The Top Things to Do in Alexandria, Virginia: From the Old Town to the Outdoors
Alexandria is one of our new favourite cities to visit in the US, and that’s largely because it hits well above its weight culturally, historically, and gastronimically. Not to mention, you’re close to plenty of outdoor adventure, and if you base yourself here, you’ll have day trips galore at your fingertips.
Market Square in Alexandria, VA. Photo Credit: Christopher Mitchell
On the western bank of the Potomac River, just south of Washington, D.C., you’ll find the lovely city of Alexandria, Virginia. You can feel the presence of Washington, D.C. here, seeing as it’s right across the river from the nation’s capital, but it’d be a mistake to not recognize that Alexandria very much has its own vibe.
The historic centre of Alexandria, known as “Old Town Alexandria,” exemplifies that to a tee. Boutique shops, locally owned restaurants, compact and walkable, picturesque streets, and a burgeoning waterfront district. As I’ll note throughout the article, it’s a photographer’s dream come true, and it’s hard not to see this city appearing on more and more must visit lists when it comes to visiting the US — because it certainly deserves all the travel accolades that will and should be bestowed upon it.
What to Know About Alexandria Before Visiting
Just a glimpse of the colour palette of Alexandria. Photo Credit: Christopher Mitchell
Alexandria was founded all the way back in 1749, and became a hub for business and trade because of its location along the Potomac River. It’s known as a key city in American history because of its strategic location, and because many names that appear in all US textbooks (like George Washington) spent time here.
King Street still serves as the main commercial artery of the city, but now it’s hip shops, restaurants and cafes, and way back when, it was more about the tobacco and shipping, as you might imagine. During the Civil War, something I’ve learned a tremendous amount about in the past few years through visits to states like Virginia, Alexandria was occupied by Union forces, and you can see traces of that as well, if you look closely.
Walk along the cobblestones, pop into the art centres and museums, stroll along the waterfront and embrace the river breeze, and try to see for yourself where the past meets the present.
We enjoyed our visit here tremendously, and I think that’s an attestation to how much learning there was to do for us — and I’d like to think any visitor could do with the right approach and mindset. And, I suppose, in many ways, that’s why I’m here to write this article for you!
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What to Do in Alexandria During Your Visit
Take the Time to Properly Explore Old Town Alexandria
We spent a lot of time walking around Old Town Alexandria (as any visitor should do), so I’ll try to build out a bit of a walking tour for you that makes logical sense for you if you were to take a morning, an afternoon, or a whole day to explore this area.
I’d recommend that you kick things off at the Sprite House, which is widely known as the narrowest house in the US. I’d recommend doing the obligatory arm span photo in front of it, just to communicate how narrow this place is. Alexandria is fun and quirky, so this, to me, is the appropriate place to start your adventure. It’s one of the most curious architectural gems you’ll ever come across, quite honestly.
From here, it’s a short walk to Captain’s Row. Think perfectly preserved cobblestones and 18th-century townhouses. I’m told it’s named Captain’s Row because it used to be home to early ship captains who worked along the waterfront. If you’re a lover of social media, this is where you’ll snap one of the most iconic shots of your trip. Personally, I loved the uneven cobblestones that were left in place and not manicured or gentrified to fit into a modern narrative. If architecture (or history) is your thing, you may want to divert over to the Carlyle House, an 18th century Georgian mansion built by one of the city’s founders.
Then, it’s down towards the Potomac River to reach Robinson Landing, an upscale development with a scenic promenade and no shortage of public art. There are great views of the river here and an easy vibe, so it’s a nice spot to catch some sun and see how locals appreciate their city. Keep your eye out around here for public art installations. Look for “Mirror Mirror,” a mesmerizing interactive light sculpture near the waterfront park, and other rotating exhibits that reflect Alexandria’s artistic community.
Speaking of art, I wouldn’t leave Old Town without popping into the Torpedo Factory Art Center. Originally a World War I torpedo factory, this historic building was converted into an art space in the 1970s and now houses more than 80 artist studios, galleries, and exhibits. It’s the hub for the artistic movement that I hadn’t really wrapped my head around before visiting the city. I learned a lot here, and as longtime readers will know, I’m all for repurposing historic buildings in cities, as opposed to tearing them down (something my hometown, Toronto, did not do all that well).
