Things To Do In Alexandria, Kingstowne and Springfield!  | • | A museum of Alexandria's past housed in an 18th-century Palladian manor house; the surrounding period style gardens are the heart of the Old Town.
Carlyle House Historic Park | | • | In its heyday, this 18-century tavern and adjoining hotel was an important place to do business and make political connections. George Washington visited the tavern on many occasions, and twice attended the annual Birthnight Ball held in his honor. Other prominent patrons included John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and the Marquis de Lafayette. Today the site hosts a museum; the tavern may be rented for special functions and is a popular spot for weddings.
Gadsby's Tavern Museum | | • | The Stabler family opened up shop in Alexandria's Old Town in 1792, and kept it in the family until the Depression forced them to close in 1933; by this time, the apothecary was the oldest operating pharmacy in the US. The shop remained locked until it was purchased in 1939 and maintained as it was; so it remains today.
Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum | | • | The Lee-Fendall House presents an intimate look at 19th century family life. Guided by its 1852 inventory, the house is furnished with a notable collection of Lee family heirlooms as well as period pieces built by Alexandria furniture makers. An award-winning garden surrounds the museum.
Lee-Fendall House Museum | | • | An exhibit of early firefighting equipment and ceremonial objects from the Firehouse's heyday as a community organization are presented in Alexandria's first firehouse, built in 1774.
Friendship Firehouse Museum | | • | Exhibits, lectures, concerts and school programs centered around the region's history.
The Lyceum: Alexandria's History Museum | | • | The Center includes a Museum, the Watson Reading Room, and the Alexandria African American Heritage Park, nine-acres of landscaped park and wetlands that includes a small African American cemetery from the 19th century.
Alexandria African American Black History Resource Center | | • | George Washington's mansion, personal effects, and beautifully landscaped grounds are preserved for the public at his former plantation in Mt Vernon.
Mt Vernon | | • | The museum presents a variety of exhibits, organizes tours of local sites, and runs family dig days and summer camps.
Alexandria Archaeology Museum | | • | The Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association present exhibits on painting and other fine arts including architecture, weaving, films, photographs, art-related lectures, small theatrical and musical performances, and dance classes and performances. The Athenaeum is a beautiful Greek revival building from 1851.
The Athenaeum | | • | Built by the Union army to protect Washington D.C. during the Civil War, Fort Ward now presents an excellent display of memorabilia; the museum is patterned after a Union headquarters building.
Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site | | • | Founded in 1991, the Company is a small one; its primary mission is to attract younger children to classical ballet by staging beautifully danced and costumed short works. One of the Company's most popular performances is its 45-minute version of "The Nutcracker", which has frequently been selected as a "Weekend's Best" in the Washington Post. The school offers training in classical ballet, flamenco, and modern dance.
Alexandria Ballet Company and School | | • | Under the leadership of Maestro Kim Allen Kluge, the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra has distinguished itself with thematic programming that incorporates visual arts and other media with dynamic and energetic musical performances. The Symphony holds children's art festivals, where children are invited to make art while listening to live symphony performances.
Alexandria Symphony Orchestra | | • | Located in Alexandria, Capital City Opera serves the entire Washington D.C. region, and is attracting world attention for its fresh and innovative ways of presenting opera. Co-founder Maestro Kluge is a passionate advocate of arts education, and the Company runs exciting multi-cultural, multi-arts programs for children and adults.
Capital City Opera | | • | A chamber sized choir that performs works from Renaissance to the present day.
Alexandria Choral Society | | • | This award-winning a cappella barbershop chorus was founded in 1948.
Alexandria Harmonizers | | • | This intimate community theater presents seven professional quality shows each season and sponsors a nation wide one-act play competition (producing the winners); acting classes are also held.
Little Theatre of Alexandria | | • | A professional company presents contemporary American plays and musicals by both established and emerging writers.
Metro Stage | | • | Alexandria's West End has fine dining and the largest dinner theatre stage in the D.C. area; Broadway hits are on offer.
West End Dinner Theatre | | • | A WWI torpedo factory on the banks of the Potomac was converted into the largest arts center in the US, with studios for over 160 professional artists, who create, exhibit and sell their work.
Torpedo Factory Art Center | | • | America's only national park for the performing arts is in nearby Vienna, VA. The open-air Filene Center houses over 90 musical performances annually, as well as a variety of education programs, special events, and a yearly Holiday Sing-A-Long. The National Symphony Orchestra plays its summer season at Wolf Trap.
Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts | | • | Attractions in the Washington D.C area |
 | • | Sea kayak tours on the Potomac and Occoquan Rivers and around the Chesapeake Bay area; guides welcome beginners as well as experienced kayakers.
