Old Town (Alexandria)

When you live in Old Town…

…you’ll never run out of things to do. It’s not surprising Alexandria is rated #3 on Conde´ Nast The Best Cities in the US: 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards. So many activities – meet up with fur-friends at the park, enjoy a coffee at Mishas, wander the streets peeking into gorgeous gardens, play tennis or pickle ball, stroll along iconic King street filled with shops & restaurants, catch the water taxi to Georgetown or National harbor and so much more.

On any given weekend, after you visit the oldest Farmers’ Market in the country, there could be any number of events such as the Scottish Day Parade, a Classic Car display or an Art Festival. With the newly closed lower King Street, locals and visitors mingle together at restaurants’ outdoor spaces near the waterfront. Great for delicious food and people/dog watching.

Or you could decide to take a book to one of the many local parks along the waterfront and have a picnic while you read. It so relaxing to find a quiet spot in all the hustle and bustle of Old Town.

Patricia’s Five Favorites:

  • Jones Point Park

    located on the Potomac River and offers residents a wealth of activities such as fishing, two playgrounds (one for children under 5 and one for children aged 6 to 10 years old), two basketball courts, multi-use fields, and a lighthouse. The lighthouse was built in 1855 and is the last remaining riverine lighthouse in Virginia. For anyone with a green thumb, there are two community gardens located within the park.
    Rangers offer two kid-friendly programs (Lighthouse Life and Learn to Ride). To request a Ranger-led program at Jones Point, call 703.289.2553.

  • Carlyle House & Gardens

    is great for residents and visitors alike. With many programs available such as Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace, How to Write series, Music on the Lawn and Trick or Treating at one of Alexandria’s most haunted dwellings! My favorite is taking my dog Quincy to the gardens on a winter’s day and enjoying the solitude.

  • Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden

    is a favorite summer destination on Friday evening when they host Trivia in their gardens. It’s such a fun atmosphere with residents coming together to test their knowledge of a variety of topics. Interesting themes such as the 1980s, Regency Era, Olympic, etc.

  • Pacers Running

    hosts several running events throughout the year and my favorite is the PNC Parkway Classic. For real runners, there’s a 10-mile run from Mount Vernon Estates (Fort Hunt) which ends in Old Town’s Oronoco Park. There’s a 5K for those of us who prefer to run/walk and enjoy the scenery. The course starts and ends at Oronoco Park and weaves its way through Old Town.

  • Torpedo Art Factor Art Center

    really used to be a Torpedo Factory! The building was renovated in 1982 -1983 and on May 21, 1983, there was a reopening ceremony as an Artist Center. At one of the entrances, there’s a 3,000-pound, 21-foot long, green Mark XIV torpedo given by the Navy as a housewarming present. Today, more than 165 artists have studios at the Art Center. Their artwork is on exhibit and available for sale across the three levels. The Torpedo factory is home to the largest collection of working artists under one roof.