Now it’s time to take in the wonders of the King Street Mile. It’s the main artery of Old Town Alexandria. Here you’ll find boutique shops, independent bookstores, and some of the city's best restaurants and cafés.
See what catches your eye, but you should go out of your way to pop into the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum. The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum dates back to 1792 and still contains original glass bottles, medicinal herbs, and handwritten pharmacy records. That makes it a photographer’s playground, and I hadn’t quite seen anything like it. Fun fact — two past customers here happened to be none other than George Washington and Martha Jefferson.
Let your tastes guide you, but as Bri and I used to call Istanbul home, we had to pop by Turkish Coffee Lady, a woman-owned business dedicated to preserving and sharing the 500-year-old tradition of Turkish coffee, aiming to bridge cultures one cup at a time. The decor was so bright and cheerful (and turquoise!), and there was no shortage of baklava and Turkish Delight to be enjoyed.
One last thing I’d add here is that, if it’s Saturday, be sure to spend some time in Market Square, one of the oldest continuously operating marketplaces in the country, as they have a farmer’s market. You’ll walk past this in all likelihood during your Old Town explorations, but it’s worth knowing that they host regularly live events here. The marquee events, like tree lightings and festivities — they all happen here. Even if there isn’t an event on, it’s worth spending a little time here.
What’s great about this is that, like us, you’ll add your own flare to this, but this should provide you a general path to get exploring and to check of some of the must see sights in Alexandria, Virginia.
Visit Mt. Vernon
As you may already know, Mt. Vernon was George Washington’s Historic Estate. Now, this may be a difficult place for some visitors, and that’s largely because it’s noted that Washington did indeed have enslaved peoples living here at the time of his death in 1799. As I hope to have demonstrated in previous content (like my article on Franklin, Tennessee), it can be better to formally acknowledge difficult histories, and remember those who suffered, as opposed to pretending they never happened. Thankfully, there is a Slave Memorial at Mt. Vernon now.
A quick footnote that if you’d like to learn more about the story of the enslaved peoples in this region, you should make time to visit The Freedom House Museum, as well as the Alexandria Black History Museum, and if you’re keen to understand these stories in the context of the larger story of the city, then perhaps visit The Lyceum, known as “Alexandria’s History Museum,” which is housed in a 19th-century Greek Revival building.
Okay, back to Mt. Vernon.
Many people like to get to Mt. Vernon by boat, taking the 1 hour Potomac Riverboat Cruise, but the easiest way is to hop in your car (if you’ve got one on this trip), and drive the 20 or so minutes along the George Washington Memorial Parkway (a fitting drive, to be sure).
When there, you’ll want to spend time in the mansion, the grounds and gardens, Washington’s Tomb & the Slave Memorial, the Museum and Education Center, as well as the distillery & gristmill. I personally did not know that Washington himself was once of the largest whiskey producers in the country.
It gets crowded, so you’ll want to plan to go early, and the average visitor spends about 3 or so hours there. There’s an on-site restaurant if you arrive early, want to have lunch, and then continue exploring.
Stay at the Hotel Aka Alexandria
The arrival of Hotel AKA Alexandria represents a hugely significant accommodation addition to Old Town. From the staff to the design to the rooms themselves, this was a spectacular stay. Before talking about the property a little more, I want to give a proper shoutout to the staff member Marvin, who offered us a warm welcome that felt befitting of a family member, not a guest. It made our trip, quite honestly.
From the moment you walk in, the newly reimagined space strikes a perfect balance between sleek modern design and timeless mid-century features.
One thing you won’t be able to miss even if you tried? The striking floating staircase — a Lissoni signature— crafted from dark steel with bold, architectural lines leading up to the terrace. The rooms and suites are just as impressive. You have top tier furnishings that you’d expect from a hotel, but the way in which they go above and beyond in terms of almost residential style comfort makes this place feel like a home away from home.
I spent perhaps an hour just taking in the lobby, the fitness centre (the only one I’ve ever seen with plants dispersed throughout to make it feel like you’re working out outdoors), and the landscaped terrace.
It’s just a deeply inspiring place. As you might imagine, a stay there does come with a price tag, so you can also take a peek at what else is on offer if you please — but do know this place is special.
Frank Lloyd Wright Fan? Circle the Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House
Longtime readers of travelingmitch will already know that Bri and I are immensely fascinated by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. We have visited several of his masterpieces including, most recently, The Martin House in Buffalo, NY.
