Northern Virginia is full of stores, shops and things to do. Many people who live in or visit NOVA often go to Washington DC when they want to spend a day out, away from the crazy NOVA malls and shopping centers. While DC is close and has plenty to do, Old Town Alexandria is filled with a lot to do too. There are boutiques, bistros, boating, biking, and history.
Although I have lived in NOVA my whole life, I never really went to Old Town. The only thing I had ever really heard about it was the abundance of parallel parking and not lot parking. Other than that, Old Town was really a mystery to me, so when my cousin and her husband and baby came to visit and wanted to visit Old Town, I was thrilled to not have to go to DC and visit the same monuments and memorials for the thousandth time.
Going in the middle of July, there was a lot of heat and humidity (imagine about 95 degrees) but there was a nice breeze that came through the streets from the Potomac River and plenty of shade to walk in as well. There were lots of cute little local shops and small eateries along the streets. We ate at a tavern that had been visited by people like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson in the 18th century. The Gadsby Tavern still looks very much like it did in the colonial days, including the size of the tavern being smaller than any restaurant I’ve been in. The chairs and tables, the trinkets, and even the menus were all very 18th century. The menu writing was old-timey. They spelled soups “soops” and salad was “sallad” which was interesting to read. (Overall, the food was pretty good, too.)
There are quite a few historical places, many marked by plaques. The city hall’s original inscription is very faded and worn due to age and weathering. Luckily, there is a plaque next to it, with the original transcription transcribed on it. History buffs will love Old Town.
If you watch the PBS show “Mercy Street,” you may know that Old Town is where the show is based. The hospital that the show is based in is no longer standing, however, the house behind it is and gives tours. The Carlyle House has the upper floor of the house laid out like the way it would have been during the Civil War, with hospital-like rooms and an amputation station. The tour guide said there were thousands of amputations that happened there. The Carlyle House also has a room that has partially been stripped down, so much so that you can see one of the floor beams. The walls are not covered in wallpaper or even drywall so the wood is exposed which is pretty cool to see. Being able to see the way an 18th century house had been built was one of a unique things I have ever seen in a historic site.
There is an apothecary down the street that has some Harry Potter references, although I don’t know why. Their gift shop has some Harry Potter things, like the Chocolate Frogs, but also some cool non-wizardy items. The apothecary was owned by the same family for 141 years before having to be closed during the Great Depression. After the family sold it, it immediately was bought to become a museum so everything in it is original to the site which is very uncommon. It is three stories tall with the second floor being their laboratory where they made everything. The third floor is only open during a special town event called "Attics and Alleys" which opens tours to normally hidden spaces of historic sites.
If you have the time or money, there are places to boat off of Old Town as well as water tours. There are trolley tours and walking tours to take part in too. Although Old Town’s shops and eateries are fairly condensed, there can be a bit of walking, but overall it is a nice area to just walk around in. In nice weather, there are plenty of people milling about. Old Town also has cute townhouse residences right in the heart of it. Old Town used to be a very industrial town that wasn’t very glamorous to live in but don't let its past fool you. We passed a townhouse for sale and guessed among ourselves how much it was going for. If you guessed $1.1 million, you’re right!
So is Old Town Alexandria NOVA’s best-kept secret? Take a trip there and decided for yourself! If you love small town shops, unique eateries, and history, you’ll love Old Town.
