transients. The marina is in a beautiful park run by the National Park Service and has 386 slips for boats 20-50 feet in length.

In passage to Washington is Hains Point, the southern tip of East Potomac Park that splits the waterway into two routes: continue along the Potomac shore on the protected Washington Channel toward its three large marinas or head right toward the two marinas up the Anacostia River. Choose the Anacostia route and you’ll shortly arrive at James Creek Marina, a 297-slip stop that offers the District’s only fuel dock (gas and diesel) as well as a ship’s store, clean restrooms and showers, pump-out, and a picnic area. Transients are welcome.

A bit farther up the Anacostia River is the brand-new Yards Marina situated beside the Washington Navy Yard and part of The Yards Park, a waterfront destination area with a waterfall, boardwalk and play areas. The marina has 50 slips (25 for transients) but no showers or laundry facilities. It’s just south of Capitol Hill and east of the Washington Nationals stadium.

If you choose to traverse the Washington Channel, you’ll find yourself in the midst of a major multi-year, multi-billion-dollar waterfront redevelopment project called The Wharf, but don’t worry—the marinas are still operating. The first marina is The Wharf Gangplank, which has 309 slips, restrooms and showers, laundry, and 24-hour security. The Gangplank can handle yachts up to 125 feet LOA and welcomes transients. From here it’s an easy walk to the Washington Monument or the Jefferson Memorial.

The second marina is The Capital Yacht Club, a private club that welcomes guests, with 86 slips, including 20 for transients. It can handle yachts up to 220 feet LOA. The club has restrooms and showers, pump-out, cable, free Wi-Fi, and a taxi stand outside the gate even though it’s only a 15-minute walk to the National Mall.

The final marina on the Washington Channel is just beyond a fixed highway bridge with 37 feet of vertical clearance. Washington Marina has 150 slips (20 for transients) and room for yachts up to 125 feet LOA. This full-service marina boasts a ship’s store and service department, showers, pump-out, 24-hour gated access, and is just a 10-minute walk to the Tidal Basin.

Once your boat is tied up, one of your first stops must be the White House. View the front of the House from across the street at Lafayette Park. Other popular sights include a walk up the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and a look out over the Reflecting Pool, National Mall and Capitol Building in the distance. Spend as much time as possible on the Mall, a large, open, grassy park where the Smithsonian Institution runs a group of museums including the Museum of Natural History and the Air and Space Museum.

Pay homage at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and National World War II Memorial, and walk across the Arlington Memorial Bridge to Arlington National Cemetery where U.S. Presidents and many notable historical figures rest. Take a cab up Connecticut Avenue to the National Zoological Park and see the pandas and many other amazing animals.

The District is filled with great restaurants, but for a special treat try Café Milano in Georgetown. The classic Italian dining room, wall murals and a warm-weather sidewalk café makes it a favorite among the political set; President Obama took Michelle there for her 49th birthday. Downtown and around the corner from the Treasury and White House, Old Ebbitt Grill has been a Washington institution since 1856 and a favorite of both President Grant and President Theodore Roosevelt. It’s open all day for every meal, has four bars upstairs and boasts a 2015 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.

My personal favorite is The Monocle Restaurant on Capitol Hill’s Senate side, where steak and crab cakes are lunch and dinnertime specialties. The Monocle is a hangout for staffers and lobbyists—you’ll probably see a Senator or two.