{"id":49002,"date":"2014-11-03T13:33:21","date_gmt":"2014-11-03T17:33:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/?p=49002"},"modified":"2025-09-02T02:58:51","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T06:58:51","slug":"things-to-do-in-alexandria-va","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/49002\/things-to-do-in-alexandria-va\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Things to Do in Alexandria, VA"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alexandria is a great base for exploring Washington, D.C.<\/a> With the National Mall at its doorstep, many visitors use peaceful Old Town Alexandria as an evening respite, away from the bustle of the big city. But don\u2019t overlook its stand-alone getaway potential. You\u2019ll find a thriving art scene, rich history<\/a>, cosmopolitan shopping and dynamic dining merit your attention. Once an important commercial port, today its waterfront is flush with seaworthy pleasure crafts and a remarkable visual arts center. Alexandria is a public transportation hub, so getting around this quaint town or into our nation\u2019s capital is a snap.<\/p>\n

The Must-Do Experiences<\/h2>\n

Alexandria\u2019s past is seamlessly woven into its current cosmopolitan culture. The city\u2019s dedication to historic preservation is evident as you walk its dreamy cobblestone streets. Colonial buildings blend easily with yoga studios and high-end retail shops. Visit one of the city\u2019s eight museums for an intimate glimpse into the Alexandria of yesteryear. Gadsby\u2019s Tavern Museum<\/a><\/strong> is a favorite with vacationing foodies. Once a hotel and tavern, it aptly evokes the atmosphere of a Colonial hostelry. Presidents Washington and Jefferson were patrons, swigging rum punch along with the less illustrious diners. History enthusiasts shouldn\u2019t miss The Lyceum<\/a><\/strong>. It houses thousands of intriguing objects from the city\u2019s past. The South Gallery examines the Civil War period, when Alexandria was seized by Union forces in 1861 and held for the duration.<\/p>\n

The Torpedo Factory Art Center<\/a><\/strong> is a sterling example of how the arts can invigorate a community. This re-purposed former munitions factory is today a visual arts center where over 160 artists work, exhibit and sell their creations.\u00a0 Observe as they create sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, photography, fiber arts and more. Conversation flows freely, so don\u2019t be shy about questioning the creative process. The Torpedo Factory just celebrated its 40th\u00a0birthday and continues to serve as a prototype for communities around the world who wish to establish similar facilities. The Alexandria Archaeology Museum<\/strong>, with its first-class collection of excavated artifacts, also makes its home here. \"Mount

Alexandria is only eight miles from Mount Vernon<\/a><\/strong>, George Washington\u2019s beloved home and final resting place.\u00a0 Explore the 500-acre estate with its iconic mansion, manicured gardens, working whiskey distillery and hundreds of personal belongings, including George\u2019s dentures.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re in the mood for a spin, it\u2019s an easy ride on a designated path. Pedal the serene Mount Vernon Trail as it winds through bucolic woods and along the Potomac River.\u00a0Consider booking a self-guided tour with Bike and Roll, offered seasonally from March-November. The Mount Vernon by Bike and Boat<\/a><\/strong> package includes bike rental, helmet and admission to Mount Vernon. This combination package has you bike to Mount Vernon and return to Old Town Alexandria on a narrated boat cruise. If you prefer to cycle both ways, book the\u00a0Bike to Mount Vernon<\/a><\/strong> package.<\/p>\n

80% of Old Town Alexandria shops and restaurants are independently owned, and King Street is its entrepreneurial epicenter. Home d\u00e9cor shops showcase regional craftsmanship and clothing stores offer merchandise that will please die-hard fashionistas. Amateur mixologists should head to The Hour Cocktail Collection<\/a><\/strong>, where Mad Men-style bar gadgets are as suave as James Bond ordering a martini. If your idea of fun is slower-paced, Fibre Space<\/strong> is revered by knitters around the country for its selection of yarn and friendly environment.<\/p>\n

As you stroll King Street, you will notice that dogs are the accessory du jour<\/i>. Pampered pooches rule this town, and local canines fete out-of-town hounds at a bow-wow happy hour hosted by the Hotel Monaco<\/strong> each Thursday evening, April-October. The Dog Park<\/strong> sells funky pet paraphernalia that you won\u2019t find at Petco, so it\u2019s the place to purchase a distinctive gift for Fido.<\/p>\n

