DC nightlife is rich and varied, offering something for everyone regardless of age. However, when alcohol is involved, transportation can be a hassle at best and illegal at the worst. Aimed at eliminating the trouble and danger of getting around the District while out on the town with your friends, Boomerang Tours’ founders Nikki DuBois and Dave DuBois (same last name, but they are neither related nor married) took advantage of DC’s compact geography to offer a superior alternative to taking the Metro or riding in a cab.

While their barhopping tours on Friday and Saturday nights are what most envision when one conjures up the image of the “Party Bus,” Boomerang Tours offers something for everybody. Virginia vineyard tours, tubing trips, a “crab feast” and a night in Annapolis, trips to Baltimore, DC scavenger hunts, and a singles night round out a full menu of features. The latter, featuring 20 males and 20 females, is an unconventional take on a dating service; the Boomerang Tours Web site boldly states, “We ensure you’ll meet everyone by the end of the night.”

The refreshing trip diversity offered by Boomerang cannot overshadow the company’s bread and butter: weekend bar-hopping. With the hassle and danger of late-night weekend transportation removed, the lucky 35 on each of Boomerang’s two highly converted and customized school buses enjoy a great audio system and soundtrack courtesy of each tour’s “party host” (or hostess). Patrons are welcome to bring on their own alcohol, making the short rides between bars an adventure without fail. A typical load for the weekend tours includes birthday and bachlorette parties; on the humid Saturday night when this journalist partook, there were two of the former and one of the latter.

Booking tickets in advance is most easily done online at the Boomerang Tours Web site, www.ridetheboomerang.com. Whether you’re interested in a wine-tasting tour, exploring the region, or having a great time with your friends on the weekend barhopping tour, spaces go quickly.

Most trips, especially those that stay in DC, leave from the Front Page bar in Dupont Circle. While waiting there for ticket holders to show up, the number of greetings and hugs between patrons and Boomerang employees was a testament to Nikki and Dave’s ability to provide an atmosphere where everyone has fun and lives to tell about it the next day.

Riding with Boomerang has other perks as well: expect drink specials at every stop, as well as the true benefit, going to the front of the line and skipping any cover charge at the more exclusive locations. We took full advantage of this at Modern in Georgetown and RNR in Chinatown; the VIP treatment surely augments the experience and fosters some of the repeat customers Boomerang Tours seems to enjoy.

The company’s Web site has a pictures section that is a small portal into the world of Boomerang Tours. People of all ages and races mug for the camera, some in St. Patrick’s Day garb, others in sombreros, some in pirate regalia, and still others simply dressed to impress. The common thread through it all is Nikki and Dave, who constantly circulate amongst their customers, functioning simultaneously as tour guide, babysitter and liaison between patrons. Their approachability and love for what they do is what pushes Boomerang Tours over the top, making it the first choice for Capitol Hill and other DC residents alike for an afternoon or night of hassle-free fun.