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TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence

TripAdvisor Recognizes Mount Vernon, the Distillery & Gristmill, and the Mount Vernon Inn with the Certificate of Excellence .

George Washington's Mount Vernon, George Washington's Distillery & Gristmill and the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant have all been awarded the TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award for 2014. The accolade, which honors hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor.

When selecting Certificate of Excellence winners, TripAdvisor uses a proprietary algorithm to determine the honorees that takes into account reviews ratings. Businesses must maintain an overall TripAdvisor bubble rating of at least four out of five, volume and recency of reviews. Additional criteria include a business' tenure and popularity ranking on the site.

The estate, Distillery & Gristmill, and the Mount Vernon Inn regularly earn rave reviews on the popular travel website. In their comments, visitors applaud the extraordinary educational content, the scenic beauty of the location, and the spirit of hospitality that they experience while touring and dining.

Testimonials About George Washington's Mount Vernon

"Lots to take in, beautiful!
Take your time and view as much as possible... the property is BEAUTIFUL and I would visit again if in the area."

- kmatos
Brandon, FL

"Fantastic...
An absolutely beautiful property befitting of the Father of our country. The staff was excellent, helpful, knowledgeable and moved the crowds very well. We started in Jamestown, then Colonial Williamsburg, Mount Vernon and DC. By Far the highlight of the trip was Mount Vernon. While you visit, do not miss the Gristmill and Distillery. A Must see on any vacation in the area."

- Dave M

"An Exciting Trip Through History...
We absolutely loved Mount Vernon, the grounds & gardens were Beautiful. The restorations of the home itself have been done so well, its magnificent. The tour guides were very informative - there was no question, they couldn't answer. The Museum was amazing, you're able to view historical relics, and actual letters written by George Washington. Movies and exhibits walk you through our founding fathers life and the birth of our country. A must see for everyone!"

- Catherine S

Learn more about visiting George Washington's Mount Vernon

About George Washington's Distillery & Gristmill

"Out of Sight, Out of Mind...
George Washington's Distillery & Gristmill are a few miles from the main attraction of the museum and his home. There are lots of people walking his grounds, but few at the distillery and gristmill. The tour of these two sights is absolutely amazing. I highly recommend spending an additional hour visiting these two buildings that appear to be forgotten by the masses."

- Jacob T
Morton, IL

"George Washington, Entrepreneur...
Make sure to allow extra time to visit the Grist Mill and distillery when visiting Mt. Vernon. A fascinating piece of engineering considering the times. The guides were very friendly and knowledgeable. The mill and distillery shows the business acumen side of Washington."

- Terry F
State College, PA

Learn more about the Distillery

About the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant

"Greatly Exceeded Expectations...
I thought this place was going to be a tourist trap (and it is in many ways), but the food greatly exceeded my expectations. We had lunch here before touring Mount Vernon. The cornbread and Virginia peanut soup were to die for. My husband and I both greatly enjoyed our entrees as well. The restaurant is adjacent to an enormous gift shop so you can browse while you wait for a table. The decor was more authentic than I was expecting as well. We will definitely eat here again if we are in the area even if we are not visiting Mount Vernon. I would LOVE to come here for Christmas!"

- MaegUT07
Austin, TX

"Excellent fresh food!
My husband and I traveled to Mount Vernon with my in-laws and after a long drive stopped here before touring Mount Vernon. We weren't sure what to expect and were afraid it would be a tourist trap but had a wonderful experience. The food was excellent and you can tell that it was made from fresh and quality ingredients. We order the Squash soup and their famous Peanut/Chestnut Soup (tastes like PB). For our lunch entrees I got a Cobb Salad which was EXCELLENT both in presentation and taste. My husband ordered the Turkey Pye and my in-laws ordered the Chicken Sandwich. We were all pleased with our orders. Everything was just the right portions; we enjoyed our meals but weren't left feeling stuffed - just right. It was a great start to our mini-vacation."

- Mvanessa11

Learn more about the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant 

About TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor® is the world's largest travel site*, enabling travelers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features with seamless links to booking tools. TripAdvisor branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, reaching nearly 260 million unique monthly visitors**, and more than 150 million reviews and opinions covering more than 4 million accommodations, restaurants and attractions. The sites operate in 39 countries worldwide, including China under daodao.com. TripAdvisor also includes TripAdvisor for Business, a dedicated division that provides the tourism industry access to millions of monthly TripAdvisor visitors.

TripAdvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIP) manages and operates websites under 22 other travel media brands: www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.everytrail.com, www.familyvacationcritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.gateguru.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk, www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.independenttraveler.com, www.jetsetter.com, www.niumba.com, www.onetime.com, www.oyster.com, www.seatguru.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.tingo.com, www.travelpod.com, www.tripbod.com, www.vacationhomerentals.com, www.virtualtourist.com, and www.kuxun.cn.

*Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Sites, worldwide, Q1 2014

**Source: Google Analytics, average monthly unique users, Q1 2014; does not include traffic to daodao.com

laptop Online Event group On-site event
Some of the bottles discovered in the Mansion Cellar
Uncorking History
Dec 9 – Jan 13
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Some of the bottles discovered in the Mansion Cellar
Uncorking History
Dec 11 – Jan 17
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Through My Eyes Tour
Dec 14–24
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Washington's Study
Virtual Mansion Tour
Dec 14 – Oct 31
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Tribute at the Tomb
Dec 14–31
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Aladdin the Camel
Dec 14 – Jan 6
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Holiday Fifing
Dec 14
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high tea
Holiday Afternoon Tea
Dec 14–15
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The Washington Family
Legacies Family Day
Dec 14–15
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The Measure of His Days
Dec 14–15
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Winter Glow Greenhouse
Winter Glow
Dec 15–19
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Some of the bottles discovered in the Mansion Cellar
Uncorking History
Dec 16 – Jan 21
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Holiday Fifing
Dec 17–21
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Some of the bottles discovered in the Mansion Cellar
Uncorking History
Dec 19 – Jan 24
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holly tree
Holiday Entertainments
Dec 21–22
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Winter Glow Greenhouse
Winter Glow
Dec 23
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Some of the bottles discovered in the Mansion Cellar
Uncorking History
Dec 23 – Jan 28
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Holiday Fifing
Dec 24
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Through My Eyes Tour
Dec 26–31
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chocolate making
Chocolate Making Demonstration
Dec 26 – Jan 6
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Holiday Fifing
Dec 26–28
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Some of the bottles discovered in the Mansion Cellar
Uncorking History
Dec 26 – Jan 31
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Chocolate making
Holiday Traditions
Dec 28–29
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high tea
Holiday Afternoon Tea
Dec 29–31
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Some of the bottles discovered in the Mansion Cellar
Uncorking History
Dec 30 – Feb 7
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Holiday Fifing
Dec 31
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Tribute at the Slave Memorial
Jan 1 – Dec 31
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Through My Eyes Tour
Jan 2–6
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Holiday Fifing
Jan 2–4
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Some of the bottles discovered in the Mansion Cellar
Uncorking History
Jan 6 – Feb 14
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Some of the bottles discovered in the Mansion Cellar
Uncorking History
Jan 13 – Feb 17
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