Old Town

This is a major tourist attraction in the area. The historic district along the Potomac, is marked by cobblestone streets and 18th-century townhouses. George Washington slept at Gadsby's Tavern, one of the many small museums in the area. Another is Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary, opened in 1783. Indie boutiques and foodie spots line King Street, and there are open-air eateries by the river. By the water, you will find Waterfront park and a nice marina...with nice shops all over. Some streets are pedestrian only during certain times of the year.

A very cute old town. Walk down King Street and you will find blocks and blocks of shops, restaurants and fantastic history. It's great for people watching. Stop at a café get a bagel and coffee. Don't forget POP's ice cream near the harbor. Also, there's a wonderful architecture on the side streets and the main King Street.

If you haven't been to Old Town Alexandria, I would highly recommend it! This is a great outdoorsy area that is perfect for walking around, outdoor dining, getting a coffee, etc. There are just so many places to shop including, but not limited to: -Apparel -Accessories -Jewelers -Souvenirs -Pets -Art galleries Many restaurants line King Street and the Waterfront area. They actually blocked off a portion of the road from cars for outdoor dining/seating. There is a variety of cuisines available including, but not limited to: -Indian -Thai -Italian -Mediterranean -American -French There are plenty of bars, coffee shops and places to get dessert and/or pastries. There is a rich history in old town, with private and public tours available. The hop-on/off trolley is free for anyone to use to navigate through Old Town Alexandria. Parking isn't necessarily the easiest to find here depending on the day/time. There is garage and street (parallel) parking available, but I cannot confirm if payment is required and how much. There is free metered parking on Sundays and state holidays, be sure to read the signs carefully!! Would I return? Sure I would, if I"m in the area or meeting friends here!!

We went to Old Town Alexandria to see the Christmas Lights and the waterfront area around 3 AM-ish. It was very beautiful with spectacular views. Parking was free and we got some good shots of the streets illuminated by Christmas lights.

Living here for the last 17 years reminds me everyday of how much I love this town and how much I love watching it always grow. There's always something to do every day of the day and week, for all in the family. It's a must see place, specially a stroll on King St.

It is a neat place to visit here and there. Yet for family entertainment, I now prefer National Harbor just across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. It has more options for single dads or regular families. History wise Old Town Alexandria takes the victory. I'd like to thank the city, for acknowledging the awful but it happened history of slave selling/trading down here. That kind of honesty is how we all learn, as evolving as humans requires us to sometimes focus on uncomfortable situations and subjects. There is more information going up, and I applaud this. The parking situation can be challenging. There's not nearly enough parking here. If not mistaken I believe in two years, there will be a new parking garage on the River. That will help immensely, although I'm sure it won't be cheap. All of the restaurants are pretty expensive. Real estate plays into this, as the rents have to be up there. I like Founders Park and other spots, and Murphys is a fun bar to get a cold one at.

Old Town Alexandria | Things to Do & Restaurants. Visit : https://visitalexandria.com/old-town/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Old%20Town%20Drive%20-%20Market&utm_term=old%20town%20alexandria%20virginia&gclid=CjwKCAjwlJimBhAsEiwA1hrp5tQIa_lLEao2DU8N40tIEhFppJtT2p-2LUkm9qc9ao5xtMV1bBv2IRoCSwgQAvD_BwE Old historic town on the Potomac with many 18th and 19th century landmark homes and buildings on the Cobble Stone and Brick covered streets. King Street is the main attraction with many shops, cafés and restaurants. **10 minutes drive from DC area **

Old Town Alexandria, located in Alexandria along the river front, was a charming and lovable tourist trap. Lots of colonial buildings and houses were restored. Some becames shops and restaurants. A factory became an expensive condo building. However, the streets remain paved with bricks. The city hall was impressive. A free trolley ran on King Street, which provided a relaxing way to sight see. The river front was ok. It was occupied mostly by local and national chain restaurants. But the view of the river view was nice. We decided to check out the neighborhood surrounding the tourist trap. We were impressed with the restored row homes, colonial style houses, and cottages. Most costed north of million dollars. We definitely enjoyed our walk around the residential neighborhood more than the commercial tourist area. It was an enjoyable experience.

