A Weekend in Alexandria, Virginia

My husband Nick and I recently went to Alexandria for a weekend getaway for my birthday. Old Town Alexandria is a fun walkable city. It has lots of restaurants and opportunities to learn about the city’s history sprinkled in. Here are a few of my recommendations for a weekend in Alexandria, Virginia.

Day 1 in Alexandria

A Weekend in Alexandria, Virginia - Astonished Abroad

When we got to Alexandria, neither Nick nor I had eaten that day. We decided to stop for a late lunch snack and a drink at Barca Pier & Wine Bar. Not only is it a fantastic location right on the Potomac River but it is directly across from National Harbor. Though we didn’t stop by at nighttime, I’m sure it’s a beautiful view at night. They serve Spanish-Mediterranean small plates that reminded me of sitting in a bar in southern Spain with my mom and sister. The food was absolutely delicious, and I highly recommend the croquetas if you ever find yourself at Barca.

After enjoying some food and drinks I just had to walk to The Spite House. In all of my research about Alexandria, I read about The Spite House. It wasn’t until I was there that I learned of the laughable story of this tiny house. The Spite House is the narrowest house in America at only seven feet wide. I had my six-foot-tall husband stretch his arms out in front of the house to see how tiny it really was.

The story behind this narrow house is pretty simple. The owner of the house next door, John Hollensbury, was tired of people cutting through the tight alley and running into his house. He happened to be a brickmaker and a city council member. So, what did he do? In 1830, John bricked up the alleyway and added the addition to his house. The walk from the waterfront to The Spite House is only a few blocks and definitely worth the short walk.

After passing by The Spite House, we continued to walk and passed the Market Square. The square is located right outside of the Alexandria City Hall. The square has a beautiful fountain that’s perfect to relax next to with a drink and a snack. It’s a great place to people-watch, one of my favorite relaxing activities.

That evening we walked through the Waterfront Park in Old Town. The park is quite bustling on the weekends and evenings. You’ll often find families enjoying ice cream, walking along the water, and sometimes people playing music in the park. We enjoyed a lot of time sitting on benches by the water and doing absolutely nothing, a nice change from our daily lives.

The waterfront is also home to a few restaurants. We enjoyed a late dinner at Chart House restaurant where they serve up some amazing seafood dishes. The bartenders and servers at the restaurant were so kind and made us feel really welcome. That night happened to be my birthday and I declined dessert because my blood sugar really didn’t need it and neither did I. Instead, they all snuck to the back to sign a birthday card which I was so tickled by. Their customer service was on point!

Day 2 in Alexandria

The next day we went on a search for coffee before heading to the Carlyle House Historic Park. Despite the park being small, it was a beautiful, shaded area. It was also interesting to read about its history. The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority now owns and operates the house. They do an amazing job of educating those who visit. Their placards explained who John Carlyle was, how he came to America, and what the house served as in its time. They had information on the slaves that once lived and worked at the Carlyle House but also how they were freed. If you’d like to learn more about the emancipation of slaves in Alexandria, I highly suggest you visit the Alexandria Black History Museum webpage.

We had to stop for an early ice cream at The Creamery on King Street. We found that ice cream shops in Alexandria were bustling at night. So, we beat the after-dinner rush by going earlier in the day. Then we spent some time popping in and out of stores, shopping, and enjoying the walk on King Street.

On the second night, we decided to make a reservation at one of the local Italian restaurants, Il Porto. The inside of Il Porto has a cozy and charming feel. It has stone walls, a brick fireplace, tiled floors, and exposed beams, perfect for a date night. Undoubtedly the most special part of Il Porto is their food. All dishes are made from scratch, even their pasta is made in-house. You will taste the freshness from the first bite. Another exceptional restaurant where you will get great customer service.

Day 3 Leaving Alexandria

On the way out of Alexandria, we stopped for a quick coffee and snack at Fresh Baguette. A cute, modern bakery that you could tell was a local favorite. Many people were in and out grabbing baguettes and coffees.