Ramsay House (Alexandria Visitor's Center), the oldest standing house in Alexandria, was built in 1724 by William Ramsay, Founder, Trustee, and first Mayor of Alexandria. For info, call [703] 838.4200.

If you are interested in a different spin on Alexandria's history, try the Ghost and Graveyard Tour, a lantern-lit nighttime tour of Old Town's haunted streets that features guides in period dress who will regale you with legends authenticated by research and personal interviews. For info, call [703] 548.0100.

Only 8 miles away from Old Town, along the scenic George Washington Memorial Parkway (voted one of the country's 10 most scenic drives) is Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens. Tour George Washington's home, as well as the museum, fabulous gardens, numerous outbuildings, and the Washington Tomb. For info, call [703] 780.2000.

Just three miles away from Mount Vernon is Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope Leighey House. For info, call [703] 780.4000.

The Alexandria African American Heritage Park includes lovely bronze tree sculptures called "Truths that Rise from the Roots Remembered," in honor of the African Americans who contributed to Alexandria's history. The park also includes a small 19th century African American cemetery with six remaining identified headstones.

The Torpedo Factory on the Union Street waterfront is hard to miss: it was built in 1918 to manufacture torpedo shell cases and still houses an example. 25 years ago, the factory became a prime example of adaptive reuse; converted into an artist's colony, it now houses 150+ artists, studios, and galleries, as well as Alexandria Archeology's museum and laboratory. For info, call [703] 838.4565.

If you just want to relax and let the wind ruffle your hair for a while, try a narrated Boat Tour on the Potomac, of the Washington D.C. monuments or the Old Town waterfront. For info, call [703] 548.9000.

Other Attractions
The Boyhood Home of Robert E. Lee
For info, call [703] 548.8454.
Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site
For info, call [703] 838.4848.
Friendship Firehouse
For info, call [703] 838.3891.
George Washington Masonic National Memorial
For info, call [703] 519.9270.
Lee-Fendall House Museum
For info, call [703] 548.1789.
Carlyle House
For info, call [703] 549.2997.
The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop
For info, call [703] 836.3713.

Alexandria has such a wealth of fun and history to offer, it is impossible to take it all in. But that's no reason not to try!