Alexandria is one of the largest cities in Virginia, to the south of Washington, D.C. across the Potomac. It is a historic town, once a part of the District proper. It was once a bustling port, with a darker history of being the entry point for slave shipments in the 19th century. Now, its Old Town, centered upon King Street, is an upscale suburb of Washington.

If one goes down King, one might see:

The Masonic Temple

Towering over all Old Town, the neoclassical George Washington Masonic National Memorial, a memorial to the nation’s first president who was also a freemason, rests upon a hill that was once considered as a site for the US capitol. It is foreboding and somewhat eerie, calling back to the lighthouse of an Alexandria across the seas. Inside, there is a statue of Washington in his masonic garb and around him frescoes of scenes of Masonic history, with stained glass windows cementing the church-like atmosphere. As it lords over all Alexandria, one can see why Dan Brown thought it fitting to write a book about it.

The Amtrak and Metro Station

As you look down from the Temple perched atop Shooter’s Hill, you may hear the clangs of trains entering the Alexandria Union Station right by the King Street Metro. This is a regional transportation hub; this ferries Alexandrians to work in Washington. During the end of academic vacations, you can see college students getting onboard trains to Williamsburg, to Richmond, to Fredericksburg, to Charlottesville, to Ashland, or to points beyond.

The Pickup at Hard Times Cafe

In a rather showy promotional stunt, Hard Times Cafe has an old pickup truck, flying a 13-star flag, parked in the street. It’s among the first things that truly stands out.

The Old Architecture

Alexandria is made of brick. The buildings around you recall a time of steamships and fancy black suits, of the Blue and the Gray and the slave trade.

The Seafood

You’re hardly a mile from the Potomac; this is evident in the restaurants. Plenty offer various types of fish on their signage.

Trolley Buses

Going up and down the street are red-liveried Trolley Buses, hauling tourists up and down King Street to see all the sights. The bus design deliberately recalls old trolleys, who did much the same in earlier times.

The Fountain at Market Square

In front of the Alexandria City Hall is a massive fountain, providing cool to those around it. It sits before City Hall’s massive flag, surrounded by locals on benches.

The Potomac

At the end of King Street is a view of the Potomac, with its own little marina. There are restaurants, food carts, street performers, and caricature artists on land, while on the river are pleasure craft of all kinds.

The Torpedo Factory

A World War II munitions factory turned into an arts center, the Torpedo Factory boasts several modern art displays, with artists having their own display rooms, and their own studios on the third floor. It is spacious and warm, befitting a bastion of creativity.

Christ Church

If one goes northward on a detour, one finds Christ Church, a historic church frequented by the likes of George Washington and Robert E. Lee, on North Washington Street. It is surrounded by graves, mostly somewhat dilapidated, given their age. The church itself has a spire shooting up into the air, warmer and more intimate feeling than the imperious Masonic Memorial. Perhaps with savvy, the Church has put up fliers welcoming Pokemon Go players to their grounds.