Old Town Alexandria

When we first moved to DC thirteen years ago we would frequent Old Town Alexandria. It was just across the Potomac River from our home on Capitol Hill. Since we moved to northern Virginia ten months ago, we don’t go as often. But it’s close enough to visit whenever we want. So last Sunday we thought brunch in Alexandria would be a good idea to avoid super bowl crowds on Sunday evening. After that we took a ride on the GW Parkway to Mount Vernon - one of our favorite routes. On the way back home, we took a side trip through Old Town. It’s a very charming place but has the same old infrastructure and parking issues of DC. But I love the architecture and the ambiance of the place. The townhouses and rowhouses are reminiscent of days gone by. George Washington spent a lot of time here. There was a golden retriever tied up outside someone’s home taking a nap. The new building complexes going up along the Potomac River blend in with the traditional vibe. King Street looked the same - a “tourist trap” of sorts - but interesting to see. The “narrowest” home is a sight - it once was an alleyway but looks funny in between the two houses beside it. And of course the cobblestone streets look great, but not so good for your car. We stopped for gas on the way out and continued up the other direction on the GW parkway - a very familiar road. It doesn’t matter how often we travel along it - it’s always an interesting ride.