Explore Alexandria, VA: A Local’s Top Five Attractions

A colleague recently asked me to write a post about our hometown, Alexandria, VA, specifically, a “top five” list. Until then, I’d never considered writing about where we live. It’s where I grew up, where I live now, and where I work. When we’re in town, we rarely leave Alexandria. I suppose I just take for granted all we have here. But I love a top five list, so I’m up for the challenge to explore Alexandria through a visitor’s lens.

Practical Takeaways

• Alexandria has a population of over 160,000 within its 15 square miles, making it one of the densest cities in the country. Many overlook this fact, given our proximity to D.C., and to some, Alexandria is considered a D.C. suburb. However, Alexandria is a city in its own right. It’s extremely walkable, full of historical landmarks, terrific restaurants, and unique shopping.
• I wrote this post for visitors, though I’m a resident. I mention that because I’ve certainly missed some of the more touristy things. (I’ve spent most of my life here and have never been on an Alexandria Ghost Tour, as an example). If you want to learn more about things to do here, check out Visit Alexandria.

The “Explore Alexandria Top Five” List

1. Wander Old Town. Stroll along King Street, then grab ice cream at Pop’s and let it drip down your arm while relaxing on a swing bench in Waterfront Park. Browse Old Town Books (where you may find me during my lunch break). This independent bookstore is a haven for Alexandria readers in a welcoming atmosphere.

If you have a tween with you, don’t miss Happy Place – it feels like you’ve stepped into a Barbie-movie boutique. (At least once a month, my daughter asks, “Can we go to my Happy Place?”) And if it’s Saturday morning, you can’t miss the Old Town Farmers’ Market. Its’ America’s oldest, continuously held market, where, legend has it, that George Washington sent produce for sale from Mount Vernon.

While on the waterfront, visit the Torpedo Factory Arts Center. Originally built as a naval torpedo factory in 1918, the Torpedo Factory is now an art center. With over 70 working studios spread across three floors, you can observe painters, sculptors, jewelry-makers, and more in action. You’ll also find the Alexandria Archaeology Museum on the 3rd floor. After perusing the art center, pick up a sandwich from Union Sandwich Co. and enjoy a picnic in Founder’s Park. Or, for a scenic drink and meal, head to one of the many waterfront establishments – a current favorite of mine is BARCA Pier & Wine Bar, a Mediterranean-inspired spot.

2. Dive into History. Begin your visit at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum in Alexandria, where George Washington and Thomas Jefferson once dined. The museum comprises two historic buildings: a circa 1785 tavern and the 1792 City Tavern and Hotel. These establishments were central to Alexandria’s social and political life in the late 18th century. My favorite part is the museum’s top floor, where you can see what it was like to travel through Alexandria during the nation’s founding. After your tour, enjoy a meal at the adjacent Gadsby’s Tavern Restaurant, which offers dishes inspired by 18th-century recipes, including their signature peanut soup.

Afterward, walk to the other side of Market Square and explore the Apothecary Museum to see how medicines were mixed in the 1800s. The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary was a family business founded in 1792 and operated in this location from 1805 until 1933. On occasion, they even have a Harry Potter potions tour!

Continue your learning of Alexandria’s past with a tour through Manumission Tours. Black history is American history. To fully understand how Alexandria was shaped, you need to understand that Alexandria’s founding as a port city was based on the slave trade. On the tour, you learn the individual stories of enslaved people, freed Black business owners, and the through line to today’s culture and community in our city.

For more on this, you can also visit the Freedom House Museum on Duke Street, which is what remains of a large complex dedicated to trafficking thousands of Black men, women, and children from 1828 to 1861. Today, it honors the lives and experiences of the enslaved and free Black people, including the Edmonson Sisters.

3. Experience Del Ray’s Charm. Head to Del Ray and soak in the local vibe. Have a drink outside at The Garden or Gustave’s on Mount Vernon Avenue, and watch the community parade by with their leashed dogs and baby strollers. You’ll feel like a local by your last sip and may even find yourself searching Zillow for a Del Ray bungalow.