Good historical town for difference atmosphere when visiting Washington DC. Great architecture from colonial past.

Worth a wander - and shopping trip- if you are visiting the DC area. Loved the harbor and so many cool little gift shops. Nice children's bookstore, too. There is a free trolley that runs up and down the main shopping street. Very clean, not too crowded, beautiful part of the country here.

Love this place. It's beautiful and perfect location for landscape photoshoot. Food in the area was decent too.

Having lived in Virginia for many, many years, Old Town Alexandria was a regular jaunt for us. From retail shopping, gift shops, incredible restaurants, its historic homes, building architecture, antique shops, art galleries, walking-friendly streets and alleys, cobblestone streets, friendly people, easy parking, cleanliness, museums, wharf, docks and parks make this unique 1700s town not just a historical landmark in American history, but a fascinating day excursion romp of enjoyment. One can easily start with breakfast, enjoy lunch, have a fine dinner and wrap up with a nightcap in a full day's visit. The town is full of historical locations with the likes of Gadsby's Tavern, Christ Church, the Torpedo Factory, and much, much more. Virginia is full of historical places, but this is one location where you can soak in most of what the State has to offer in one fell swoop. Not to mention it's a hop, step and jump from our Nations Capitol. I'm sure this will be a fascination and enjoyable visit for everyone young and old.

Fun and easy day trip from DC. You can either take the Water Taxi/ Ferry from Georgetown or the Metro ( which drops you off at King St Station). King Street is the main street of Old Town where the Visitor Center is located. King Street takes you right to the waterfront, or the Ferry drops you off right at the waterfront and is steps from King Street. We enjoyed strolling the streets and there are several historic buildings and museums to see if you have the time. On this trip we had only a few hours, so we found a couple places to have snacks and then checked out the waterfront park where families can enjoy the swinging benches and the playground by the I LOVE YOU sign. That's a perfect selfie area! Right along the waterfron are several restaurants and then there is the Torpedo Factory, and art gallery and studio! Three floors of art in a former torpedo factory! It's free to explore and browse. I loved our few hours here and would love to return.

Thanks to Travel + Leisure, this town in Alexandria is becoming more of a tourist destination. A quick Metro ride on the blue/yellow line will drop you off at the King St/Old Town stop. It's a very nice stroll down King St, or you can take the free trolley if you won't want to walk for 15 minutes to the waterfront. The Old Town vibe remains thanks to the historic district status to preserve and protect all 18th-19th century buildings. From this day trip that I took, I wasn't really sure what to do, but there's plenty of shopping, restaurants to eat at, and then there's the awesome waterfront. Hope to visit again once I figure out what I want to do. There's a visitor's center a few blocks from the waterfront to pick up maps and guide if you're lost on what to do like me.

Fantastic cutesy area with a lot of character and plenty of things to do. It's walking distance to water, parks, nightlife, restaurants and plenty of things to do. This area is constantly making updates to the outside common areas around the parks and restaurants. The people that work and frequent this area tend to be very kind as well. This area is one of my favorite local driving areas to visit. The hotels are always so nice and although parking can be tough, it's not impossible. If you haven't visited Old Town Alexandria, make the trip. You will not be disappointed.

12/5/21 I have been here a number of times and each time I learn something new or see something different. Today I saw where some in my extended family works, and it is just as well we did not see each other. Will the hatchet be buried, probably not. It would most likely be snatched up and used by the opposite family member. I enjoyed walking by the waters edge and saw how the docks and buildings were upgraded along with the docks. I saw a restaurant area who's name I can't remember right now. I also enjoyed seeing the ferris wheel on the Maryland side near the National Harbor. The only thing between us is the Potomac River. Good luck swimming across it. Seeing the Art Gallery by the docks was short lived. Mainly we stopped by to use the restroom. Still, masks must be worn here at all times. We didn't have to wear masks the last time we were here. How time changes. Listening to the band by the Christmas Tree was nice. People were standing in the fountain area slow dancing swaying to the music. (yes, I know how its supposed to spelled...my review my choice) Not one police officer told anyone to not be stand in the fountain area. Guess they got tired of repeating themselves. No naked people running around this time. Just kidding, this never happened while I was in Old Town Alexandra. All in all, we had a great time. We did see doggy doggies wearing human clothing. A trend that is picking up more and more, but especially this year. Do what you have to do to keep your furry friend warm...warmer. Next time we come here in the Summertime, we might get a couples massage in Old Town Alexandra. The question is where?

