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Family Fun in Alexandria, VA

A family of four takes a selfie with a smiling costumed historical reenactor outside a large stone colonial-era building on a sunny day.
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Located minutes from Washington, D.C. on the Potomac River waterfront, connected to D.C. by water taxi, Metrorail and bike trails, and voted a Travel + Leisure’s Best Cities in the U.S 2023, Alexandria, VA is the perfect place for a family fun vacation.

With dozens of kids activities at museums and historic sites plus plenty of outdoor fun and free things to do, kids of all ages will love staying in George Washington’s adopted hometown. Tiny tots and kids up to 10 will love Scramble, a European-style play center offering indoor play and age-specific activities. Kids can literally dig into the past at the Alexandria Archaeology Museum while the Kids’ Scavenger Hunt sends families hunting for clues through Old Town’s historic neighborhoods to learn about George Washington and other patriots. Adventurous groups of all ages visit Shadowland for ultimate laser tag or Cameron Run Regional Park for mini golf, a water park, batting cages and more. Whether you are staying in Alexandria for your D.C. vacation or enjoying a weekend getaway, families find plenty to do in Alexandria, from bike tours to boat rides.

DC Family Vacation

A family of four walks together in front of the Lincoln Memorial, with people sitting and standing on the steps, on a sunny day.

Restaurants

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Free Things to Do in Alexandria, VA

People walk along a waterfront boardwalk with docked boats, a teal building with a cupola, and a large building with red awnings in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Tall Ship Providence in Alexandria, VA

A historic sailing ship with tall masts and yellow trim is docked by the shore, with calm water and a distant treeline under a cloudy sky.

Kid Stores in Alexandria

Three yellow toy school buses of different sizes are stacked on top of each other in front of a children’s book titled “Red Wagon.” Plush toys and a green crocheted blanket are in the background.

Events in Alexandria

A man in a tan suit and a woman in a white dress stand in front of a silver sports car on a city street, with a crowd of people and buildings in the background during an outdoor event.
A glass-walled exhibit space labeled Alexandria Archaeology Museum with display cases, informational panels, and artifacts inside a brightly lit building corridor.

Alexandria Archaeology Museum

Step right into the museum’s laboratory where archaeologists reconstruct Alexandria’s history, fragment by fragment. The museum’s exhibits highlight the process...
105 N. Union Street, Torpedo Factory Art Center Third Floor, #327 Alexandria, Virginia
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A man in colonial attire holding a lantern welcomes four casually dressed adults at the open gates of a historic brick building at dusk, with a glowing light from the entrance and signs on the gate pillars.

Alexandria Colonial Tours

Alexandria’s Original Ghost & Graveyard Tour, Celebrating 50 Years: Follow an 18th-century costumed guide by lantern light through the charming...
221 King Street Alexandria, Virginia
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A museum exhibit with blue display panels featuring Civil War-era photos, maps, and text. A glass case in front holds artifacts including documents and a rifle. The exhibit is titled An Occupied City: The Civil War Years.

Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum

The 1839 Greek Revival building serves as the City’s history museum. An ongoing exhibition tells the story of Alexandria, once...
201 S. Washington Street Alexandria, Virginia
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Two people wearing face masks talk in a room with bookshelves, a window, and wooden beams. One person has a green bandana and crossed arms, while the other holds a piece of paper and gestures.

Alexandria Seaport Foundation

Alexandria Seaport Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization located on Old Town’s waterfront which improves the lives of young people...
Alexandria Waterfront 0 Thompsons Alley Alexandria, Virginia
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A historic yellow house with a dark brown gambrel roof, white railing, and shuttered windows, surrounded by lush landscaping and blooming flowers on a sunny day.

Alexandria Visitor Center

Named for Scottish merchant and city founder William Ramsay, the Alexandria Visitor Center is the go-to place for sightseeing brochures,...
221 King Street Alexandria, Virginia
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A lush garden path lined with vibrant flowering plants and bushes leads to a closed white gate, surrounded by tall green trees and colorful blossoms.

American Horticultural Society’s River Farm

The American Horticultural Society’s River Farm is a popular rental venue in the Washington, D.C. metro area that serves as...
7931 E. Boulevard Drive Alexandria, Virginia
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People in traditional Scottish attire play bagpipes in a grassy field during an outdoor event. Tents and trees are visible in the background, and a crowd watches the performance.

Ballyshaners

The Ballyshaners, Inc. were founded in 1980 by a small group of dedicated volunteers for the explicit purpose of organizing...
P.O. Box 320722 Alexandria, Virginia
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A large brown and green sign reads Cameron Run Regional Park with smaller text for the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority and the address 4001 Eisenhower Avenue. Trees and greenery surround the sign.

Cameron Run Regional Park

Cameron Run Regional Park offers a variety of recreation facilities in an urban area, including Great Waves Waterpark. Catch a...
4001 Eisenhower Avenue Alexandria, Virginia
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Elegant dining room with a long table set for a meal, white tablecloth, candles, and a cake; wooden chairs surround the table. Large windows, framed art, and a gold mirror decorate the gray paneled walls.

Carlyle House

A Georgian manor house built in 1753 by merchant and city founder John Carlyle. Here, five royal governors and General Braddock...
121 N. Fairfax Street Alexandria, Virginia
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A group of people participate in a water aerobics class in an indoor swimming pool, guided by an instructor on a lifeguard stand. The pool is surrounded by colorful flags and large windows.

Chinquapin Park Recreation Center

The facility offers a 25 meter pool, a fitness room, meeting rooms, 3 racquetball courts, and a Soft Playroom (kids...
3210 King Street Alexandria, Virginia
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Continues Arcade, Bar, Restaurant

COMING SPRING, 2025! Step into a world where the past meets the present. Get ready to embark on an adventure...
1050 N. Fayette Street Alexandria, Virginia
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A stylish interior with dark wood floors, ornate wallpaper, and a curved wall with a large rectangular opening. Two elegant chairs and a Escape Room sign are visible in the seating area. Warm lighting creates a cozy atmosphere.

Escape Room Live

Historically themed and wonderfully immersive, our Old Town Alexandria location has rooms with themes involving Sherlock Holmes, Edgar Allan Poe,...
814 King Street 2nd Floor Alexandria, Virginia
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Exploring the DC Region

Couple on A Water Taxi in Alexandria

Alexandria Hotels

A modern hotel room with a large bed, two bedside tables with lamps, abstract art above the headboard, a window with sheer curtains, and a green armchair in the corner.

Mount Vernon

A large historic mansion with a red roof and white walls stands among green trees, viewed across a wide, open grassy lawn under a bright sky.

Sweets Spots for Alexandria Treats

A hand holds a red cup of purple gelato with a red spoon, showcasing delectable sweets in front of a Casa Rosada Artisan Gelato shop sign outside, with part of a red building visible.

Parks

A large white riverboat with yellow trim and an American flag floats on a calm river, with people walking and sitting on benches in a park along the waters edge under clear blue skies.

Key To The City

Two women stand and talk outside the Freedom House Museum, a historic brick building with a white door on a tree-lined sidewalk. A museum sign hangs from a post nearby. Another person walks further down the sidewalk.

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