Alexandria
Neighborhood Guide
Across the Potomac River and six miles south of DC, the city of Alexandria was established almost 50 years before the city of Washington. Today, the colonial houses and churches and cobblestone streets of Old Town Alexandria, a restored historic waterfront area, attract history buffs and tourists alike. Art galleries, specialty shops, and antique stores abound, and the many coffee houses, restaurants, and bars (some of which are noted for their pet-friendly policies) appeal to those seeking entertainment on the Virginia side of the Potomac. For outdoor enthusiasts, the scenic Mount Vernon Trail, which passes through Alexandria as it follows the Potomac to George Washington’s former home, is popular with runners and cyclists.
Outside of Old Town, Alexandria resembles other area suburbs, and, like the rest of Northern Virginia, is shaped by its proximity to the nation's capital. Largely populated by federal civil service professionals, military personnel, and employees of the many private companies that contract out services to the government, Alexandria’s neighborhoods range from wealthy, high-status suburbs to more modest duplexes, townhouses, single family homes, and high-rise and garden apartments.
Commute: Alexandria is served by five Metrorail stations: Braddock Road and King Street (Blue and Yellow Lines), Van Dorn Street (Blue Line), and Eisenhower Avenue and Huntington (Yellow Line). Metro, DASH, and Fairfax Connector bus lines connect these stations to locations throughout the area.