There's lots of cute colorful homes attached to one another. There's lots of cute little shops, cafés and restaurants and places to eat and drink along your path here to the different sections of the city. Brick streets. Tons of old world charm on every street corner here. The street to the water front is blocked off for a street market today. There's no farmers market set up at the market Square today. The waterfront area is teaming with tons of people and is quite vibrant and lively today.

Lots of fine restaurants dining and fun boutiques for shopping. Can walk in the closed off streets which is always fun.

What a fun day trip while in DC or a great place to call home while visiting the area. We were in town for a wedding and really got to explore the area. Great dining options that pour out into the streets, cute little shops, waterfront cocktails and dining, art, history and so much more. Walk around, no prior-planning is needed as every restaurant has a menu out by the street. The main road leads you directly down to the waterfront where you can grab a bite to eat, sip on a cocktail, people watch, hop on a water taxi or enjoy some of the street musicians. Plenty to do, plenty to see and easy to navigate.

Alexandria is one of the oldest cities in the United States. It doesn't take long to get to from Arlington. The problem is when the Metro isn't running. It also can be reached by bus from the airport. There's lots of cool looking old restaurants, shops, and the waterfront. It's easy to get around. Pretty much everywhere you go there's something interesting. There's a free trolley on King Street. It's actually more like a bus. This takes you all the way from downtown to the waterfront. Along King Street there's all kinds of great businesses. This is where most of the action is, so you can hop on and off as you please. It has a few ethnic restaurants mixed in with the old fashioned pubs and shops, some of which are over hundreds of years old. There's places where George Washington got tipsy. It's much quieter than DC. It's very popular with tourists but there's not as many. The bad thing is that many restaurants are expensive, and the housing costs are fucked up.

What: Visiting family in Potomac MD and came across this cute little historic town. Decided to drive out (about 40 minutes on a Sunday morning) and enjoyed walking along the cute main street (King St.) with all the shops and restaurants and ice cream shops. We walked then rode the free shuttle that travels up and down King St., enjoyed a waterfront lunch at Vola's, then had a gelato off of King St. Tip: stop by the Visitors Center to grab a free guide and use a clean bathroom!

Time stands still in Old Town Alexandria! It has the old world charm as if it has not changed for the last 2 centuries. This is definitely a great place to hang out, dine, or shop. There are so many food venues for indoors and outdoors. The town is super pedestrian friendly. But if you don't want to walk, the King Street shuttle is free.

Old Town was a really neat part of Alexandria to see. I've traveled through DC a fair amount and been to Arlington VA but this was my first time in Alexandria. We were there on a weekend night and it was quite busy with lots of people out enjoying the restaurants and bars. We rode the trolley from our hotel which was fun and free (my two fav f words)! You just get on the trolley at any point and it travels all the way down King Street and then returns back; just request to get off wherever you're point of interest is. There are cobblestone and natural brick streets and 18th century townhouses which create a fun setting for shops and restaurants that have renovated these areas and turned it into a thriving cultural center. There are a lot of locations here including museums, pubs, and taverns where historical figures spent their recreational hours. There's a Saturday farmers market that has been operating for 260 years I wish we could have visited. The shops and restaurants are plentiful and there's a great art and culinary atmosphere here. While we only got to spend an evening exploring Old Town, I hope to make it back in the future to do it further justice.

I really enjoy Old Town Alexandria. There is always something to do on any of the given streets down there and it is quite easy to navigate. From King Street all the way down to the Waterfront, there are plenty of shops and pretty good restaurants for everybody of every palate and fashion sense to enjoy. It is also quite accessible by Metro so there really is no reason to drive here. But if you must, park on the side streets if you want to avoid paying for parking. If you are new to the DC area, you can easily spend a day here, but if you are not, this works well for an easy day trip. I guarantee you that you will find something to do and enjoy.

