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I've got a conference in Alexandra, VA in June. What are the "must do and see" things in the area?

How many days do you have in town? Have you ever been to DC before? Alexandria is just across the Potomac from DC, which has so many "must-see" attractions that no one could do it in one day.
In DC there are lots of museums (all the Smithsonian museums and galleries are free admission), and landmarks like the Capitol, White House, Washington Monument, Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. Most of these attractions are in the heart of town, near the National Mall and the Tidal Basin.
Uptown there is the National Zoo (also part of the free Smithsonian system), and the National Cathedral (slightly damaged from last year's quake)
If you plan to roam around DC, get yourself a Metro pass. They sell a pass for sightseers that allows unlimited travel for 2-3 days. There is probably a Metro station near your conference. CORRECTION: Metro no longer offers a 2-3 day pass. Now there is a 1-day pass, or a 7-day pass. Otherwise you have to buy a rechargeable fare card and pay per trip.
There are lots of cool things in and near Alexandria. The Birchmere is the premiere live music spot in Alexandria. See who's playing during your stay: http://www.birchmere.com/

Or, you go to Murphy's Irish Bar and drink all weekend. I was always partial to that.

You can head down to Old Town Alexandria which is a couple block stretch of King Street, which is the main drag through Old Town. On this stretch there are some bars, restuarants and shops. There are a few other things on side streets off this.

My favorite bars are:
http://bugsyspizza.com/sportsbarindex.htm
http://www.murphyspub.com/

If you are into art:
http://www.torpedofactory.org/

And like Dave said, there are a few things to see in DC.

Hmmmm ....

So how many of us are here in the DC metro area?

Mini-phlocking .... ?

A mini phlocking?

I get in town the night of the 5th and leave on the 8th.

I've been to DC several times. I could spend days in the Natural History Museum. The suggestions sound good so far. I do love me a good pub.

surfpirate wrote:Hmmmm ....

So how many of us are here in the DC metro area?

Mini-phlocking .... ?

Hell yeah! Just say the word!!!

The Holocaust Museum was created just as I was moving from that area to NC. I regret not having been able to visit. I hear it is a very moving experince and it's number one on my list of places to go should I ever get back to the DC area.

I usually rely on word-of-mouth to find good new restaurants and such. I the lack of w-o-m, I look up reviews on Yelp, Urban Spoon, and other online reviews.
With only that information: Avoid Mango Mike's Cool Caribbean Cafe in Alexandria's west end. I have never been there, but the reviews are pretty bad, especially the latest ones (early reviews were OK). Unless you have the word of somebody you trust, avoid Mango Mike's.

bravedave wrote:I usually rely on word-of-mouth to find good new restaurants and such. I the lack of w-o-m, I look up reviews on Yelp, Urban Spoon, and other online reviews.
With only that information: Avoid Mango Mike's Cool Caribbean Cafe in Alexandria's west end. I have never been there, but the reviews are pretty bad, especially the latest ones (early reviews were OK). Unless you have the word of somebody you trust, avoid Mango Mike's.

They serve food in Old Town? Huh, didn't know that. I was just there for the beer.

And the sports bar is a favorite of mine because the owner is an ex-Capitals player and it's pretty much a hockey bar. Go figure.

bravedave wrote:I usually rely on word-of-mouth to find good new restaurants and such. I the lack of w-o-m, I look up reviews on Yelp, Urban Spoon, and other online reviews.
With only that information: Avoid Mango Mike's Cool Caribbean Cafe in Alexandria's west end. I have never been there, but the reviews are pretty bad, especially the latest ones (early reviews were OK). Unless you have the word of somebody you trust, avoid Mango Mike's.

They serve food in Old Town? Huh, didn't know that. I was just there for the beer.

And the sports bar is a favorite of mine because the owner is an ex-Capitals player and it's pretty much a hockey bar. Go figure.

hmmm I might be in town that week as well

bravedave wrote:I usually rely on word-of-mouth to find good new restaurants and such. I the lack of w-o-m, I look up reviews on Yelp, Urban Spoon, and other online reviews.
With only that information: Avoid Mango Mike's Cool Caribbean Cafe in Alexandria's west end. I have never been there, but the reviews are pretty bad, especially the latest ones (early reviews were OK). Unless you have the word of somebody you trust, avoid Mango Mike's.

Not saying I'm someone you should trust, but I've been pleased with Mango Mike's each time I've been there, maybe 3 or 4 times. I've eaten at some of the area's finer establishments and it certainly doesn't live up to those. It's not as good as a Margaritaville Cafe, but I'm not sure I'd rank it lower than Cheeseburger in Paradise for what little that's worth. Having said that, it has been a few years since I've been, so it could've gone downhill since then. I'd risk it if I was over that way.

txaggirl91 wrote:I've got a conference in Alexandra, VA in June. What are the "must do and see" things in the area?

