Old Town Alexandria

Old Town Alexandria is a restored 18th-century port town on the Potomac River in Virginia, about 8 miles (13 km) south of downtown Washington, DC. It is the easiest day trip from the capital, reached in 20 to 30 minutes by Metro. Visitors take the Blue or Yellow Line from Metro Center or L'Enfant Plaza to King St-Old Town station, a ride of 15 to 25 minutes costing about $2.25-$3.00 USD, then board the free King Street Trolley run by DASH, which circulates every 15 minutes in the daytime down King Street to the waterfront; the station is about one mile from the river. In season, a Potomac Riverboat Company water taxi also links the waterfront with the Wharf in Washington for roughly $15-$25 USD one way. The Alexandria Visitor Center at 221 King St is a useful first stop for maps. King Street holds about a mile of shops, cafes and restaurants, while the waterfront centers on Waterfront Park and the Torpedo Factory Art Center, a former munitions plant now filled with working artists' studios. Historic stops include Gadsby's Tavern Museum, a colonial-era inn, and Christ Church, where George Washington worshipped. Admissions run about $8-$15 USD. A simple day arc is to ride to King Street station, take the trolley to the waterfront and tour the Torpedo Factory in the morning, then walk back up King Street for lunch, which costs about $15-$30 USD, and visit a tavern or church in the afternoon before returning by trolley and Metro. Spring and fall bring the most comfortable walking weather, and summer evenings are pleasant along the waterfront. Because the district is flat and compact, the day suits families and older travelers, and total costs are modest at roughly $45-$75 USD for one person. Travelers wanting a full day often combine Old Town with Mount Vernon, which lies a short drive or bus ride farther south.