Summer vacations are one of the best things about being a kid, and they are a great way for families to spend time together. Those summers don’t last long, but you still have time to work in a quick end-of-summer getaway, and Alexandria, Virginia, is a great place to do so. It’s got a little bit of everything — great food, great places to stay, plenty of shopping, and plenty to see and do. And, to top it off, it is easily accessible by plane and by car.
This historic town is a little more than 5 miles from Washington, D.C., so you’ll be able to expose the kids to plenty of the nation’s history and culture during your visit. Learn about women’s history on a walking tour of the city that will take you to numerous locations like Harriet Williams Site, the first African American site excavated in Alexandria; and the home of Kate Waller Barrett, a famous suffragist from Alexandria. To explore the sites that celebrate the role of women in the history of Alexandria and the rest of the country, start at Ramsay House, also the Alexandria Visitors Center, where you can pick up maps for these spots along with other great things to see and do across the city.
You can even mix history with a bit of movie magic by keeping an eye out for familiar sights from some of your family’s favorite films and television show, since spots around town have been used for both filming and inspiration. Alexandria is home to the tall ship Providence, a reproduction of the 18th-century sloop once commanded by John Paul Jones. It was the first ship authorized for service in the Continental Navy and has been used in two installments of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Today, it sits on the waterfront and is open for tours.
During your stay in Alexandria, enjoy great food covering a wide range of the cuisines that have shaped the American dining experience. You’ve also got a lot of choices when it comes to where to stay. If your family includes a fur baby, you can book a stay at Alexandrian Old Town Alexandria, where you can bring up to two pets (they allow both cats and dogs for an additional fee).
The historic Old Town neighborhood has more than 200 boutique shopping options to choose from, too.
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