The Pope-Leighey House, not unlike the Martin House, exemplifies Wright’s vision to bring beautiful architecture not just to well paying corporate clients, but also to everyday Americans (albeit somewhat wealthy or established ones). This property dates back to 1940, and you can see all the Wright principles at play — the “organic architecture,” or, in more clear terms, the way in which the building blends into (and reflects, to some extent) its natural surroundings.
It’s located outside the heart of the city and it’s noted for its low ceilings that create intimacy, expansive windows that pull nature into the living space, and an open floor plan that maximizes every square foot. It’s not particularly grandiose, by any means, but it is impactful, even just in its simplicity.
If you’re an architecture nerd like yours truly, you’ll want to add this to your to-do list for Alexandria. It’s more or less connected, by the way, to Woodlawn, which was originally a wedding gift for Washington’s step-granddaughter. It was built by the same architect that worked on the US Capitol, so expect to see that “Federal-style architecture” in full effect. I didn’t get a chance on this visit to check out Woodlawn, but likely would on my next visit to Alexandria (which I can only hope comes again before too long).
Appreciate the food and drink scene
It’s always a good idea to explore a city through the lens of food and drink. When we were exploring the waterfront area, we appreciated tapas aplenty at BARCA Pier & Wine Bar, a spot we’d recommend without hesitation. For a more refined night out, Julia’s on the Potomac is a great choice, especially as they offer some of the best elevated views of the waterfront around, and focus on elevated American cuisine.
Ada’s on the River is another spot to have on your list if you’re looking for a hip riverside eatery, The Wharf is a classic choice for steak and seafood, and similarly, you won’t go wrong with The Warehouse.
After dinner, if you like a pub, we thought the live music and scene at O’Connell’s Irish Restaurant and Bar was fantastic, but the real hidden gem for a night out is to visit the speakeasy known as Captain Gregory’s. Go, and thank us later! It looks like an empty cafe, but before long, you’re “inside,” cocktail in hand. My old friend, Grant, a roommate of mine when I attended the University of Oslo actually drove down from Annapolis to meat us there
What Else Should You Have on Your Radar In & Around Alexandria?
Alexandria is a city that’s known to have a strong performative arts scene. I’d recommend The Birchmere for live music, and The Little Theatre of Alexandria if you’re keen for some community theatre.
If you have kids in tow and are looking to spend time outdoors, Waterfront Park is where my mind goes first, but I should note that families seem to appreciate places like Windmill Hill Park (which I was told from a local had a pirate ship-themed playground), and Founders Park. If you’re willing to drive a little outside the city, then you should visit Huntley Meadows Park (with plenty of wildlife and nature trails), or Green Spring Gardens if you’re looking to appreciate some seasonal gardens.
If you, like me, enjoy trying local beers, I’d head to Port City Brewing Company, which happens to be Alexandria’s first production brewery since Prohibition. They’ve won plenty of awards along the way, and they’re known especially amongst beer drinkers for their porters!
If you’re looking for souvenirs to bring home, then you’ll likely want to pop by The Old Town Gift Shop (appropriately named, I know).
We also took advantage of the Capital Bikeshare docking station near Theodore Roosevelt Island and headed southwest along the Mount Vernon Trail to Gravelly Point, where many locals hang out and watch the plans land. We’d recommend that, and if you’re looking for a longer ride, it’s worth noting that The Mount Vernon Trail is actually a 18 mile multi-use trail that extends all the way from Mount Vernon to Theodore Roosevelt Island.
If you are a lover of wine, you may want to drive the hour or so to Middleburg and Virginia Wine Country. Another option would be heading further south in the state to Richmond or Virginia Beach.
Cycling along the Mt. Vernon Trail. Photo Credit: Christopher Mitchell
We’ve been fortunate to spend a fair bit of time in Virginia, exploring everywhere from Richmond to Virginia Beach, so feel free to check out all our Viginia content here.
Alexandria Awaits
This is one of those cities that you’ll find on all the lists for US travel when it comes to cities that are hidden gems, have more than meets the eye, or just generally deserve to have more visitors.
It’s a place where we felt right at home upon arrival, learned a tremendous amount, and where it was quite easy to meet local people and engage with the culture. It’s a place we’d return to in a heartbeat, and we can only hope we’ve helped prepare you for your visit.
As the header of this section says, Alexandria awaits!
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