Alexandria, Virginia
On the Potomac River within eyesight of Washington, D.C., Alexandria, VA is nationally recognized for its rich history and beautifully preserved 18th- and 19th-century architecture—an extraordinary backdrop for acclaimed, chef-driven restaurants; a thriving boutique scene; vibrant arts and culture; and a welcoming, walkable lifestyle. Named the #1 Best Value U.S. Travel Destination 2018 by Money magazine and one of the South’s Prettiest Cities 2018 by Southern Living, Alexandria is the relaxed and refined home base for your D.C. vacation and an unforgettable getaway of its own.
Discover the community
History
As George Washington’s hometown, Alexandria has more than 140 locations with ties to the nation’s first president, along with a host of intimate museums highlighting the beginnings of America. Just nine miles south of Old Town Alexandria at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, traipse through the historic grounds, perusing documents and ephemera once sacred to key historic players. Several sites work to weave the rich tapestry of the city’s history from the 18th-century to the present, like the Carlyle House, once home to Alexandria co-founder John Carlyle, and the Alexandria Black History Museum, which details the city’s strong African-American leaders from the Civil War to civil rights and beyond.
Things to Do
Whether you’re spending a long weekend or making a day trip from Washington, D.C., you’re in for an unforgettable experience in Alexandria, Virginia, voted one of Travel + Leisure‘s Best Cities in the U.S. 2022 and Southern Living‘s Best Cities on the Rise 2022. A nationally designated historic district founded in 1749, Old Town Alexandria hums with more than 200 independent restaurants and boutiques alongside intimate historic museums and new happenings at the waterfront. At the heart of it all is bustling King Street, a walkable mile recognized as one of the “Great Streets” of America. Whether you are here for a girlfriends’ getaway, an anniversary trip, or a family vacation, there is plenty to do.
Arts and culture
Named one of America’s Top Art Places, Alexandria is nationally recognized as a community with a “backbone of creative culture…exceptionally successful at combining art, artists and venues for creativity and expression…to make vibrant neighborhoods.” The city’s visual arts hub is the world-famous Torpedo Factory Art Center, a former munitions factory transformed into an artistic powerhouse with three floors of artist studios and galleries, plus the headquarters of The Art League School. The Legendary Music Hall The Birchmere hosts the biggest names in country, folk and rock.
Source: https://visitalexandria.com/
