Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, is a little slice of history with character of epic proportions.
If you read my recent guide to The Most Instagrammable Spots in Old Town, you already have some idea of the quaint charm this city holds! Streets lined with rainbows of row houses, boutique shops and restaurants embracing the unique character of old buildings, waterfront views that stretch for miles, and neat, brick sidewalks inviting you to explore are just the surface of this enchanting town!
It’s not often I visit one town for a weekend and find more than one or two amazing things that I want to share with my readers. But in just 3 days of visiting Old Town Alexandria, I was absolutely in love! So today, I’m continuing my Old Town mini-series with 8 incredible activities to enjoy while you’re there. Bonus: Most of these activities are free, but still feel like you’re spoiling yourself. You can choose to add souvenirs and experiences to your heart’s content, but you don’t have to. Hooray for budget-friendly adventures!
8 Fantastic Things to Do in Old Town Alexandria
Explore the Torpedo Factory Art Center
105 N Union St, Alexandria, VA 22314
No, that’s not just a funky name–this art center really is inside an old torpedo factory! If you like art displays of all styles and sizes, you’ll definitely want to explore this unique setup.
This 3-story building houses both the workshops and showrooms for dozens of talented artists and it is incredible! It’s essentially a mall for artwork, and it’s free to enter. You’ll see everything from detailed paintings to crazy paper mache sculptures to mesmerizing ocean-like glass formations. You’ll also be able to watch some of the artists at work behind their showroom areas.
*Photos of the artwork are generally not allowed, so please be respectful of the artists’ creations when you visit.
Additionally, few fun relics are preserved from the factory’s munitions plant days, including a couple of torpedoes and a factory scale.
Stroll Along the Waterfront
1 Prince St, Alexandria, VA 22314
Old Town Alexandria has a lovely stretch of shops, restaurants, and parks positioned right on the Potomac River waterfront. From here, you can see the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge stretching across to Maryland and watch the boats sailing up and down the river.
If you’re interested, you can even book a tour on an old-fashioned riverboat to see the sights all along the Potomac!
There are plenty of places to eat and shop here, so carve out ample time to explore. And once you’re done, be sure to swing by the King Street Park and Waterfront Park to enjoy the views and check out the rotating public art displays.
Do Some Unique Shopping in Old Town
King Street is absolutely packed with incredible shops, many of which are unique to Old Town. Here, you’ll find a great selection of local crafts and goods housed in beautiful historic buildings. The old-style settings give each shop its own distinct character, in contrast to the big chain stores you find all over.
However, there are quite a few chain stores that also reside on King Street in the fanciest locations I’ve ever seen! So if you want to visit the upscale version of Ross or CVS, you can do that, too. 🙂
Based on this tour pattern, I’d suggest starting by the waterfront and shopping your way along King Street. However, don’t be afraid to venture off and explore because the area is filled with cool shops, like the Periwinkle Boutique (111 S Columbus St, Alexandria, VA 22314)!
I just had to give this adorable shop its own feature! Periwinkle takes up 3 rooms on the bottom floor of a gorgeous brick building. Two rooms are elegantly decorated and filled with fun and flashy boutique clothing, and the back room is a consignment shop with color-coded pricing stickers! Oh, and the fitting rooms are little zip-up tents! How cute!
Tour the Carlyle House Historic Park
121 N Fairfax St, Alexandria, VA 22314
The Carlyle House Historic Park and Mansion is a fun, quick stop if you like history, flowers, or cool architecture. The mansion was built in 1753 by the wealthy merchant John Carlyle. You can tour his home for just $5 and see the luxurious interior and learn about the Carlyle family’s interesting history.
Out back, you can stroll through the peaceful mansion gardens, which are lovely year-round and maintained in the 18th-century style.
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum
Just a few blocks away, you can have one of the most memroable meals of your life at Gadsby’s Tavern! This charming tavern has been a fine dining restaurant since 1770 and was frequented by well-known guests like the Washingtons and Thomas Jefferson! The dining rooms have preserved their colonial flair, so your meal feels like it’s taking place in another century!
There are actually two parts to this unique location: the restaurant and the museum. On the museum side (which is reopening March 26, by the way), you can learn about the Gadsbys, how their business affected Alexandria’s development, and what the different rooms in the tavern and hotel were used for. There is also a strong emphasis on how the enslaved workers in Alexandria and the tavern made a difference in the city’s economic development.
Adult tickets purchased in advance cost $5 online and are free for Alexandria residents. Discounts are also available for AAA members and those who dined at the restaurant.
Appreciate the Row Houses
I love row houses! They’re just so uncommon wherever I’ve lived that they always make me smile. Especially when the residents put noticeable care in their curb appeal. Alexandria has street after street of gorgeous row houses in every color of the rainbow. So if you share my enthusiasm, this place will be a little paradise for you!
You can find charming houses all over, but there are a few streets that particularly stuck out to me that I want to share.
Captains Row: 198-112 S Lee St, Alexandria, VA 22314
North Payne Street
Cameron Street
King Street
Visit the George Washington Masonic Memorial
101 Callahan Dr, Alexandria, VA 22301
Whether you’re a fan of America’s first president or just unique architecture, you won’t want to miss a stop by the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. It’s stunning at sunset and night when it’s all lit up. However, you’ll want to come during the day if you’re interested in a tour.
This gorgeous memorial is comprised of nine floors topped by a stepped pyramid structure. However, only the first couple of floors that make up the main memorial are open to visitors. If you have the time and interest, the interior tour costs $18 per person. Otherwise, you can appreciate its beauty and grandeur from the outside.
Tip: The memorial’s hilltop setting provides a lovely view of King Street at night! Which leads me to my next point…
Soak Up the King Street Lights
King Street looks like a romantic movie scene at night! This long road is the main thoroughfare through Old Town, and it’s certainly decorated for the status. All along the sidewalk, trees and light poles are strung with white lights, creating a rather magical aura at nighttime.
The lights went on as far as we could see from the intersection of Russel Rd and King St., and as mentioned, you get a tremendous view from the George Washington Masonic Memorial.
What I love most about these activities is that you’ll get a full tour of Old Town as you walk to each location! I do recommend walking over driving because 1) the roads are small and busy and 2) it’s such a walker-friendly town. Plus, you’ll get to enjoy everything at your own pace and have the freedom to stop whenever you please.
I hope you get the opportunity to visit Alexandria soon (hopefully on a very sunny day) and experience all of these for yourself! I know I’ll be back soon to do some of them again. For more recommendations on things to do, where to stay, and even where to eat, be sure to check out the rest of the posts in my Old Town Alexandria mini-series!
You can also check out the recent Redfin article we were featured in:
As one of the oldest cities in the nation, Alexandria, VA, has no shortage of unique things to do. Located just 20 minutes from D.C., Alexandria is sometimes overlooked by its neighboring city. However, Alexandria offers a big city vibe while maintaining its historic charm.
Whether you’re considering living in Alexandria and looking to rent an apartment in Del Ray, or possibly in the market to buy a home in Eisenhower West, this city offers residents an endless number of things to do. Alexandria may be the right place for you. From museums and city tours to exploring new neighborhoods and trying new restaurants, there’s something for everyone. See what unique things locals love to do in Alexandria.
Read the full article here:
Unique Things to Do in Alexandria: 11 Things to Experience as a Newby
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Stay safe out there, and I hope you come back to visit again next week. Happy travels!
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You forgot a biggie:
The best and oldest farmer’s market ever, anywhere!
I completely missed this while I was there! Such a shame because I love farmer’s markets. Thanks so much for sharing! 🙂