Alexandria, VA

Alexandria, VA

The Potomac River Shoreline, where Alexandria, VA is today, was first inhabited by the Tauxenents and the Nacotchtanks, both part of a larger affiliation known as the Conoy chiefdom. In 1669, King Charles II awarded 6000 acres of land (present-day Old Town Alexandria) to Robert Howson, an English shipbuilder. Howson sold the land to John Alexander who farmed the land, as well as owned a tavern and a warehouse. In 1749, the town was established as Virginia’s furthermost northern port for its thriving tobacco trade and was named Alexandria, after John Alexander. Famous citizens of Alexandria include the father of the country, George Washington, but also celebrities such as Jim Morrison of the The Doors and Mama Cass of the Mamas and the Papas.

Today, Alexandria is nationally recognized for its rich history and beautifully preserved 18th- and 19th-century architecture. Named a Top 3 Best Small City in the U.S. 2021 by the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards and one of the South’s Best Cities 2020 by Southern Living, Alexandria hums with a cosmopolitan feel and a walkable lifestyle—a welcoming weekend escape next to our nation’s capital. A nationally designated historic district founded in 1749, Old Town Alexandria is home to more than 200 independent restaurants and boutiques alongside intimate historic museums and new happenings at the waterfront, making it the perfect home base for your D.C. vacation and an unforgettable getaway of its own.

Source: https://www.visitalexandriava.com/

Amazing restaurants, hipster shops, and awesome hotels abound in Old Town as well as on Mt Vernon Street in Del Ray. King Street is currently seen as an active strip of commerce and tourism that successfully accommodates both Alexandria’s local residents as well as its visitors. Historically the street was used as access to the seaport and later as a main center of trade. The balance between past and present is noticeable with the vitality of the street’s noteworthy character.

There is an arts center at the former Torpedo Factory near the Old Town Waterfront Park. Mt Vernon, George Washington’s home, is just south of the city.