Is there a better place to spend a summer afternoon than Old Town Alexandria?

King Street is lined with brick sidewalks that offer entrance to many shops and restaurants. At benches or around cafe tables, tourists and locals enjoy the atmosphere of Old Town. It's a place where folks find tasty treats to tempt the pickiest palate. A mix of people---patrons and peddlers, pedalers and pedestrians---pass as others pause to partake in a simple sidewalk sandwich. Flags---French and American, Irish and otherwise---give clue as to the fare found in these happy haunts.

Less than 2 blocks from where this picture was taken, one can find food that is French, Irish, Italian, Chinese, Thai, Mexican, Southern, Cajun, American, Colonial and more. Shops with collectibles, fine apparel and shoes, furnishings and touristy knick-knacks are all here. The King Street Trolley is free and an easy way to wander from the Potomac to the Metro and back again. Parking garages are found nearby under Market Square and elsewhere.

Why just visit Old Town when declining prices and a buyer's market mean that you can finally afford to live here? Here's a little info on a few nearby communities.

• 1600 Prince
• Alexandria House
• Braddock Rd. Metro
• Canal Place
• Carlyle District
• Chatham Square
• Colecroft
• the Duke at Old Town
• Ford's Landing
• Harborside
• Harbor Terrace
• King St. Metro
• Liberty Row
• Marina Towers
• Old Town Gateway
• Porto Vecchio
• Port Royal
• Potomac Greens
• Potowmack Crossing
• Prescott
• St. Asaph Square
• Tannery House
• Torpedo Factory Condos
• Washington Square

 

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About the Author --- Will Nesbitt is the principal broker of Condo 1 Alexandria and Will Nesbitt Realty. Will specializes in condos, townhouses and single family residences in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Crystal City, and Kingstowne. Will resides in Belle Haven Estates just outside Alexandria VA in Fairfax County.

 

Jones Point Park is owned by the National Park Service and it's 52-plus acres compise the largest open space in Old Town Alexandria VA. Jones Point is located on the Potomac River near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in the southeast corner of Alexandria, Virginia. Jones Point is a nice place for a walk or picnic by the Potomac and is popular with Alexandria's bird watchers, dog owners and history buffs. In addition to open green space and river banks, Jones Point offers

• two large soccer fields,
• picnic areas with picnic tables,
• walking and biking trails,
• garden plots for rent,
• two fishing piers built over two old ship ramps,
• and a large ship dock north of the bridge along the river.

Although the National Park Service owns Jones Point Park, the Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities manages the park. The parks custodians strive to preserve and showcase the 9,000 years of human history evidenced at Jones Point. Recognizable touch-points like Jones Point Lighthouse from the middle of the 19th Century are found here along with artifacts from Native Americans and colonists from the early days of European settlement. During the first World War, Jones Point was an important shipbuilding site and remnants of that abandoned heritage are unearthed for visitors to see.

The survey stones placed here under the direction and guidance of George Washington after 1790 mark the original boundaries of the District of Columbia. The land which George Washington surveyed for the Federal City was within the capital boundaries for 45 years, from February 27, 1801 until September 7, 1846, when Alexandria was ceded back into Northern Virginia by Congress.

Jones Point Park is very accessible for residents of Old Town Alexandria, Ford's Landing, Porto Vecchio and Bearings South.

About the Author --- Will Nesbitt is the principal broker of Will Nesbitt Realty and maintains Condo 1 Alexandria. Will specializes in condos, townhouses and single family residences in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Crystal City, and Kingstowne. Will resides in Belle Haven Estates just outside Alexandria VA in Fairfax County.

Alexandria's history as a colonial seaport is well-known in the area, and is one of the reasons that this city to calls to visitors from around the country and around the world. Alexandria's seaport was once a bustling place of industry and commerce, but the cargo ships and packets from foreign seas are long gone now. Today, Alexandria's waterfront is geared more toward the pleasant than the practical.

Where the Water Meets the the Road

At the end of King St. where the road meets the water, there are brick walkways and wooden decks. Plenty of benches and gazebos are there and in the evenings this is a place to find street musicians and other performers practicing their craft before wandering walkers .

In the left side of this picture is the Torpedo Factory, an Alexandria landmark. The Torpedo Factory was what the name implies: an edifice dedicated to the construction of naval weapons of war. But as the industry's needs grew beyond the space here on the Alexandria waterfront, the building was repurposed as an art and crafts center. The building now houses a good many artists is is a wonderful place for tourists and residents alike to visit.

The Torpedo Factory

The Torpedo Factory and the waterfront are very close to the Torpedo Factory condos---high end condos in Old Town. For a list of prices and to check the availability of condos click the Torpedo Factory Condos. If you're interested in searching condos, townhouses and houses around Old Town you might find this post useful.

Metro Access

Among other things, the waterfront at Alexandria is nice because it's metro accessible. Simply take the Metro to King St. Station and then ride the free trolley to the Waterfront. The trolley is a service of the City of Alexandria for visitors and residents. It's a fun and easy way to make your way across Old Town.

Nearby Parks and Trails

Parks and paths line the waterfront these days. It's the perfect place for a walk on a Spring day.

Benches are found at just the right places. These photos were taking on a weekday morning, but in the afternoons and evenings the waterfront wakes up. Tourists, joggers and walkers share this open public space.

 

Old Town (sometimes called Olde Town, Old Towne or Olde Towne) is in my opinion the heart of the city of Alexandria. As the name implies, Old Town is the oldest part of Alexandria, a port in colonial times. Old Town Alexandria is found along the Potomac, just inside the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and then north toward Reagan National Airport. Old Town is served by the King St. Metro and the King St. trolley. With over 100 restaurants, shops, boutiques, coffee shops, ice cream houses and more, Old Town has both a small town, upscale and touristy feel. For most folks there is a bit of prestige attached to an Old Town address. There are two high rises near the waterfront at the Alexandria House and Port Royal. Old Town Alexandria has many townhouses, row houses and a smaller number single family homes.