The Insider Tip<\/h2>\n

\"Del

The Eats<\/h2>\n

Alexandria\u2019s chef-driven restaurants have been serving presidents since numero uno<\/i>, George Washington.\u00a0 Our current president has not broken with tradition. He and the missus celebrated Valentine\u2019s Day at the casually romantic Vermilion<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 The menu showcases regional American dishes with modern flair. Chef William Morris\u2019s ambrosial tasting menu may be paired with buzz-worthy wines, including some Virginia gems. \"where

The Drinks<\/h2>\n

PX<\/strong> is a swanky speakeasy-style lounge. When the blue light above\u00a0Eamonn\u2019s A Dublin Chipper<\/strong> <\/b>on King Street is on, you\u2019ll know it\u2019s open for business. Spirits savant Todd Thrasher takes a chef-like approach, making his ambitious cocktails using hand-squeezed juices, house made bitters and home-brewed tonic. If you\u2019ve got a craving for nicotine, Thrasher steeps a variety of tobacco to add a hefty dose of gumption to his bourbon-based Smoker\u2019s Delight.<\/p>\n

The Digs<\/h2>\n

\"Morrison

Getting to Alexandria, VA from NYC<\/h2>\n

Amtrak takes four hours from Penn Station direct to Alexandria. Compact Old Town is a pedestrian\u2019s oasis, but other modes of transportation are entertaining. King Street Trolley runs up and down the town\u2019s main drag and a ride won\u2019t cost you a dime.\u00a0Capital Bikeshare<\/a> works like a charm, and with a hefty 16 bike kiosks dotting Alexandria, finding wheels is easy. It\u2019s only a 30-minute energetic ride to DC. The Metro will get you there in 15 minutes. In season, jump on a water taxi for a refreshing ride to the National Mall. For more information, go to visitalexandriava.com<\/a>.<\/em> Photos:\u00a0Howard Ignatius<\/a>,\u00a0Andy Eick<\/a><\/em>, respective properties<\/em><\/p>\n

Photo credits:\u00a0Ron Cogswell<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Alexandria is a great base for exploring Washington, D.C. With the National Mall at its doorstep, many visitors use peaceful Old Town Alexandria as an evening respite, away from the bustle of the big city. But don\u2019t overlook its stand-alone getaway potential. You\u2019ll find a thriving art scene, rich history, cosmopolitan shopping and dynamic dining […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":54365,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1508,850,831,224,772,759,783,761,750,817,833,854,758,773,852,812,1869,775,838,1089,776,777,834,769,841,1057,842,781,807,843,778,774,844,845,780,847,748,480,316,782],"tags":[238,116,40,31,108,381,293,280,125,130,110,299,18,133,282,84,204],"class_list":{"0":"post-49002","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-amtrak-getaways","8":"category-antiques-shopping-2","9":"category-architecture-culture-2","10":"category-arts","11":"category-bakery-food-drink","12":"category-bar-activity-2","13":"category-barbecue-food-drink","14":"category-beer-activity-2","15":"category-bike-2","16":"category-biking-adventure-activity-2","17":"category-books-culture-2","18":"category-boutiques-shopping-2","19":"category-cafe-activity-2","20":"category-chocolate-food-drink","21":"category-crafts-shopping-2","22":"category-culinary-classes","23":"category-editors-picks","24":"category-ethnic","25":"category-fall-foliage-culture-2","26":"category-farmers-market-shopping-2","27":"category-farms-food-drink","28":"category-fine-dining","29":"category-gardens-culture-2","30":"category-historic-sites-culture","31":"category-holidays-culture-2","32":"category-museums-culture-2","33":"category-music-culture-2","34":"category-outdoor-dining","35":"category-pet-friendly-themes","36":"category-photography-culture-2","37":"category-picnic-food-drink","38":"category-restaurants-food-drink","39":"category-science-culture-2","40":"category-sculpture-culture-2","41":"category-seafood-food-drink","42":"category-tours-culture-2","43":"category-train-2","44":"category-virginia","45":"category-weekend-getaways","46":"category-wine-food-drink","47":"tag-adventure","48":"tag-amtrak","49":"tag-art","50":"tag-bar","51":"tag-beer","52":"tag-biking","53":"tag-budget-friendly","54":"tag-cultural-getaway","55":"tag-food","56":"tag-green","57":"tag-historical-sites","58":"tag-locally-sourced","59":"tag-museum","60":"tag-outdoors","61":"tag-romantic","62":"tag-shopping","63":"tag-train"},"acf":[],"mv":{"thumbnail_id":54365,"thumbnail_uri":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/27344592042_35495470df_k-e1474321069151-350x197.jpg"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49002","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/50"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49002"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49002\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54365"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49002"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49002"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49002"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}