If you and your family are feeling adventurous, you might consider seeing Washington D.C. on a water tour. There are lots of ways to get a new perspective on Washington — do-it-yourself kayaking or canoeing, or enjoy being a passenger and cruise the river.

Atlantic Kayak www.atlantickayak.com

This offers short and long tours. Short tours are recommended for newbies and view Georgetown ($44) and Piscataway Creek ($54). There are also sunset, midnight, and overnight tours. Call for information and reservations. Guides paddle alongside tourists in small groups of boats. Children must be twelve years old or older to paddle their own kayak; children over five may sit in a parent's kayak. The tour operators state that no experience is necessary.

Capital River Cruises www.capitolrivercruises.com

This fifty-minute, narrated tour of the Potomac on a sixty-five-foot riverboat departs from Washington Harbor, Georgetown, and circles the city, offering views of the Kennedy Center, the various monuments, and the Capitol building. Tours leave hourly from noon until 7 P.M. Monday to Friday, and noon to 9 P.M. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children; under three go free. A small discount is available on the Internet. Seasonal snack bar and restrooms are on board.

D.C. Ducks www.dcducks.com

Is this a water tour or a land tour? Surprise, it's both, and it's a terrific tour for families. This famous tour uses white amphibious vehicles (boats on wheels) — which were built for the U.S. Army during World War II to transport troops (and are fully restored and U.S. Coast Guard approved) — to provide tourists a one-hour tour of the city on the ground followed by a half-hour tour ride on the Potomac. Tours with a wise-quacking guide leave from Union Station from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. from mid-March through late October (call to make sure, of course). No reservations are needed. Tickets are $26 for adults and $13 for children.

Spirit Cruises www.spiritofwashington.com

The Spirit of Washington climate-controlled riverboat offers a sumptuous buffet as part of its lunch, early dinner, evening, and midnight moonlight cruises. Call for schedule and pricing. The Spirit of Washington II cruises to Mount Vernon, boarding at 8:15 A.M. Roundtrip fares include the admission to Mount Vernon and are $38 for adults, $36 for seniors, and $31 for children. You can purchase breakfast and lunch on board. Reservations are recommended.

C&O Canal Barge Rides 202-653-5190

Travel back to the 1870s with this mule-drawn canal ride along the C&O Canal. Commentary by costumed park rangers describes what life was like for the families who lived and worked on the canal. The one-hour trip costs $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $5 for children. The replica canal boats depart from Georgetown and operate from April through October, so be sure to call and get the current schedule.