If you're looking for the charming part of town... It has a pretty, old school sea town vibe. The ice cream place that probably anyone but me could tell you the name of is not to be missed.

Very historic waterfront pier properties with restaurants and shops. Come here if you're in the area! Ton to do, would recommend walking on foot and taking ubers if you need to get somewhere.

Marvelous colonial era, cobble-stoned, old streets with trees, history plaques, parks and shops. Small restaurants under wood-beamed ceilings beckon to be dined in. Starbucks in Old Town is my favorite of any in America. Stone walls, rickety windows. If you come from out of town, make sure to use the free trolley rides. Boats take you upriver to Georgetown. Every time I'm in Old Town, as it's known: discovery is made. Alexandria is pure and unchanged history-textbook beautiful. Come revitalize your senses! Rebel Review: 6

I love these sweet towns here in Va . This is another great place to visit . History , water , great shops and food , streets lined with blooming cherry trees. It's all here in Old Town Alexandria. Easy to get to from 95 . Located just minutes from Washington, D.C. on the Potomac River waterfront It's a bustling little spot even on a Sunday late afternoon . King Street seems to have many places to dine and lovely shops to explore . I did see a trolley up and down this street so check that out . I was unfortunately only here for about 4 hours but I know I'll return . The streets were clean and things are well maintained . I felt very safe in this area .

Great part of Alexandria to stay at. So much to see and do here. Love how it has that "old town" look and feel of Americana. Historic spots to explore, bars to drink in, cafés to fill your belly, shopping to melt the credit card, live music to party with, etc. Staying at the Kimpton Lorien Hotel & Spa which is located right in the heart of Old Town and offers a quick walk to most everything. Free trolley along King Street that goes all the way to the waterfront is a nice transportation perk. We are spending the weekend here visiting relatives, and are eating and drinking our way around the King Street area where most of the partying, bars, restos, and shopping are. There are also some gyms close by to help burn off all the calories I am bombarding myself with. Much needed.

If you like art, history, drinking and eating out, and shopping at small shops, this is the spot! Variety: Art, historical stuff, nice cafe and restaurants, farmer's market, etc... Price: More expensive. Visitor center: At the middle of King St. Trolley bus: Free on King St. Parking: Garage or street. Free for farmer's market on Sat. It's under the city hall.

Alexandria is a must see town that like any other town near DC full of history but extremely charming. It's very well preserved and clean. My highlight is awesome restaurant options on King Street, shopping options both antique or modern fashion, and Pebble Street. Keep in mind parking near residential area is free so drive further to part to avoid high parking fee on weekends especially Saturdays. Restaurants are expensive here so splurge if you can. For example, a historical creamery place sells $6 for a small cone. YAH. Hot touristy area, what can you do.

This looks like a really cool town to have fun in, enjoy and explore. I only got a small taste of this great place in a tour I took during my family vacation in Washington DC. I passed by Gadsby's and I took a tour of Christ Church, a historical church that was the church of George Washington and his family. I wish I had more time to explore this amazing place. Maybe one day in the future if I come back I will have that opportunity. If you are visiting the DC area, definitely consider coming by.

I always make an effort to visit Old Town Alexandria in Virginia whenever I am in Washington DC area. There are always some things to discover in this enchanting, old fashioned town. The trolley from king street-old town station (Blue or Yellow line) will take you all the way to the harbor--The Potomac River. I prefer getting off halfway and enjoy my romantic walk and explore the mom and pop shops and eateries along king street. Its a commercial and cultural aspect of the town intertwined beautifully for visitors and locals to enjoy. There is a wide array of bars, restaurants, museums, historical landmarks and shops for everyone to appreciate. Come and visit this town for a drink, dinner, a romantic walk or just relaxing by the waterfront.

