Alexandria is an historic city located in Northern Virginia that is largely populated by diverse professionals and young families. The city offers a great deal of real estate to choose from and is home to over 70 major parks and terrific schools, as well as museums and cultural attractions.

Alexandria On a Map

Alexandria, Virginia is bounded by the Potomac River to the east, I-495 and I-95 to the south, Turkeycock Run Stream to the west, and the Four Mile Run Stream as well as sections of Route 7 to the north. Adjacent jurisdictions include Arlington, Virginia to the north, Fairfax County to the southwest, Washington, DC to the northeast, and Prince George’s County, Maryland, to the east.

Living in Alexandria

Alexandria, Virginia was founded in 1749 and many of its historic buildings are still preserved today. Alexandria’s long and interesting history dates back to when it was one of the 10 busiest tobacco trading posts in America. This city was also home to both the largest slave-trading firm in the country and a large free-black community. Once belonging to the District of Columbia, Alexandria was a Civil War supply center for Union troops, and the hometown of George Washington and Robert E. Lee.

Homes for Sale in Alexandria

One of the great things about living in Alexandria is the sheer volume of homes for sale, with different housing types located in different neighborhoods. Del Ray, for example, is smattered with townhomes, older row houses, and apartment buildings. Huntington, on the other hand, is known for its two-story duplexes. Regardless of where you decide to live in Alexandria, expect a varied mix of structures like Cape Cods and bungalows with original features like pine or oak floors, renovated kitchens and well-maintained lawns. The opportunities are endless, and for the most part the pricing can be relatively modest considering its proximity to DC, Maryland and the rest of Virginia.

Things to Do in Alexandria

Beginning at the northern section of the city you can find The Birchmere. This legendary music venue is known for presenting performers in the bluegrass, country, folk and jazz genres. Other popular venues around the city include Nick’s Night Club and O’Shaughnessy’s Pub.

Restaurant Eve is a local favorite located in Old Town Alexandria. This restaurant offers a multicourse menu of New American cuisine served in an elegant setting. Nearby is Columbia Firehouse, a remodeled firehouse serving American eats and old-fashioned drinks with an exposed-brick atrium & patio.

Torpedo Factory Art Center sits within Old Town and was once a torpedo factory and munitions storage site. Now, this art center is home to over 82 artist studios and six galleries. Throughout the year, you can discover different artists as they sell their paintings, photos and other pieces. The Lyceum Alexandria’s History Museum is the official city history museum of Alexandria and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Fort Ward Museum, located on Braddock Road, is another important museum in the city.

Alexandria has a distributed park system that spreads across 70 major parks and 30 recreation centers. One of the city’s largest parks is Chinquapin Park. This park offers facilities for swimming, tennis, racquetball and other sports. The Cameron Run Regional Park is located near Eisenhower Avenue and includes a water park, wave pool, water slides and a miniature golf course. Other terrific parks include the Four Mile Run Park, Jones Point Park, and the historic Carlyle House Regional Park.

The Washington Sailing Marina is also a wonderful feature of the city. Located on Daingerfield Island, this marina offers slip rentals, marine services, youth and adult sailing lessons, as well as boat and bike rentals.

Transportation Around Alexandria

Alexandria is surrounded by some major non-highway roads and interstates in Virginia. Route 1, 7, 236, and 420 are some routes that travel throughout the city. I-495, I-95, and I-395 are also within the boundaries and easily accessible from most Alexandria neighborhoods.

Residents also rely on the Metro system. All the stations in Alexandria are serviced by the Metrobus, but some of the train stations are within walking distance, depending on the neighborhood. Old Town Alexandria is serviced by the Braddock Road Metro station on the Blue and Yellow lines. Traveling south on the tracks are King Street and Eisenhower Avenue Metro stations, with the latter only servicing the Yellow line. Van Dorn sits on the western edge of the city and also runs on the Blue and Yellow lines.

Just north of Alexandria is Reagan National Airport. The airport has a Metro station that services the Blue and Yellow lines. An Amtrak station sits within Alexandria’s Union Station

Making Your Home in Alexandria

Alexandria, Virginia offers more than 250 years of history. It offers an array of historic and cultural attractions, a wide variety of recreational centers, real estate, as well as wonderful parks and recreation. It’s easy to see why Alexandria has become one of the most sought-after cities in the DC metro area.