Blu Gnu Kayak Company | | • | Greendale Golf Course | | • | The headquarters of the American Horticultural Society, River Farm was originally part of the estate of George Washington; it features 25-acres of landscaped lawns and gardens, meadows and woods, on the banks of the Potomac River in Alexandria.
River Farm | | • | 1,425 acres of forest, meadows and extensive wetlands shelter many plant, animal and bird species. From the half-mile wetland boardwalk trail and observation tower, visitors have excellent views of beavers, frogs, dragonflies and herons. Huntley Meadows is well known as a prime birding spot with more than 200 species identified in the park.
Huntley Meadows Park | | • | Boating, fishing, hiking, miniature golf, a carousel, snack bar, tour boat rides, trails, lovely picnic areas and playgrounds; on the outskirts of Springfield.
Lake Accotink Park | | • | A variety of bird and wild life inhabit the woods, streams and pond at the Nature Center, which may be explored independently or by walking tour. The center also includes a nature trail, lighted tennis courts and children's playground.
Hidden Pond Nature Center | | • | The community has three community centers for residents and their guests only; access is free to all residents. Each centre contains a pool, tennis courts and a fitness or aerobic center.
Kingstowne Recreation | | • | More Alexandria Biking and Walking Trails |
Alexandria has an exciting dining scene, especially in the Old Town, where cafes and informal pubs nuzzle five-star restaurants, every kind of cuisine is on offer, and dinner ships depart for Potomac cruises. Of special note is the area's Creole cusine: | • | Classic Louisiana Creole cuisine is served in a formal dining room (complete with worn velvet upholstery and crystal chandeliers) and an informal "Bayou Room"; both are housed in an historic building in Alexandria's Old Town
Two-Nineteen |
Other fine dining includes: | • | This award-winning French restaurant specializes in Basque dishes.
La Bergerie | | • | Contemporary and traditional seafood dishes in a house in Alexandria's Old Town that dates from the 1790's and has beams that were charred black from a Civil War fire.
The Wharf |
Kingstowne and Springfield have most restaurant chains and a variety of family restaurants, alongside some great "locals". Popular spots include: | • | "Roadhouse Modern" is served with aplomb in Kingstowne and in Alexandria's Old Town.
King Street Blues | | • | Springfield's local night spot serves American and Irish dishes and live music every night of the week, including an open mike on Monday nights.
Kate's Irish Pub | | • | Modern Italian dining; executive Chef Walter Robinson brings his credentials from The Four Seasons.
DaVinci Ristorante |
Shopping Alexandria's Old Town
The 18th and 19th century buildings that line the Old Town's cobble streets house everything from antique shops to outlet stores; thrift stores to the Gap and Banana Republic. Many shops are owner-operated and keep extended hours.
Some fun stores include:
| • | The country's largest glass gallery represents more than 300 artists and includes an extensive range of kaleidoscopes.
Arts Afire | | • | Radko and other specialty Christmas collectibles are on offer in an atmospheric old warehouse from 1785.
The Christmas Attic | | • | Featuring exquisite hand-painted Italian Majolica ceramics from Tuscany and Umbria.
My Place in Tuscany | | • | European crafts including Polish stoneware and china, Belgian tapestries, Czech crystal, and Russian icons.
Old World Merchant | | • | Artisans draw on over 300 years of tradition to make these hand made and painted pottery pieces from Brittany, France.
Quimper Faience | | • | A cozy bookstore offering a large and careful selection of children's books (including an extensive Spanish language selection), toys, games and music, and a story hour three times a week.
A Likely Story Children's Bookstore | | • | An antique store specializing in 19th-century mirrors and furniture and a gilding and restoration studio.
Golden Rhodes | | • | Late 18th- and early 19th-century American furniture, chandeliers, paintings, mirrors and accessories.
Spurgeon-Lewis Antiques | | • | The Washington D.C. area's largest collection of 19th and early 20th century oil paintings.
Studio Antiques and Fine Art, Inc. |
Kingstowne and Springfield have the major chains; Kingstowne has the Kingstowne Towne Centre, Springfield has several malls. | • | Built in 1767 and restored to its original interior in the 1890's, this beautiful church has a large and active parish and is open to all. Traditionally, US Presidents visit at least once during their administration, typically around George Washington's birthday.
Christ Church | | • | Built in 1774, the church was the site of memorial services for George Washington. A memorial to an unknown soldier of the American Revolution lies in the churchyard.
Old Presbyterian Meeting House | | • | The Memorial exhibits an impressive 17 foot tall bronze statue of George Washington and an excellent collection of artifacts related to his life and work.
George Washington Masonic National Memorial | | • | The Foundation runs boatbuilding programs, focusing on family centered activities and at-risk youths. Educational tours aboard the Potomac dory and rowing and sailing programs are also offered.
Alexandria Seaport Foundation's Seaport Center |
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