I love Old Town Alexandria. It is packed full of history and quaint shops, little gems that have something for everyone, Looking for a gift for a child then head to Why Not?: the ultimate toy store. Looking for some vintage cocktail accessories like pink elephant highballs, then head to the Cocktail Hour. Looking for that international item for the wife, then Ten Thousand Villages is the place for you. Old Town is also load full of amazing restaurants and bars that can make for a really enjoyable afternoon, but the best thing about Old Town is that it is perfect for an afternoon stroll. Everything you could possible want is within walking distance. My advice to tourist though is to chat up a local and discover what is really cool about Alexandria. He or She will offer a unique perspective that is bound to trump your guidebook any day.

I walked around the area and loved it! So many stores and places to eat with really cute outdoor seating! I went on a really nice day so a lot of people were out and enjoying the weather but it wasn't overwhelming at all. I'm from another state so I think this a great place to visit with all of its wonderful views and so many places to eat from! I'm glad I had a chance to visit old town :).

This is one of Virginia's most beautiful places to visit. I love coming here with my family or myself just to walk around and enjoy the scenery. There are so many different eateries and things to do. You can sit in the park and enjoy the weather, or go for a nice dinner on the waterfront.

Fantastic place to go any day of the week. Just go after rush hour. If you are going on the weekend, it will be PACKED. Good luck trying to find parking here on the weekend during the day. There are many bars, restaurants, shops. There's also the Torpedo factory for art (separate review for that) It's a historic little town with street names like King St, Duke St, Prince St... A town with some authority You can park at the metro on the weekend which is free. Take the trolley on King St. It's really nice when there is a breeze and you go at night. There is a view of national harbor and dc near the waterfront A must visit, if you are traveling or new to the area

Old Town is a MUST for anybody be visiting D.C. Obviously it's a little out of The District, but it's definitely worth it! I come here whenever I'm in town and used to spend a crazy amount of time in the area when I was living in Arlington a few years back. Want a nice brunch spot? Plenty of options. Unique shopping experiences are a plenty. Looking for a nice brew? There are great little pubs all over. Whatever food your pallet is craving, you're bound to find a great restaurant for it in this neighborhood. So charming, especially during the holidays with the lights. There are plenty of great historical stops around as well.

OMG, I love this small town. So much charm and personality. It's in the top 3 best-preserved historical towns in the country! I definitely got to see that first hand. Some of the buildings are connected, old bricks lined the sidewalks and history just filled the air. I can't help but think about who used to walk those streets and how they held conversations of how the future of this country would be. On the (free) trolley that traveled up & down King Street, I got to hear about what used to exist in the town and some of the buildings are still standing and are still what they used to be. Currently, there are dozens of restaurants and shops that make this still a highly desirable place to visit. Take a walk down to the harbor area or peruse an art gallery. This is just one of those towns that you'll easily fall in love with and find something to quickly connect with. It's a great place for families and young professionals looking for some simple entertainment.

Old Town is a hidden gem just outside of downtown DC. This beautifully-preserved historic town is the place to go if you want to do something in the nation's capital besides visit the various Smithsonian museums. There is a free "trolley" that operates from the King Street Metro station via King Street to the waterfront. However, it's not much faster than walking. Furthermore, it's better to just take the long walk and enjoy the sites and sounds. If you walk at a leisurely pace then it's about 45 minutes from the Metro station to the waterfront. Old Town is full of mostly mom-and-pop stores (though there are a few chains like CVS). There are quite a few fancy restaurants, as well as a farmer's market at City Hall on Saturday mornings. The side streets are bucolic and some of them are even have cobblestone pavements. The waterfront area is picturesque- and if you have a good camera, you can take pictures of planes heading to Reagan Airport. A few blocks south of the main thoroughfare King Street is the Wilkes Street tunnel, which is a quarter-mile long abandoned railroad tunnel. It is somewhat eerie, but definitely worth a visit. The only caveat is that quite a few people like to do a #1 on the side of the tunnel. Nevertheless, just be careful where you're walking and enjoy the experience.

Nice historic town. Been in Washington all week and decided to get away from the hustle and bustle for a day.

