The Quick Version: The vibrant city of Alexandria, Virginia, supplies an enchanting environment for lovers taking place a date, honeymoon, or vacation. From stylish restaurants to fashionable street sellers, the local flavor entices residents and visitors to enjoy those unique times with their nearest and dearest. It is possible to walk down King Street in the middle of Old Town to find beautiful boutique spots which make great time locations. Founded in 1749, Alexandria’s ancient section transports visitors back in its history with educational tours rich in United states history and custom. Whether you are interested in discovering galleries, sampling trademark dishes, or kayaking on the Potomac River, Alexandria supplies an immersive and relaxing trip under 10 kilometers from the country’s capital.
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When Angie Caro and Chris Walker got hitched, they didn’t wish the service is a large formal occasion â they simply wanted to celebrate with family and friends. So they decided to have a backyard wedding ceremony in Alexandria, Virginia. The stunning greenery on the Carlyle home historical Park offered the most wonderful background with their special day.
“Alexandria is really an intimate destination, many lovers select the town as someplace for a destination marriage,” said Leah Spellman, Communications management for Visit Alexandria. “Couples love Alexandria’s romantic allure, ease of access, and proximity to Washington, DC.”
Naturally, you don’t have to get married getting an intimate night in Alexandria. In 2017, Amazon called Alexandria the 3rd the majority of romantic town in the US, and, when walking down the cobblestone roads of Old Town or picnicking alongside the Potomac River, you can understand why.
If you’re looking for unforgettable big date ideas in Alexandria, our very own relationship experts have got you covered. We’ve showcased a few of well known date-worthy activities into the urban area, but you can in addition search online for intimate determination by checking time some ideas about area’s formal web site or using the #ExtraordinaryALX to learn just what goings-on have natives speaking.
“Alexandria’s walkable downtown is stuffed with wonderfully maintained eighteenth- and 19th-century architecture, cobblestone roads, chef-driven restaurants, and independent boutiques,” Leah mentioned. “With hotels, tourist attractions, and historical sites lining King Street â seen as among the many Great Streets of The united states â it’s no surprise Alexandria is known as an intimate holiday and an excellent place for everything from a first big date to a 25th wedding.”
Over 200 private Restaurants in a Walkable Downtown Area
Old city Alexandria is actually an active area that traces its history returning to 1749, but try not to let their old origins trick you. The metropolis is a thriving and fashionable place to just take a date. Smarter Travel actually named it in its 2017 listing of must-visit US hot places.
“Alexandria hums with a cosmopolitan experience and a walkable way of life,” Leah stated. “It’s a welcoming weekend getaway next to the nation’s capital.”
Indeed, Old city Alexandria has over 200 separate restaurants and boutiques in order to meet couples searching for an intimate spot to relax collectively. Lovers can enjoy a special dinner at Vermilion (in which the Obamas as soon as celebrated Valentine’s Day) or share trademark drinks at Bar PX (a speakeasy-style lounge on King Street). Certain stunning design in this field has been around ever since the days of George Arizona.
Street food is starting to become increasingly popular in Alexandria. As you go from boutique shops to historic web sites, you’ll grab a bite from a single with the area’s well known road vendors, including Smoking Kow barbeque, aka DC’s very first United states barbeque taco meals truck. The trademark plate with this fashionable eatery will be the Mac âN Meat â a gooey mixture of mac ân’ cheese and barbecued meat. In 2018, Smoking Kow barbeque intentions to open up a brick-and-mortar area to help expand satisfy singles, people, and couples wanting an indulgent meal.
From dine-in pizza pubs to trendy beverage lounges, Alexandria’s downtown scene provides some everything. Leah had high compliments your “off-the-beaten-path areas therefore the rising waterfront district” in Old community. “From November through March, Alexandria is added enchanting,” she mentioned, “as most of King Street is lined with a canopy of twinkling lighting.”
