If you like rocks, your going to love going into the cave! Tour took about 45 minutes and is great…read morefor families.

Crystal Grottoes Caverns is a wonderful hidden gem in Boonsboro, MD. Each 45-minute tour costs $23…read moreper adult (tips are accepted), and you are whisked away into the depths of the earth for a fascinating and educational look at history. Our tour guide, Paul, was very knowledgeable and added a lot of great humor to our tour. The caverns themselves are beautiful. We learned so much beyond the typical stalactite and stalagmite information kids hear in elementary school. Those who are taller than about 5'4" or 5'5" will need to duck a bit while moving through the caverns to avoid hitting your head on the formations. It's also very chilly, so be sure to bring a sweater or hoodie with you. The last time I visited Crystal Grottoes was in elementary school for a field trip, so it was great to revisit after so many years.

beautiful day to spend learning more about the county I've spent most of my life in! You too can…read morefind out the original name of the town in which is now referred to as Leesburg, which house in the historic district where Civil War military legends planned the bloodiest battle of the war and the location of the oldest home in Leesburg. Carla was genuine, pleasant, on time and full of history trivia.

I booked a private tour with Carla and it was a great idea. Outdoor activities are necessary…read morenowadays and when they are hosted by a knowledgeable host who takes her time explaining what you are looking at, it's time (and money) well spent. Without Carla's explanations, I would never have known what was hiding behind all these buildings.

This is a serious tour. Neither the walking nor the historical content is for the craven! Your…read moreguide is an endless resource of knowledge about the area, and you will leave with stronger quads and more brain cells. My mom arranged for us to go on this tour, after having read positive reviews on another website. We didn't really know what we had in store for us, but she stumbled onto a local treasure. Once you park and (probably) hike your way toward the rendezvous point, you'll head inside a church lounge where you can sit comfortably and get some background information. Your guide will be dressed in historical garb, and he may even break out into song at various points, between deep-dive presentation of historical narrative. Okay, so costume and singing aren't usually my scene (and in fact, they sometimes make me cringe), but this expert is so totally in earnest that it was actually refreshing. How can you not respect someone with this level of knowledge and commitment? You really feel like you're seeing the area through a historical lens. Every sight you see is informed by the guide, which adds rich layers of context. I admit that I kind of felt weirdly sorry for the other area tourists who were roaming the place uninformed. Some of the rocks, rubble, ruins, trails, and geography you see played a role in American history that you might not recognize, and this awareness made so many of the local sights more enjoyable. You do plenty of walking. Bring water, and wear comfortable shoes and clothing. You will also have breaks from the walking to reconvene. The tour was such an experience that we actually had ice cream with the other tour group members afterward to rehash and decompress. The guide does a haunted tour that I haven't tried, but which he describes as more lighthearted. I'd totally go back for that, and I'd bring any history nerd who visits the area to the O Be JoyFull tour in a heartbeat. Not the right setting for someone who wants a more consumer-based or superficial visit to Harper's Ferry, though. They can wait for you at the ice cream parlor!

It's not often I give 5 star reviews but, if you are a history buff I recommend Rick. Great in…read moredepth information told in a way that helps bring Harpers Ferry & the Civil War into focus. The day tours are lengthy, ~ 4hrs. If you want something shorter, then the ghost tour may do (I heard there's still history sprinkled in). Harper's Ferry is hilly so be prepared for that. Also, if you cross the railway bridge you can view the old canal.

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.

This was such a fun side adventure my family planned semi last minute. It was a nice and sunny day…read moreto go out and explore different trails and enjoy some history. First, all the staff and tour guides were really cool and very informative. They were even nice enough to hold some stuff for us when we wanted to purchase some souvenirs, and no one was around. There were a lot of places you can explore and enjoy a national historical park. This was stated from back in the civil war, and you can go into many of the buildings that had information on what occurred along with machinery from that time. There were many information signs around you can read while walking around. Along with this, there were really nice views and trails that you can take, including the Appalachian Trail, which I really loved. They also have nice restaurants and snack areas you can sit and enjoy. It can be pricy but worth it as the places I tried were good. I didn't get a chance to explore everything here, but I absolutely plan to come back to finish the trails and explore more. It's definitely a must do if you come to West Virginia!

We toured this historical town of the Civil War Era. I think, not sure this town is under the care…read moreof the National Park service. I saw a park ranger leading a walking tour. Many of the original buildings were turned into exhibition halls. Some were turned into commercial businesses such as restaurants and gift shops. One important building still standing was the one John Brown and his men took their last stand against the US army. The family and I enjoyed exploring this town under perfect weather. Parking inside the town was limited and not free. Offsite parking with shuttle service was available for a low cost.

My husband and I, with our 11 & 14 year old kids in tow, went to Harper's Ferry for the ghost tour…read moreon a Monday night. Save for what we read on Trip Advisor, we didn't really know what to expect and, while the ratings were quite positive, I tend to take reviews with a grain of salt. That said, the tour was worth it. We spent the afternoon walking Harper's Ferry to get a bit of history on the place and when we arrived that evening for the tour, I felt like the overall visit to Harper's Ferry was enhanced, thanks to Rick Garland and his very engaging way of telling all these "ghost" stories that made the experience so enjoyable. The town has such an incredible story to tell, from both a historical and even paranormal standpoint. With a knowledgeable "living" historian leading the way, even skeptics may find themselves questioning their beliefs especially after Rick recounts some of the park rangers' experiences. I always say...never say "never"... On a side note, the hubby and I went to Gettysburg the following day and wish we had the opportunity sign up with Rick on a tour because I'd bet money that he would be just as enlightening on that historical "town" tour as he had been on this one. Also, the "lower town" of Harper's Ferry pretty much closes shop between 5 and 6 except for the Secret Six restaurant that stays open a little later. The nearest public restroom is across from the national park visitor center at the lower end of this hilly town. You'll want to pay it a visit before heading out on your tour. The Harper's Ferry train station is still active with commuter trains coming and going quite frequently so the tour will get occasionally disrupted but hey-it's part of the charm! And the best meal you'll find is not at the restaurants (they all seem rather expensive) but at the ice cream shops to help cool you off on a humid summer day. As for the views, I dare you to complain. And for those who thought this tour was lame, I think you missed the point. You should have gone to a carnival haunted house instead.