What's there not to love about Old Town Alexandria? It has a little bit of everything: historic brick sidewalks, cute little townhouses, tiny shopping boutiques, eclectic coffee shops, restaurants and yummy ice cream parlors. If you're ever in the area, definitely visit the Torpedo Factory if you're an art lover. And if you're anything like me and prefer free things to do, a walk by the Potomac is what you need. The Waterfront is always lively and very relaxing. From there, one can also enjoy a ferry to DC. For New Years, they have beautiful fireworks. Parking situation can be difficult, but there a good number of garages or one can take the metro and then the trolley. Either way, it's worth a trip (maybe more so when it warms up than now).

I love old town! I think it is one of the most charming places ever. I love coming here when I visit DC. It is like a step out of the city and almost back in time. There is the best cobblestone street in the world and I just love it. This time I came on a Sunday afternoon, and it was PACKED. There was some kind of art festival going on, so the streets were closed and there were lots of tents and people everywhere. Kinda took away from the charm. And everywhere was super packed. Lines to get into restaurants or ice cream shops was super excessive. There are lots of shops and stores for people to visit while down here. Next time I will come on a different day when it won't be so overcrowded. Regardless, I love this place! I wish that the metro stop was closer, but i did see that there is a free trolley that will take you up to the metro stop. So that is very nice! And if not, the walk goes pretty quick even though it seems like it would be long!

Amazing and Way off the beaten path. Go out of your way to make a stop in Old Town Alexandria. You might consider staying here instead of staying in Washington DC. The Old Town waterfront is a good jumping off point for the National Harbor in Maryland or for the National Mall in DC. Both are accessible buy water taxi.

I've lived in Alexandria for over three years and had never thought to review the best (but often most frustrating) part of A-Town...until now. Old Town Alexandria is quaint, picturesque, and is almost like Colonial Williamsburg was dropped into NoVA. It's arguably the most beautiful (and dog friendly) neighborhood in the DMV. I love running through Old Town especially on a weekend morning even though the uneven brick sidewalks wreak havoc on my ankles. At the heart of Old Town is King Street, a tree-lined avenue with a diverse array of restaurants, bars, antiques shops, rug merchants, and boutiques; most of which, but not all, are NOT a part of some large national or regional chain. The Torpedo Factory, Irish pubs, a classy speakeasy, sushi joints, and a lingerie/adult store with an interesting inventory of toys and fetish gear to satisfy Old Town's "Fifty Shades of Grey" crowd...it's got 'em! Yes, you can eat at a Five Guys and Chipotle, but thankfully, McDonalds and Taco Bell are nowhere to be found! Old Town does have three annoying negatives that dull its luster, bicyclists, tourists, and the traffic. Perhaps there's no law prohibiting it, but in my mind bicycles are "vehicles" not pedestrians and shouldn't be ridden on the narrow Old Town sidewalks especially when there are pedestrians on said narrow Old Town sidewalks. I can't count the number of times I've been nearly taken out by some idiot on a bike without warning trying to navigate the sidewalk that's already congested with tourists, dogs, and al fresco dining setups. You know how you tell a tourist in Old Town? They're usually quite corpulent (i.e. fat), they shuffle slowly, two or three abreast of each other, and they stop without warning to do that tourist thing...snap a photo, look at a map, window shop, or chastise their kid(s). Please walk with a purpose or at least single file so people can pass. Finally, the drivers and traffic are awful in Old Town. There's no good reason to drive into or through Old Town with it's crowded streets and sidewalks, and frequent stoplights. If you must drive, please adhere to the LAW, especially the one that says that pedestrians in a crosswalk with the Walk signal have the right the way. I can't count the number of times that I've nearly become a hood ornament on a BMW or SUV. Oh yeah...and stay off your damn cellphone while driving especially while executing a turn! Still, the good of Old Town Alexandria far outweighs the bad. I love the place...and I call it home.

