1. Carlyle House
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (703) 549-2997
Address: 121 North Fairfax Street
Description: One of the first houses built in Alexandria, this replica of a Scottish manor home, dating from 1753, was the residence of John Carlyle and his wife Sara Fairfax. Among its other uses, the house served in 1755 as the headquarters of General Braddock, leader of the British forces during the French and Indian War. We recommend you take a guided tour of the home and its terraced garden. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. Tours begin every half-hour.
2. Christ Church
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (703) 549-1450
Address: 118 North Washington Street
Description: George Washington and Robert E. Lee both attended this church, which dates to the mid-1700s. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free, but the church welcomes contributions. (See our Worship chapter for additional information.)
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 4301 West Braddock Road
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 134 North Royal Street
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 101 Callahan Drive
6. Lee-Fendall House Museum And Garden
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (703) 548-1789
Address: 614 Oronoco Street
Description: Built in 1785 by Philip Richard Fendall, cousin of “Light Horse” Harry Lee, this historic home served as a residence to Lee family members until 1903, with one Civil War–related exception: In 1863 the Union Army took over the property and turned it into a hospital. Today visitors view the restored home in its 1850 to 1870 residential appearance. A popular site for weddings and private parties, the house and gardens also host special holiday events and educational programs. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Call ahead on weekends, as the museum often closes on Saturday and Sunday for special events. Admission for guided tours is $4 for adults, $2 for ages 11 to 17, and free for children younger than 11.
7. The Lyceum
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (703) 838-4994
Address: 201 South Washington Street
Description: Alexandria’s history museum showcases a permanent collection of city-related artifacts, including locally produced furniture and housewares. The building itself served as a hospital for Union soldiers during the Civil War. Changing exhibits focus on various cultural and historical topics. The museum also hosts special events in its lecture hall. Visit the gift shop for local souvenirs. The Lyceum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. It’s closed on Thanksgiving, December 24 and 25, and January 1.
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Tours & Attractions
9. Ramsay House Visitors Center
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (703) 746-3300
Address: 221 King Street
Description: Visit this historic house to peek into the life of William Ramsay, the town overseer, census-taker, postmaster, and member of the committee of safety. Ramsay was a close friend of George Washington and hosted the president-elect in his home the last night before the inauguration. You’ll also find numerous free pamphlets about local tourist sites, restaurants, and lodgings. Open daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
10. Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (703) 838-3852
Address: 105 South Fairfax Street
Description: From 1792 to 1933 this early pharmacy dispensed medicine to Alexandrians, including loyal customers James Monroe, Robert E. Lee, and George Washington’s family. When it closed, it was the second-oldest apothecary shop in the United States and the oldest in Virginia. Today the shop is a museum exhibiting an array of colonial medical implements and patent medicines. It also contains the most comprehensive collection of apothecary jars in the nation. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday and Monday. November through March, the museum is closed on Monday and Tuesday.
11. Woodlawn Plantation And Frank Lloyd Wright’S Pope-Leighey House
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (703) 780-4000
Address: 9000 Richmond Highway
Description: Another of southern Fairfax County’s architectural icons, Woodlawn Plantation was the Georgian estate home of Nellie Custis Lewis, granddaughter of George and Martha Washington. William Thornton, architect of the U.S. Capitol, designed the richly appointed mansion, a virtual neighbor of Mount Vernon. Our favorite time to visit is during March, when hundreds of hand-stitched entries in the annual needlework exhibition decorate the rooms. Browse in the gift shop downstairs, and, only during March from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., enjoy lunch in the final room on the tour. The spacious grounds also feature the Pope-Leighey House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1939. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily March through December; both houses are closed in January and February.
12. Alexandria Colonial Tours
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (703) 519-1749
Address: 201 King Street
Description: Guides attired in colonial costumes lead candlelit Ghost and Graveyard walking tours, recommended for ages seven and older and offered on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights April through mid-November. The tours chronicle documented eerie happenings in Old Town Alexandria and end in a graveyard! Group tours are available by appointment. Tours last approximately one hour.
13. Potomac Party Cruises, Inc.
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (703) 683-6076
Description: The Dandy offers popular lunch, brunch, and dinner and dancing cruises along the Potomac, from Old Town Alexandria to Georgetown and back. The riverboat is climate-controlled for year-round tours.
14. Why Not?
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (703) 548-4420
Address: 200 King Street
Description: Kids “ooh” and “aah” over the whimsically detailed plush animal scenes in the window of this charming 45-year-old corner store, right in the heart of historic Old Town Alexandria. Inside, you’ll find two floors of specialty clothing, books, and toys, including many display models that have been placed throughout the store for children to try; toddlers get to test some, too, in an enclosed “playpen” area while their parents shop. The store boasts a fun selection of hip retro toys, like Curious George items. Hours vary seasonally, but usually are from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
15. Sportrock Climbing Centers
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 5308 Eisenhower Avenue
Description: Kids—and grown-ups too—literally climb the walls at these indoor recreation centers, where the walls resemble rocky surfaces just waiting to be scaled. Check out Kids’ Nite on Friday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., when children ages 6 to 14 get vertical with help from experienced instructors. The cost is $20 per child. Call for information about summer camps and classes. Hours are noon to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $16 to $18 for ages 13 and older, $7 for ages 12 and younger. Parents must sign a waiver whenever kids participate.