If the looming proximity of exams has been nourishing a growing sentiment of scholarly revolt, the town of Alexandria, Va. just might offer enough diversion to inspire impulsive submission to the rebel call. Just a half hour south of Washington, D.C and an hour and a half drive from Baltimore, this quaint town of colonial fame boasts the shops, the food, the bars, the crafts and the history necessary for a fantastic getaway not only from campus stress, but from this entire century.
With a history of civil unrest and rowdy sailors, this little port has a sound reputation for channeling frustration into active energy. Faster than you can say George Washington, Alexandria can whip up a sense of colonial revolutionary spirit to match any academic rebel. In the past, it's ideal port location and close proximity to D.C made everyone who was somebody in history wanted a share of Alexandria. It's no different now. Although the restaurants draw tourists instead of lounging Union soldiers, the town remains where it has always been - in the spotlight.
The beauty of Alexandria is that you can hit it without a plan or any preparation. Its network of cobbled streets is small enough to allow wandering without getting lost. The streets themselves are lined with enough boutiques and historic nooks to make random browsing a full-day affair.
The story of Alexandria's spunk starts from the beginning. Starting out as a thriving tobacco port, the town became a hub of pre-Revolutionary War protests and was the location of the first casualties of the Civil War - the Union and the Confederacy both wanting its ideal stronghold. In the "famous people" department, its past reads like a Who's Who of American history, with a list of inhabitants including not only the country's first president, but other well-known figures such as George Mason and Robert E. Lee.
With its battle days over, Alexandria still offers fun times for all, minus the cannons. In the history department, there is plenty to see. Just a walk down the main street in town is a history lesson in itself. The old town is perfectly restored and the historic spots are incorporated into daily use. Indeed, apart from the Mercedes and Audis that replace the old horse-drawn carriages, life on King St, the main run in town, and its surrounding neighborhood goes on as always. The couple blocks from the water is a perfect, mindless strolling distance. And beautiful, at that.
For those who "dare" to venture into a - gasp - museum, only pleasant surprises await. The Friendship Firehouse, at 107 S. Alfred St., displays adorable old fire wagons in the original 19th century firehouse. Visitors can even try on old fire uniforms, grab a bucket and blow the fire bugle. One forgets how much fun dress up can be until you find yourself posing in historic fire gear in front of a horse-drawn fire-fighting cart.
One block up is an apothecaries museum. Two blocks over is George Washington's former parish, Christ Church. While the museums charge no cover, visitors can empty their wallets in the craft stores that abound at every corner. Store windows display hand-blown glass, carvings, ceramics, antiques and gifts. Persian carpet stores and high-end retailers including Banana Republic and Nine West infiltrate here and there. The Torpedo Factory, at 105 N. Union St., is a highly popular destination for craft-seekers, who can purchase artwork from 160 professional artists who work in studios that are set up right inside their shops. A stop at the visitors center, at 221 King St., can supply shoppers with coupons to many of the local shops. It's well worth it, too - the shop Creative Classics, for instance, offers a two for one deal on beautiful hand-blown martini glasses. Time to load up.
Being hungry is no excuse to leave Alexandria early. It might even be the primary reason to stop by. Frankly, while the town may no longer need to feed an entire Union army, it maintains enough cafs and restaurants to feed the army of shoppers and locals that flock through the streets. Every corner offers a different dining option. In keeping with its international port flavor, Alexandria offers everything from French bakeries and cafs to Thai food and Chinese to Tex-Mex and Italian. And in keeping with the historic flavor, there are many seafood restaurants and traditional pub diners. For real traditional fare straight from waitresses in colonial skirts, there is Gadsby's Tavern, at 138 N. Royal St, which continues to serve the same corn bread and ale it did to the sailors of the old days.
Although Alexandria alone has enough to occupy visitors for at least a full day, a short drive away from Alexandria brings visitors to Mount Vernon, where they can tour George Washington's famed home. As an insider's secret, one will be surprised how small his house really is. The grounds are sprawling, though, and the tour could take a whole day, but at least its worth the entry fee.
So books closed and ale mugs up - it's time to take a break and submit to the rebel call one last time. Alexandria has a history of wild fun that can't even compare to Charles Village: This town has been at it since 1669. That in itself deserves a toast.
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