Highly recommend this ghost tour! Educational and fun. Scary but not too scary. Good for the…read morewhole family. Tour lasted almost 2 hrs but time went by fast. Cool thing about this tour is Harper's Ferry pretty much becomes a ghost town after 5/6PM with only 1 or 2 restaurants open. The empty town really adds to the great atmosphere!!

We scheduled a walking tour with our six year old son and met our guide Rosanne. She was…read moreknowledgeable, charismatic and friendly. She kept my son's interest as well as my husband and I. She had many interesting stories and first hand accounts that she wove into the tour. She also gave us an excellent suggestion for dinner. I recommend hiring this group. Ask for Rosanne!

One afternoon in Gettysburg, my men went fly fishing so I found myself with a rare day to myself…read more I was a little wary about taking a tour. The day before we had taken a private tour of the battle field and it was so boring that I kept dozing! However, when I studied my options and read about Gettysburg Licensed Town Historians, the walking tour became more appealing. You see, I was tired of hearing about "the battle" itself. However, these Historians specialize in tours regarding civilian accounts and stories about the battle, occupation, and aftermath. The "Historian" tours are 90 minutes and cost $25 (students 9-17 $20 & children 8 and under are free). They offer a "General Walking Tour", as well as specific topics specializing in Architecture, Black History, Lincoln's Visit, "Mystery & Tragedy", and Eisenhower. The specific topic that sparked my interest was "The Unsung Heroes: The Civilian Ladies of Gettysburg". Luckily, since I did not have a car that day, the "Historian" office was conveniently located steps from my B&B on Lincoln Square. I was assigned to Susan, whose family had been living in Gettysburg for generations (yes, prior to "the battle"). I happened to be the only participant in the tour so in effect I got a private tour for $25. Even though it was it was just me, Susan did not skimp on any time, information, or enthusiasm! We walked the streets of Gettysburg and Susan told about what the town of Gettysburg was really like during the mid 1800s and what life was like for its inhabitants. She told stories about the individuals and characters who lived there, making them come to life as we passed the houses and places where they lived and worked. Susan concentrated on the women and stories of their bravery and sacrifice. Susan also put a personal spin on the tour by telling stories of her own ancestors who were living in Gettysburg at the time of the Civil War. So I was able to have fun while learning and get a little exercise at the same time! If you are visiting Gettysburg I strongly suggest touring the town and not just the battlefield. To help you do this, I highly recommend the passionate story tellers at Licensed Town Historians to give you a picture of what life was like for civilians in 1863.

Here is an overlooked piece of history. Had a great time with the "curator" of the place, Mike. He…read morereally puts his heart into it. There is a lot of civil war history here as this place was over fan numerous times by both sides. Although they don't have a lot of artifacts yet, the stories told by Mike make it well worth the 5 dollars per head. We will be back again because it is fun to see the history and old machinery available in this place.

We found this railroad gem when searching for something fun in Martinsburg. The tour was great,…read morevery informative but the tour guide also tailored it to the kids. We highly recommend a visit for young and old rail fans.

My daughter and I recently booked a private tour while on vacation. I loved conversing with Ann…read moreduring my booking. She is so knowledgeable and passionate about the history and paranormal of the Charles Town area. Our guide, Will, was very knowledgeable and a lot of fun. We enjoyed getting to know him during the tour and learning about such a beautiful and fascinating town. While we didn't see anything of the paranormal exactly, I had a lot of feelings and impressions. We really loved this tour and hope to come back to Charles Town again soon!

Angie & Tim were great hosts and tour guides as they put us at ease with their warmth, expertise…read moreand knowledge of the town and its many paranormal happenings and activities. This tour was mixed with history and ghost stories that were enjoyable, macabre and made you think twice about spirits on the loose in historic Charles Town. As the sun went down and the skies darkened the tour became more surreal as we visited a church ground/ graveyard under the shadow of night and ended in an underground basement where you could feel the kinetic energy as your heart quickened exploring the foreboding darkness and rooms thereof. Angie & Tim were very personable, kind and took there time till the tour ended. My wife and I are two very satisfied customers. We highly recommend!!!

I had a friend visiting from Australia and he wanted to see the sights of DC. This FREE walking…read moretour showed both of us all the highlights of the monuments and such and our tour guide was the best. He is a former school teacher and he is both engaging and informative. The walk lasts for 3.5 hours so I highly recommend sturdy shoes and perhaps a bottle of water. Tim (the guide) provides a snack along the way and hits up rest stops at appropriate times. It is a somewhat brisk walk at times but to cover everything we saw in the time period it was perfect and totally do-able! Even if you have lived in DC or the surrounding areas all your life, if you have not taken this tour, I highly recommend that you do!

We had a great tour today with Tim! He is a very energetic,very informative guide. The teacher in…read morethe past he is a perfect guide who loves his job. Tour started at 10am and we finished around 4 pm - covered almost all monuments in National Mall. It is a free tour but if you like it - you can leave a gratitudes for the guide. Great day full of interesting facts! You would love it!