Old Town is an interesting neighborhood. I lived here for several years and never understood people coming here for vacation, but I guess that leaves extra space for me on the beach in Negril :) Old Town is not that old (considering that my hometown was established 100 years earlier and has a few buildings from the early 1700s). However, Old Town has hundreds of historic buildings all over the city, especially to the north and south of the King Street waterfront, that are very well preserved, which really makes you feel like you went back in time. For example, there are dozens of houses with the iron "horse ties" built into the brick sidewalks...which brings me to one of the hazards of Old Town...brick sidewalks. While charming and historical, the warped, uneven brick patterns in combination with fall leaves and rain/sleet, may have you considering a taxi. These are side streets though, and not many tourists venture far from King Street. There is a lot of history in this neighborhood, as the church and many of the establishments that the first president (and many others) frequented are in Old Town. Additionally, more important to me, this is where the Franklin and Armfield Slave Holding area is located (now a museum), which at one point, was the second largest slave trading post in the United States. This is where at least one of my grandmother-ancestors was held after surviving the horrific middle passage of the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade, having been chained, naked, near starvation, beaten and writhing in contact with hundreds of other people who had no choice but the defecate, urinate, and vomit on each other. Yea.... I don't get the warm fuzzies other people get when they think about the history of Old Town. In addition to that, Old Town is the location of one of the first sit-ins, by a black student who wanted to check out books from the library that his taxpayer funds supported, in the 1930s. Instead of integrating the library, they built a very humble library for black people that survives today as the Alexandria Black History Museum on Wythe Street. Also, Alexandria was home to several very interesting African American neighborhoods, including having a large population of free blacks and/or black people who had never been enslaved. I'm not interested in specialty boutiques and the overpriced mediocre tourist trap restaurants that line King Street, but there are about a dozen parks that cover the Old Town waterfront, offering bike trails, boardwalks, waterfront seating, tennis, basketball, volleyball, etc. As a resident, I appreciate that there are places to go and things to do that are accessible and free. And, while sometimes disturbing, it is fascinating to visit the various museums in the neighborhood.

As a current Alexandria resident, I mostly enjoy Old Town Alexandria. I do a lot of walking through this area when I don't feel like going to the gym. My favorite things and places in Old Town include watching the sunrise over the Capitol from the waterfront, Torpedo Art Factory, Vermilion, and the farmers' market. There are definitely stores and restaurants that I frequent, and I look forward to certain staff traits that make my visits even more enjoyable, such as the Sunday/Saturday morning cashier at Le Pain Quotidien who always remembers me; the excellent bartender at Vermilion; the sense of humor of the bartender at the Bayou Room; and the product knowledge of the women at Bellacara. There are also cons to Old Town: traffic and parking, touristy, a later-than-I-would-prefer Sunday morning clean-up, high prices at restaurants that do not always deliver on quality (the Old Town upcharge), and especially at dinner time, it is a bit of older crowd - I would not visit with the intentions of meeting someone, even later into the evening. I love that this is one of the few city sections in the DMV, outside of the major cities, that grew as a downtown organically, based on commerce and necessity. It is not an overly planned development or lifestyle center, and is reminiscent of my hometown, so there is some nostalgia here. I feel good about supporting the local economy by spending money here, as most businesses are locally-owned. But the sunrises are the best, and that's free.

I heart Old Town. Absolutely lovely area to come with your family, kids, friends, or a date. I prefer going to Founders Park or the water front during the day then going to King Street for the night life after the sun has set. There are plenty of little boutique restaurants and miscellaneous to make anyone happy. Hair salons, massage parlors, restaurants, bakeries, normal businesses for 9 to 5ers, and your occasional porn store or night club. Seriously, it has a lot to offer. I feel the history behind it adds a lot of character too. If you ever have a chance, look up some of the history to get a deeper feel for the true roots of Old Town Alexandria.

Old town Alexander is actually a pretty nice area... Well, Alexandra is a nice area to walk around and discover little hidden gems in every corner... Theres a lot of variety when it comes to restaurants.... Different types of cuisines to choose from... This place is Straight up American old town style...even though the stuff looks somewhat up to date inside the stores/restaurants/bars...they make the whole outside area look historic and old fashion...I find the harbor and the climate quite nice during the spring/summer time... but if you're from Alexandra you will know what I mean... Great area to take a morning/night stroll... Nice outdoor bench seatings... many local bars... There's a train station located near the Harbor....hard to find parking so why not take advantage of the trains/buses... Be carefully and have a safe trip!