ALEXANDRIA, VA
Distance from downtown D.C.: 9 miles
Just south of Washington and within reach of the Metro,
Alexandria is steeped in history. Established in 1749 as a
Colonial seaport, Alexandria witnessed some of the country’s
most significant events, from the Revolution to the War of 1812
and the Civil War. Today, the city of 150,000 wins fans with its
Victorian architecture, scenic waterfront, and a masterful blend
of historical spaces and modern style.
Find ample charm and intrigue at more than a dozen
museums. The Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum
once served as a Civil War hospital ward, and its exhibitions
display artifacts from throughout the city’s history. Especially
notable is the Alexandria Black History Museum, which
traces the history and experiences of African Americans in
Alexandria and across the nation.
A walk down to the riverfront reveals one of the city’s most
BY MEGAN LEADER
surprising renovations: The Torpedo Factory Art Center, which
was, indeed, a torpedo factory in World War II. A group of
local artists in the 1970s sparked the transition, and today, it’s
home to galleries, art classes, and workshops, and remains the
highlight of Alexandria’s Potomac riverfront.
Alexandria’s restaurant scene is full of historical buildings that
have been lovingly renovated to house stylish dining spaces.
Virtue Feed & Grain, a former 1800s’ feed house, is now an
industrial-chic restaurant serving elevated pub food with a
few unexpected twists, such as the duck meatloaf with vanilla
sweet potatoes and grilled wild boar chops with a huckleberry
gastrique. The elegant Magnolia’s on King serves Southern
fare in a 200-year-old building. Its rotating menu features
seasonal ingredients, and two- and three-course wine pairings.
MIDDLEBURG, VA
Distance from downtown D.C.: 43 miles
A drive through the sylvan countryside leads to the tiny, 18th-
century village of Middleburg, near the edge of the Blue Ridge
Mountains. Its historic district spans less than a mile, but it’s
full of charm, particularly in the shops and restaurants.
Torpedo Art Factory
Credit: Joe Gidjunis
some treasures to discover
beyond Washington’s borders
FLYWASHINGTON.COM 58 AUTUMN 2019
It won’t take long for you to spot the town’s signature
motif: foxes. You’ll see them everywhere ― in the statues,
paintings, signs, window displays, business names, and, of
course, souvenir shops. It also reveals Middleburg’s moniker
as America’s “Horse and Hunt Capital,” which it still celebrates
with its annual Christmas parade, led by the Middleburg Hunt
and Hounds Review that features foxhunt riders and hounds
parading down Main Street.
Middleburg has a variety of unique shops with a surprisingly
global influence. Creme de la Creme sells a selection of
colorful home goods, from Turkish towels to Italian tableware
and French ceramics. Les Jardins de Bagatelle is filled with
cookware, gifts, perfume and other carefully curated items,
all imported from France. A truly homegrown institution,
Highcliffe Clothiers offers high-end, custom-made clothing, as
well ready-to-wear fashion and accessories.