Enough Outdoor & Cultural strategies to Entertain Visitors
Alexandria is not all eateries and pubs. In addition has many old sites, general public areas, and all-natural places to activate people on time under the sun. Outdoorsy couples can rent bikes and check out the cycle trails through the town. A leisurely trip from Old city to Jones Point Park or George Arizona’s Mount Vernon might help lovers ingest the scenery and revel in their own day collectively. The Mount Vernon Trail takes a scenic path 18 kilometers along side Potomac River, supplying riders spectacular opinions of DC skyline.
You’ll be able to rent out stand-up paddleboards or kayaks together with your cherished one acquire a close-up glance at the Potomac River. In the event that you’d rather go along for any journey than strike out on your own, possible reserve a boat cruise to Mount Vernon or DC. Alexandria’s waterfront activities provide great day diversions.
Alexandria hosts unique activities and celebrations year round. If you should be checking out in December, you are going to positively want to place the Scottish xmas Walk Parade or the Holiday ship Parade of Lights in your schedule. These activities feature numerous stunning places inside the urban area’s roads and waterways.
Budget-conscious visitors should think about reserving their own stay during January or August whenever urban area generally supplies the most affordable lodge rates of the season. The roads would be much less crowded over these off-peak times, you could constantly discover a historical trip, songs festival, movie theater performance, or social occasion by referencing the browse Alexandria diary. Plus, the metropolis’s bars and pubs host alive activities all year round, to usually take a stroll through Old city and proceed with the sounds of songs to a good time.
“Couples who love activity should check out The Birchmere, a famous music hallway,” Leah stated, “where audience appreciate a romantic knowledge and activities from a variety of increasing stars and legends.”
What is Then: a brand new Waterfront resort & Hamilton Tours
Although the town is centuries old, Alexandria never prevents expanding and supplying brand-new encounters to visitors and residents. Whether it is a cafe or restaurant beginning or a theatrical performance, almost always there is something new to see right here.
In autumn of 2018, Alexandria will unveil another general public plaza on King Street. Alike designers who dreamed right up Bryant Park in nyc, imagined this general public room in order to hold a lot more pop-up markets, festivals, and real time songs inside traditional hub for the city.
Into the winter months, you may also get a hold of a temporary ice rink here. In line with the press release, “the room will transform throughout every season to aid regular programming.”
Furthermore, the Potomac Riverboat organization, that is based in Alexandria, is going to be broadening the water taxi service this current year to include a high-speed, low-wake service on the Wharf, a cutting-edge riverfront development southwest of DC.
Website visitors can also enjoy brand-new historical trips happening throughout Alexandria, including in the Potomac River. During the summer, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum intends to work a Hamilton-themed trip to commemorate the Broadway struck’s run from the Kennedy Center. The tour will explore the politics of Hamilton’s day, incorporating context towards the musical numerous residents came understand and love.
If you want to help make your stay genuinely special and indulgent, it is possible to stay at the Kimpton Lorien Hotel & salon and get a lavish massage therapy or facial from the Lorien Spa. This stylish hotel has 107 visitor areas, such as 16 suites, and will finish a multimillion-dollar redesign in spring season 2018 to help make the area further welcoming, modern, and refined.
Alexandria is actually an amiable & Romantic Getaway All Year Round
Angie and Chris chose Alexandria because their wedding ceremony destination because its charm, affordability, and inclusiveness offered the low-key but passionate environment they desired. Through the restaurants in Old community into cycle trails along the Potomac River, Alexandria supplies couples many opportunities to appreciate themselves and connection in a quaint, ancient environment. If you’re looking for an unforgettable day activity, you’ll not need certainly to look much within this youthful and cosmopolitan area.
As well as declaring the location as Amazon’s next most intimate urban area in america, Alexandria is thought to be the 2nd most LGBT-friendly metropolises in america of the Human liberties venture and something associated with happiest places in the US by “nationwide Geographic Explorer.”
Leah stated Alexandria provides obtained numerous awards throughout the years because it’s someplace like hardly any other. “Alexandria is known as an enticing town and a respite through the hustle and bustle of Washington, DC,” she stated.