How can a go to to Washington, D.C., go to serve up even much more historical past, enjoyable and tradition? By heading subsequent door for a bit.
The pretty hamlet of Old Town Alexandria seamlessly intertwines historical past, structure, gastronomy, buying, artistry and wonder, multi function easy-to-navigate spot.
But hamlet looks like too easy a phrase for all that Alexandria has to supply. It’s world-class in its breadth of actions, however its quaint vibe makes “city” too large a phrase for it.
I added a two-day Old Town Alexandria facet journey to a current D.C. outing, after years of visiting the nation’s capital. My take away? From right here on, no less than a day — and every time potential extra — can be added to my D.C. journeys.
Alexandria — the adopted hometown of George Washington (he surveyed it as a teen and developed a lifetime love of the place) — is so near D.C. correct which you could get there by Metro, a fast automotive share or, our selection, the Water Taxi that’s like an journey in itself.
And whereas it’s this near the large metropolis, Alexandria stands by itself. You may select from numerous themes: buying, foodie journey, historical past classes, sightseeing, training or be like me: Weave all of them into one particular keep.
I headed there with my daughter, a D.C. resident who’d been there to dine out and to go to a favorite karaoke bar. We centered our keep at Old Town’s new Hotel Indigo (ihg.com/hotelindigo/motels/us/en/alexandria/axein/hoteldetail), the realm’s solely waterfront resort. It’s vivid, ethereal and comfy, and set within the good spot alongside the Potomac River.
From there, we selected completely different adventures, capable of match a lot into simply two days.
Gastronomy/culinary
Not ashamed to say: We like to nosh, and in probably the most native and genuine methods we will.
We discovered an unimaginable breakfast at Café de Soleil (cafedusoleilva.com), simply throughout the road from Hotel Indigo. French impressed, they’re identified for his or her crepes (my daughter selected candy over savory at the present time) and extra. I devoured an unimaginable tackle avocado toast, washed down by an ideal latte.
We additionally liked Misha’s Coffee (with two spots: one close to the riverfront, the opposite — the place we went — farther up King Street), for house-made doughnuts and wonderful espresso.
For lunch we selected to sit down waterside at Vola’s Dockside Grill (volasdockside.com). Looking out on the energetic river and waterfront, we savored crab dip after which a shrimp po’ boy for the ages. I’m not often a daytime cocktail gal, however the painkiller there? A must-try. The service was past pretty as properly.
Dinner selections had been plentiful. We selected Irish one evening on the pleasant Daniel O’Connell’s (our waiter hailed from Dublin), seafood one other at BARCA, the place you’ll be able to sit outdoors by fireplace pits (ought to it’s chilly) or inside at a wine bar.
For a nightcap, The Old Hat, a spot with a speakeasy-vibe, was our favourite.
Shopping and meandering
The coronary heart of Old Town is King Street — a mile-long stretch of outlets (principally independently owned), eating places and historic spots. The first part is blocked from visitors — one late afternoon musicians performed violins as backdrop to the relaxed ambiance. Fun reality: Jim Morrison of the Doors and Cass Elliot and John Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas all hail from this city.
We discovered ourselves returning to the road time and again, discovering extra spots to like every time.
One unimaginable go to that each one who head to Old Town merely should expertise is the Turkish Coffee Lady.
This store, new to the road however to not the final D.C. space, is lovingly run by Gizem Salcigil White, who has been touring the world in her Turkish Coffee truck since 2012 with a mission of constructing cross-cultural friendships by espresso diplomacy. She means it, and also you’ll really feel it should you go to.
The store is sort of a step into true Turkey, with décor, music, meals and sure — espresso — all Turkish.
Her enterprise companion Hasan Kale has the reward of studying espresso grounds. Enter, order, savor after which pay attention — it’s a magical expertise. Just do it.
Something that struck us in regards to the many outlets and spots like Turkish Coffee Lady was easy and but uncommon: Every single particular person we met appeared really completely satisfied to see us. Old Town loves its friends, it appears.
History and extra
There are loads of methods to soak within the wealthy historical past of the city. Options for strolling excursions embody each self-guided and led by native specialists. There are cool museums, together with the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, the place you’ll be able to find out about how apothecaries impacted the world again within the day. Imagine seeing a hand-written request for castor oil from Martha Washington!
There are extra basic selections too, just like the Alexandria Black History Museum and the Freedom Museum. In all, there are eight museums, together with numerous historic houses and buildings to absorb.
Art and extra
Inside and out — and even on the perimeters of buildings — artwork is in every single place. At the Torpedo Factory Art Center you’ll discover a thriving neighborhood of artists at work — many stay throughout the highway — with open area so that you can watch them at their craft. The I Love You artwork set up on the waterfront is as Instagrammable — and beautiful — as artwork comes.
And for the quirky, take a look at the Spite House — a 7-foot-wide residence constructed to maintain loiterers out of an alley — thus the identify.
Old Town Alexandria has a lot extra. That’s why, each time you go to D.C., you need to give it no less than a day — or two. It presents a tapestry of historical past and tradition, quietly thriving proper subsequent to our nation’s capital. What a bonus that’s.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”