IMHO, I don't think there are any must-see's in Alexandria. Short of the obvious places across the river in DC, I'd suggest heading just up the GW Parkway to Arlington National Cemetary, stop by Kennedy's grave and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Walk the shops on Duke street by the water one evening and... well... go into DC for all of the obvious things. Then head north into MD and TP SurfPirate's house while he sleeps.

phjrsaunt wrote:

surfpirate wrote:Hmmmm ....

So how many of us are here in the DC metro area?

Mini-phlocking .... ?

Hell yeah! Just say the word!!!

I won't organize it ....
but if some else wants to do so ....

... I'm in.

Me! Me! Me! I live in Alexandria! PM me with dates......and you know.......details.....

FunkHouse9 wrote:

bravedave wrote:I usually rely on word-of-mouth to find good new restaurants and such. I the lack of w-o-m, I look up reviews on Yelp, Urban Spoon, and other online reviews.
With only that information: Avoid Mango Mike's Cool Caribbean Cafe in Alexandria's west end. I have never been there, but the reviews are pretty bad, especially the latest ones (early reviews were OK). Unless you have the word of somebody you trust, avoid Mango Mike's.

Not saying I'm someone you should trust, but I've been pleased with Mango Mike's each time I've been there, maybe 3 or 4 times. I've eaten at some of the area's finer establishments and it certainly doesn't live up to those. It's not as good as a Margaritaville Cafe, but I'm not sure I'd rank it lower than Cheeseburger in Paradise for what little that's worth. Having said that, it has been a few years since I've been, so it could've gone downhill since then. I'd risk it if I was over that way.

Our club has a "meeting" every 1st Wednesday of the month at Mango's. It's to the point where we go and have a few drinks and the go to Los Tolteca for dinner. Really gone down hill in the past year or so. Wait staff is fair at best.

Hockey Mon wrote:

bravedave wrote:I usually rely on word-of-mouth to find good new restaurants and such. I the lack of w-o-m, I look up reviews on Yelp, Urban Spoon, and other online reviews.
With only that information: Avoid Mango Mike's Cool Caribbean Cafe in Alexandria's west end. I have never been there, but the reviews are pretty bad, especially the latest ones (early reviews were OK). Unless you have the word of somebody you trust, avoid Mango Mike's.

They serve food in Old Town? Huh, didn't know that. I was just there for the beer.

And the sports bar is a favorite of mine because the owner is an ex-Capitals player and it's pretty much a hockey bar. Go figure.

Food in Old Town(in no particular order but we love):
Columbia Firehouse, Warehouse, The Majestic, Hank's Oyster Bar, Jackson 20, A La Lucia

Bars in Old Town (usually the places we go to on bar crawls):
Pat Troy's, O'Connells, Union St. Public House, Virtue Feed and Grain, Murphys

Janice we are only free until June 7. The oldest keet is bringing home a guy she seems to be quite serious about and we need to meet him.

I'm game for where ever yall all want to go.

Bring the boy to the phlocking. Let's us all check him out. If he survives, then he is a keeper. No naughty lessons, promise!

txaggirl91 wrote:I'm game for where ever yall all want to go.

Bring the boy to the phlocking. Let's us all check him out. If he survives, then he is a keeper. No naughty lessons, promise!

Great idea! He better get used to the fact her family is insane. What day are you free? Where are you staying?

Carolinadreamin' wrote:

FunkHouse9 wrote:

bravedave wrote:I usually rely on word-of-mouth to find good new restaurants and such. I the lack of w-o-m, I look up reviews on Yelp, Urban Spoon, and other online reviews.
With only that information: Avoid Mango Mike's Cool Caribbean Cafe in Alexandria's west end. I have never been there, but the reviews are pretty bad, especially the latest ones (early reviews were OK). Unless you have the word of somebody you trust, avoid Mango Mike's.

Not saying I'm someone you should trust, but I've been pleased with Mango Mike's each time I've been there, maybe 3 or 4 times. I've eaten at some of the area's finer establishments and it certainly doesn't live up to those. It's not as good as a Margaritaville Cafe, but I'm not sure I'd rank it lower than Cheeseburger in Paradise for what little that's worth. Having said that, it has been a few years since I've been, so it could've gone downhill since then. I'd risk it if I was over that way.

Our club has a "meeting" every 1st Wednesday of the month at Mango's. It's to the point where we go and have a few drinks and the go to Los Tolteca for dinner. Really gone down hill in the past year or so. Wait staff is fair at best.

Is the food lousy? I used to like that place and can forgive mediocre service the rare time I'd go there if the food is still acceptable. If the food sucks, then I may have to cross it off my list.