Located across the Potomac River, just a few short miles south of Washington, D.C., Alexandria boasts a rich history dating before the Revolutionary War back to 1749. An independent city, in its early years, Alexandria was known as a tobacco trading post and a bustling port.

Old Town, a popular destination for locals and visitors alike, sits on the banks of the Potomac and offers a plethora of activities from shopping on King Street to trying a new restaurant to touring museums and paranormal hot spots. You can even hop a boat taxi over to National Harbor.

Named one of the top three best small cities in the country in 2019 by readers of Conde Nast Traveler, Alexandria has colonial-style bricked walkways lining streets of old row houses. Spend the day at Mount Vernon, home to the first president George Washington. Or, stop by Gadsby's Tavern on North Royal Street, which has been whipping up meals since 1770, including for the Founding Fathers. Then, head over to the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum to learn about the medicinal practices of a bygone era. Opened in 1792, it remained in operation until 1933.

Other nearby sites include the National Inventors Hall of Fame Museum, the Torpedo Factory Art Center, and the Freedom House Museum, a national historic site on Duke Street that, in its heyday, was the location of the largest slave trading operation in the United States. Now, this museum tells the true story of this institution through interactive exhibits.

Sports lovers will enjoy participating in one (or a few) of the many youth and adult leagues, including Little League, soccer, cheerleading, track, baseball, and softball, just to name a few. Taking advantage of other outdoor recreation is possible, too check out monument-laden Waterfront Park, Founders Park, and Jones Point Park, which features an historic lighthouse, various gardens, an interpretive trail, and fishing piers.

After a day of sightseeing, hunger is sure to abound, just as this locale's restaurants do. A few favorites include The Reserve, which specializes in small plates; Taverna Cretekou, a Greek-inspired eatery; Virtue Feed & Grain, where you literally dine inside a former 19-century feed house; among a plethora of other options. And for dessert, ice cream, of course. After all, Forbes has declared this city the Ice Cream Cone Capital of the United States. Paranormal enthusiasts can also find plenty to do in Alexandria from ghostly pub crawls to haunted colonial tours.

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