Visit Old Town Alexandria for a Tapestry of History and Culture Minutes From DC – Lowell Sun

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How can a visit to Washington, DC serve up even more history, entertainment, and culture? Going a little sideways.

The charming hamlet of Old Town Alexandria seamlessly blends history, architecture, food, shopping, art and beauty, all in one easy-to-navigate location.

But hamlet seems too simple a word for all that Alexandria has to offer. It’s world-class in its array of activities, but its quaint vibe makes ‘city‘ too big a word for it.

I added a two-day trip to Old Town Alexandria to a recent DC outing, after years of visiting the nation’s capital. My takeaway? From now on, at least one day – and as much as possible more – will be added to my DC trips.

Alexandria – the adopted hometown of George Washington (he surveyed it as a teenager and developed a lifelong love for the place) – is so close to DC proper that you can get there by subway , by speedy carpool or, our choice, the Water Taxi which is like an adventure in itself.

And despite being so close to the big city, Alexandria stands out. You can choose from countless themes: shopping, foodie adventure, history lessons, sightseeing, education or be like me: combine them all into one special stay.

I headed there with my daughter, a DC resident who had come to eat out for dinner and visit a favorite karaoke bar. We centered our stay at the new Hotel Indigo in Old Town (https://bit.ly/3Ok72wQ), the only waterfront hotel in the area. It’s bright, airy, and comfortable, and in a perfect location along the Potomac River.

From there, we chose different adventures, able to fit so much in just two days.

Gastronomy/culinary

Don’t be ashamed to say: we like to eat, and in the most local and authentic way possible.

We found an amazing breakfast at Café de Soleil (cafedusoleilva.com), just across from Hotel Indigo. French-inspired, they’re known for their crepes (my daughter chose sweet over savory that day) and more. I devoured an amazing avocado toast, washed down with a perfect latte.

We also loved Misha’s Coffee (with two locations: one near the riverfront, the other — where we went — further up King Street), for homemade donuts and great coffee.

For lunch, we chose to sit on the waterfront at Vola’s Dockside Grill (volasdockside.com). Facing the active river and waters edge, we enjoyed a crab dip and then a shrimp po’ boy for the ages. I’m usually not a daytime cocktail girl, but the painkiller there? To try absolutely. The service was beyond charming too.

The dinner choices were plentiful. We chose Irish one night at delicious Daniel O’Connell’s (our server is from Dublin), seafood another at BARCA, where you can sit outside by the fire pits (if it’s cold) or at interior in a wine bar.

For a nightcap, The Old Hat, a place with a speakeasy vibe, was our favorite.

Shopping and strolling

The heart of the old town is King Street – a stretch of (mostly independent) shops, restaurants and historic sites. The first section is jammed with traffic – in the late afternoon, musicians played violins against the backdrop of the relaxed atmosphere. Fun fact: Jim Morrison of The Doors and Cass Elliot and John Phillips of Mamas and the Papas are all from this town.

Musicians play for walkers, shoppers and diners on King Street in Old Town Alexandria. Herald photo by Moira McCarthy.

We found ourselves returning to the streets again and again, finding more places to love each time.

One amazing tour that anyone going to the Old Town must definitely experience is the Turkish Coffee Lady.

This store, new to the street but not to the general DC area, is lovingly run by Gizem Salcigil White, who has been traveling the world in his Turkish coffee truck since 2012 with a mission to create cross-cultural friendships through the diplomacy of coffee. She means it, and you will feel it if you visit.

The shop is like a step into the real Turkey, with Turkish decor, music, food and yes – coffee – all.

His partner Hasan Kale has a knack for reading coffee grounds. Come in, order, savor then listen, it’s a magical experience. Just do it.

Something that struck us about the many shops and places like Turkish Coffee Lady was simple yet rare: every person we met seemed genuinely happy to see us. Old Town loves its guests, it seems.

History and more

There are plenty of ways to soak up the city’s rich history. Walking tour options include both self-guided and tours led by local experts. There are some cool museums, including the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, where you can learn about the impact apothecaries had on the world at the time. Imagine seeing a handwritten request for castor oil from Martha Washington!

The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum is full of stories and artifacts. Herald photo by Moira McCarthy.

There are also more classic choices, like the Alexandria Black History Museum and the Freedom Museum. In all, there are eight museums, as well as countless historic homes and buildings to visit.

art and more

Inside and out – and even on the sides of buildings – art is everywhere. At the Torpedo Factory Art Center, you’ll find a thriving community of artists at work – many of whom live across the road – with open space for you to watch them at work. The I Love You art installation on the waterfront is as Instagrammable – and charming – as art comes.

Old buildings converted into restaurants and shops line the streets of Old Town Alexandria. Herald photo by Moira McCarthy.

And for the more eccentric, check out the Spite House – a 7ft wide house built to keep strollers away from an alley – hence its name.

Old Town Alexandria has so much more to offer. That’s why, whenever you go to DC, you should give it at least a day – or two. It offers a tapestry of history and culture, quietly flourishing right next to our nation’s capital. What a bonus it is.

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