Athletes, would-be athletes and nature lovers should head south from Old Town Alexandria.

Stretching along the Potomac River from the southern border of Old Town to Mount Vernon Estate is the Mt. Vernon bike path.  Eight miles of asphalt allow locals and visitors to walk, run or bike while enjoying river views and wildlife sightings.  Bald eagles, ospreys, blue heron, cormorants, egrets, ducks and geese are among waterfowl commonly spotted along this corridor, while deer, groundhogs and fox sightings are frequent.  Combine cardio and conservation by following a nature trail through Dyke Marsh.

 Along the bike path is a fitness course and several points of access for canoes or kayaks.

Businesses in the nearby Belle View shopping center allow you to rent a bike, tone up at Curves or take karate lessons.  Adjacent to Belle View is the Mt. Vernon Recreation Center, which provides Fairfax County residents with an indoor pool and ice rink.  Farther south on Route 1 is a Gold's Gym.

Local communities such as River Towers, Porto Vecchio and Belle View also offer their residents tennis, swimming and basketball facilities as well as their own in-house gyms.

   

If you'd like to learn more about Porto Vecchio click here?

Check what's available now.

Here's a price report based on the last two years of sales and rentals.

Unit Type	For Sale	Rental
One Bedroom, about 1120 sf	300,000	2075 (1750-2500)
Two Bedroom, about 1450 to 1740 sf	720,000 (490,000 to 815,000)	2725 (2195 to 3200)
Three Bedroom, 1880 to 2250 sf	725,000 (690,000 to 1,099,000)	3000

Porto Vecchio is located at 1250 Washington Blvd (George Washington Parkway) at the south end of Old Town Alexandria, VA. With easy access to I-495/I-95, and 395. Porto Vecchio was built in the early 80s, and is a 15 minute commute to D.C.

Amenities include:

• Party Room
• Outdoor pool
• Tennis Courts
• Sauna
• Gym
• Pier on the Potomac
• Garage Parking
• In Unit Washer/Dryer
• Electric Heating and Cooling, Gas Hot Water Heater
• Zoned Wall Unit A/C

View Larger Map

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About the Author ---  Ben Fornshell is a licensed real estate agent with Condo 1 Alexandria.  To learn more about available rentals and purchases in the area check out our free search.

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.

Julie and I went sailing again. This time we put in at the Belle Haven Marina near Belle View condos and New Alexandria.

The marina has plenty of sailboats, canoes and kayaks for rent. They also offer lessons. Check out the spelling on the sign.

We had a great time on the Potomac. The winds were steady and fairly strong.

We were on the river until nearly sundown.

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.

Last weekend Julie and I decided to take a walk on the trails near the Belle Haven Marina. The weather was warm, one of the first nice days of Spring, so we had a nice little walk to the water's edge.

The trail follows the edge of the Potomac and is relatively quiet even though it's just off the George Washington Parkway.

The day was not so gloomy as these pictures turned out and it was very pleasant just off the trail.

There was a bird here and I tried hard to get him on camera, but he was much too quick. He would dive and then surface with a fish in his beak. We saw him eat at least six fish. I was amazed by how much one little bird could eat.

Foxy came with us and she trotted into the water to bark at ducks but didn't have the courage to take a swim.

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About the Author: Will Nesbitt is the principal broker of Condo 1 Alexandria / Will Nesbitt Realty in Alexandria VA. He specializes in condos, townhouses and single family residences in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Crystal City, and Kingstowne.

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.

Porto Vecchio Condominiums are located on the George Washington Parkway at 1250 South Washington Street at the edge of Old Town Alexandria. These condos at the edge of the Capitol Beltway bring a touch of the Mediterranean to the colonial seaport that is Old Town Alexandria.

Porto Vecchio is named after a famed port in Corsica. True to its namesake, this mansard-roofed complex looks like very much like a seaside villa transplanted to the Potomac. Terraces and colonnades present a elegant European styling which is uncommon in Alexandria.

Built in 1983, Porto Vecchio is a mid-rise that houses 125 units. The strategic location of Porto Vecchio lends to spectacular views from most units. Depending upon the location in the complex, your unit can have views of Belle Haven Marina and the tidal marshes of the Potomac, the wide expanses of the Potomac and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, Old Town Alexandria, or Belle Haven Country Club. A few of the most exclusive units enjoy several of these views. As part of Porto Vecchio's continued commitment to excellence, the building's exterior is currently undergoing renovations.

Typical Porto Vecchio units feature open floor plans; updated and renovated kitchens; separate dining rooms, wood floors; whirlpool tubs; and one or two spaces in the underground parking garage.

For information about sales, rentals and property management at Porto Vecchio or any condo in Alexandria and Northern Virginia, contact Will Nesbitt with Condo 1 Alexandria. Click here, if you'd like a personally prepared market report on what is available at Porto Vecchio. If you'd prefer a self-service approach, check the following links:

 

• Porto Vecchio -- Shop and compare condos for sale right now at Porto Vecchio
  
• For sale --- Live data on all condos for sale in 22314 zip code.
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• Homes for sale --- All homes for sale less than $500,000 in 22314 zip code.
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