A Saturday in Old Town, Alexandria, VA

Alexandria Courthouse

While I do travel throughout the US, I thought my first post should be about my jumping off point.  I’ve lived in the DC area for about 5 years now, the past 3+ in Alexandria, VA.  Tourists roam freely in the streets from spring to late autumn.  There are a plethora of options along and off King St. (the main drag) for dining, shopping, and lodging.  You can even travel along it for free on the year-round trolley that runs from the waterfront to the King Street Metro station.  Boutique hotels can be found off and on King St.  Recently, I had some family stay at the Hotel Monaco across the street from market square, and thoroughly enjoyed their stay. 

Whether you're staying for a week, weekend, or just in for the day, a Saturday in Old Town starts early.  The Saturday Farmers' Market kicks off at 5:30 AM (yes, that early), and runs until 10:30.  You'll find a variety of seasonal vegetables, meats, and breads along with crafts, herbs, and various flora for sale by regular vendors.  If you have access to a kitchen, I highly recommend picking up some of the quality meats from the Lamb's Quarter.  The sage sausage is just heavenly.  

A View Near Founders Park

For morning eats, you can pick up breakfast snacks and coffee at stands at the market, or head over to The Columbia Firehouse on St. Asaph St offers a great weekend brunch at a fair price.  They have a wide variety from Greek yogurt with granola, to seared diver scallops.  The chicken and waffles isn't a bad choice, or if you're hungry I'd recommend the steak and eggs.

After breakfast, you might want to walk off some calories.  Depending on the season, afternoons can get really warm.  Take a stroll along the waterfront early to avoid the heat and larger crowds.  You can sit on a bench and watch the boats float by, or head north along the Potomac through Founder's and Oronoco Bay Parks.  At Founder's Park they have some neat markers explaining some of Alexandria's history as well.

Glass Harp Street Performer

Since you're up that way, give Bilbo Baggins a try for lunch.  Had I not been exploring Old Town by foot, I never would have found this little gem.  You can get some fresh, quality ingredients.  I LOVE their burger on an English muffin, and their global beer selection is quite eclectic.  If you're in a pizza mood, the personal pizzas will hit the spot for a good lunch too.


After all that eating and walking, you might need to relax a bit.  Head on over to the Grape & Bean on South Royal St. near King.  They're an independently owned, gourmet wine bar and coffee shop.  I thoroughly enjoy their coffees, and the staff is quite knowledgeable in their vino selection.  They have a couple tables outside, and a cozy bar area to chat and hang out.  If you take your coffee to go, have a rest at Waterfront Park just a couple blocks away.  It's a little more secluded than the waterfront area itself and almost feels like an escape from the bustle.

Live music at Murphy's

For your evening, go with the luck of the Irish.  Old Town offers a few Irish style pubs, depending on your tastes: Fraternity, Traditional (not that I've been to Ireland, just seems like it), and Upscale.  If you're up for the Fraternity style, head over to Pat Troy's on N. Pitt St (just north of King) where they have live music Wednesday through Sunday nights (make sure to check their entertainment calendar for changes).  Probably my favorite bar in Old Town, is Murphy's on King and Washington.  The fish and chips is fantastic, the wait staff handles the large crowd very well, and the entertainment (just about nightly) is always tops.  You get call back music and a great drinking crowd.  Get there early if you want a seat for the entertainment though.  If you want to go a little more upscale for your Irish evening, head over to Daniel O'Connell's on King near the river.  I love how the chef prepares their seafood, so keep an eye out for the specials or go for the pan seared tuna loin.

After your dinner at any of the Irish spots, you can move to the bar, or explore more through old town for the rest of your evening.  After a long Saturday like that, you may just want to call it a night.  Thanks for reading!