The legendary Chesapeake & Ohio Canal cuts a swath through Washington, D.C., winding through the city and connecting with the Potomac river at Georgetown. Originally chartered in 1825 to link with the headwaters of the Ohio River in western Pennsylvania, the canal was one of the main methods of transporting coal and other goods during much of the 19th and early 20th century, until the railroads starting taking over. The canal is now a National Historic Park, and those looking to experience it as it was in its heyday can enjoy a mule-drawn canal boat ride through Georgetown. Operated by the National Park Service, the one-hour ride goes through some of the city's most historic areas, rising by eight feet as it passes through one of the canal's 74 locks. All along the way, park rangers in period clothing describe what life was like for families who lived and worked along the canal, whose fortunes depended on its ability to cut transport times and ease heavy loads along its 185-mile distance. It's a unique and enlightening view of the city that few tourists get to experience. Starwood has hotels throughout the Washington area, including the St. Regis Washington, D.C.

[image via nps.gov]