On Saturdays, visit the Del Ray Farmers’ Market, where all the locals shop. Enjoy some bluegrass music while you’re there and tell the upright bass player (i.e., my husband) that I sent you.

For dinner, try Pork Barrel (get the monster mac!), Evening Star, or Del Ray Café. Follow it up with some custard at the Dairy Godmother. Don’t be deterred by the line – it’s worth it. Look out for the chair Obama sat in when he brought his daughters early on in his first term.

4. Enjoy Live Music at The Birchmere. We’re lucky to have The Birchmere just around the corner – a legendary venue with an intimate stage. To get the full experience, catch acts that visit regularly, like Tab Benoit, Steep Canyon Rangers, or The Seldom Scene.

Be sure to arrive early to snag table seating and enjoy dinner before the show. If you prefer not to dine there, pop over to RT’s across the street for authentic Cajun and Creole cuisine. The Birchmere is in the Arlandria neighborhood, also locally known as “Chirilagua” for its strong Salvadoran immigrant community rooted in the El Salvadorian city of the same name. For a taste of Central American flavor, head to El Pulgarcito and try their handmade pupusas. Also, the saltenas at Feria Bakery are so delicious. They are like an empanada filled with chicken stew inside. Get them before 1pm while they are fresh.

5. Have a beer at Port City Brewery: Alexandria is also known as the “Port City” – a name one of our hometown breweries has adopted. You can visit Port City Brewery in the city’s more industrial area (2.5 miles west from Old Town). Bring the family and enjoy some Mexican food from La Tingeria. One Wednesday night a month, you can also hear some bluegrass music (shout out again to my husband on the upright bass). If you’re interested in more local drinks, check out Aslin Beer, and Lost Boy Cider – both of which are family friendly. You can also find Port City and Aslin Beer, and Lost Boy Cider at most local restaurants.

Two Hidden Gems (because I couldn’t just keep this to “Top Five”):

Visit the Virginia Theological Seminary. Growing up here, I would leisurely walk through the VTS campus. Years later, during the COVID days of 2020, my kids spent hours here on their bikes. Yet only recently did I take a tour and understand why it always seemed like a special place. Start at the Welcome Center, recently completed in 2023, to learn about the seminary’s history (and see the world’s largest collection of St. Nicholas memorabilia).

The original chapel site, dating back over 200 years, tragically burned in 2010. A beautiful new chapel and its landscape garden were designed by Robert A.M. Stern and opened in 2015. If you’re there in the evening, drop by 1823, the on-site bar and restaurant open to the public. The food might not be the best in Alexandria, but the atmosphere is peaceful and perfectly in step with the seminary’s “all are welcome” spirit.

Catch an Alexandria Aces game during the summer! Sure, Nationals Park is just a water taxi ride away, but there’s something special about cheering on a team of collegiate players at Four Mile Run Park. Tickets are only $7 for adults and $3 for kids under 12 , and you’ll find pizza and other concessions on-site. With front-row seats, it’s easy to keep an eye on foul balls. My kids see the players as real-life all-stars and love following them around the stadium for autographs. Who knows – we might be watching a future MLB star in the making!

Helpful Hints

For hotels, The Alexandrian puts you in the heart of Old Town. To be near the King Street Metro, for direct access to D.C. on the Blue/Yellow line, check out the Archer or the Hilton. From these hotels, you can also walk to the Masonic Memorial and take in expansive waterfront views from the top.

Getting around is easy thanks to Alexandria’s DASH bus system. It’s free throughout the city, just hop on and off. Even my tween has figured it out. Visitors mostly use it along King Street from the metro to the waterfront, but it’ll also take you to other corners of the city.

To get to D.C. you can also take a water taxi. It has a direct connection to the Wharf neighborhood and Nationals Stadium.

For ideas on what to do in D.C., visit my post here. And if you want to continue on to other parts of Virginia, check out my posts on Berryville and the I-81 corridor.

Lastly, I anticipated that writing about Alexandria might stir strong opinions among friends and family, and their feedback on my draft confirmed it. So, friends, please share your recommendations and let me know what I might have missed in the comments.