Hi there! Alexandria, Virginia is a beautiful town located just under 10 miles from Washington, DC. In addition to being a gorgeous location, there is so much to do and see in Alexandria. Alexandria makes a fantastic day trip from DC, but it is also a wonderful weekend getaway if you’re visiting from further away. Keep reading for my tips and recommendations for how to spend a perfect afternoon in Alexandria, Virginia!
I visited Alexandria as part of my 50 state challenge – Virginia is state #7 in 2021!
Things to do:
King Street Mile for Shopping
King Street is a fantastic place to start your day in Alexandria. There are tons of shops and restaurants and the architecture is really beautiful. You’ll find popular stores like Lululemon and H&M, as well as independently owned boutiques and shops.
Check out the Waterfront
The waterfront in Alexandria is a wonderful place to enjoy a coffee and take in the views! There is a nice park to relax in, and on a warm sunny day it’s the perfect place to be.
Take a Cruise Tour or Water Taxi
From the waterfront, you can board a sightseeing cruise to check out the monuments and landmarks! When I lived in Georgetown, I would always see these cruises on the Potomac River. You can also take a water taxi from Alexandria right into DC! These water taxis currently stop in Georgetown and at the Wharf!
Visit the Torpedo Art Factory
Located down by the waterfront, the Torpedo Art Factory is filled with art studios! You can walk through the factory, see the artists at work and even purchase unique pieces! This is definitely an interesting place to check out.
Check out the Unique Museums
Alexandria has a handful of unique and interesting museums, and I was so excited to visit them! Unfortunately, when I visited, they were mostly closed due to increased Covid cases in the area. The two museums I was most excited for were Gadsby’s Tavern Museum and the Apothecary Museum. I will definitely be planning a trip back to visit these two museums when they re-open!
I was able to visit the Carlyle House, a historic mansion in Old Town, Alexandria! You are able to tour the home, to see what life was like for a family living in Alexandria, Virginia in the 1800s; or you can simply tour the gardens.
Gadsby’s Tavern 
Carlyle House
Visit the Skinniest House in the USA
Alexandria is home to the skinniest house in the USA! This is certainly very unique! The Hollensbury Spite House is located at 523 Queen Street, in Old Town Alexandria. The home is privately owned, and while you can’t go inside, it is a very cool place to go see. The home is just seven feet wide and very cute to look at.
Escape Room
I was in Alexandria alone, so unfortunately I wasn’t able to visit this escape room (it requires at least 2 people.) However, if you’re visiting with a friend or group, it seems like a really cool place to check out. While I’ve never been to this specific escape room, I’ve been to a bunch in other locations, and they’re always so much fun!
Food
Alexandria is filled with delicious restaurants! Below are a few of my favorites, all of which are great for a fast and casual meal.
- South Block – the perfect spot for smoothies and açaí bowls
- Cafe du Soleil – a great place for coffee, breakfast or lunch!
- Sweetgreen – this a chain salad restaurant, but it’s so good. Take it to eat by the water!
- Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams – one of my favorite ice cream shops!
- Kilwins – another one of my favorite ice cream shops! They also have great chocolate treats.
Spend the Night!
Although I’ve only ever visited Alexandria for a day trip, it would make a great weekend destination! Below you’ll find a map of hotels in the Alexandria area. Click here to check out options and to see current room rates.
Booking.comThank you so much for reading my tips and recommendations for how to spend a perfect afternoon in Alexandria, Virginia! If you found this post helpful, I appreciate you sharing it with others. For more 50 state challenge posts, click here and to follow us on Instagram, click here!
♡Kate
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You had me at acai!! The Apothecary Museum sounds cool too! Whenever I get to visit D.C, I’m definitely adding in a day trip here!
I love unique and quirky museums! I lived in Virginia for a few years but never made it to Alexandria. Seems like I missed out!
Okay, but this looks like the cutest town ever! And the smallest house… omg! I’ve been wanting to go to D.C. I’ll definitely make a plan to visit Alexandria!
Alexandria, Virginia looks like a charming place to visit! Love the waterfront, museums and the skinny house especially!
I’m very happy to discover more about Virginia 🙂 I absolutely love your pictures and how colourful King Street Mile is. I hope I can visit Alexandria one day, and I am saving your post for the future.
Great read. I’m going to DC in a few months. I should add this to my list of places to see.
Alexandria is such a cool spot to visit! I love all the cool building and the waterfront!
That skinny house is too cute!
Great post and beautiful photos! The skinny house is so cute. I need to get up to Alexandria and do some exploring.