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Arlington & DC — Changing of the Guard, Spy Museum, Oyster Bar Crawl, DC — Arlington National Cemetery & Washington, DC
THE ATLAS · The King

Arlington & DC — Changing of the Guard, Spy Museum, Oyster Bar Crawl, DC

Destination: Arlington National Cemetery & Washington, DCNights: 3Group: 4–12Season: April, May, September, OctoberEstimated: $2,400–$4,200/person

Dawn wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Changing of the Guard in dress uniform, then Udvar-Hazy Center for SR-71 Blackbird and Space Shuttle Discovery. Afternoon at the International Spy Museum with classified-era artifacts and Cold War tradecraft. Dinner at Old Ebbitt Grill for Chesapeake oysters and bourbon, followed by a private rooftop reception overlooking the Lincoln Memorial. Day two: Arlington House tour, Arlington Cemetery grounds walk with a military historian guide, lunch at Founding Farmers, evening at the National WWII Museum's traveling exhibition. Final night: steakhouse dinner at The Capital Grille, cigar lounge at Tobacco Dock, nightcap at Off the Record (hidden bar in the Hay-Adams Hotel).

What You'll Do

Tour

Walking Tour

Scenic Overlook

Oyster-and-duck weekend

Morning decoys in the St. Vincent marshes, afternoon oyster boat, dinner at Owl Cafe. Pre-Disney Florida.

Operator: Local guides + Apalachicola Oyster Co. · Pair with: Gibson Inn or St. George Island house rental.

Where You Sleep

  • · The Hay-Adams Hotel
  • · Four Seasons Hotel Washington DC
  • · Mandarin Oriental Washington DC

Where You Eat

  • · Old Ebbitt Grill
  • · The Capital Grille
  • · Founding Farmers

Questions

Do we need to book the wreath-laying ceremony in advance?
Yes. Contact Arlington National Cemetery's Ceremonies Office 60+ days prior; groups require formal request and military or veteran sponsorship. BESTMAN coordinates this as part of the package.
What's the dress code for Arlington?
Business casual minimum; dress pants and collared shirts recommended. No denim, athletic wear, or hats (except military covers). Respect the ground.
Can we visit the Pentagon or classified sites?
Pentagon tours require 14-day advance booking and security clearance vetting; we can arrange. Most classified Cold War sites are museum-only, which Spy Museum covers thoroughly.

Ready to book the story?

Five quick questions, then we build the full itinerary — lodging, daily schedule, dining, bars, the group-chat message — and drop you into a Trip Room you can share with the crew.