Titania by John Simmons

Things To Do

DC's Other Sites

There's a lot of other stuff to see in Washington DC. For a complete listing of anything you might think of, be sure to visit washington.org. I have a few other suggestions of my favorite places in the area.

Historic Cities and Sites

Mount Vernon is the plantation where George Washington lived. The original house has been preserved with many of Washington's own possessions still in the house. The estate features a 4-acre pioneer farm with hands-on activities year-round.

Mount Vernon is located about 8 miles south of Alexandria. The cost (as of May 1, 2004) is $11 for adults, $10.50 for seniors (62 and up), $5 for children 6-11, and free for children 5 and under.
The city of Alexandria is a fun place by itself. King Street (about a mile south of the Sheraton Hotel) is the heart of "Old Town" Alexandria. There are numerous historic attractions in town, including the Ramsay and Carlyle Houses. In addition, there are a lot of fun shops along King Street, and antique shops scattered throughout Alexandria.

Andrew and I have a walking tour of the sites of Old Town Alexandria that we can copy for anyone who's interested. Also, there are two ghost tours of Alexandria that leave from the Ramsay House. One is a tour with stories of ghosts that have been recorded through history; the other tour is led by a parapsychologist and features modern-day sitings of ghosts. Check out this list of tours for other walking tours that might be of interest.

I also recommend a visit to the Torpedo Factory Art Center. This building was a torpedo factory until the end of WWII, but it now houses studios and galleries for local artists. There is a wide range of artists and art including paintings, ceramics, stained glass, jewelry, metal work, and glass.
Annapolis is the capitol of Maryland. I often visit to shop up and down the streets near the harbor, though the link above shows historic and other sites that might be of interest in Annapolis>

Recreation

The Washington area has numerous bike trails. Andrew and I frequent the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) trail, which used to be a railroad track through the area. We've also taken part of the Mount Vernon Trail that passes through Alexandria. Many bike shops in the area offer bike rentals, we can recommend a couple in Vienna (Spokes, Etc. and Bikes@Vienna), though if you're staying in Alexandria, a shop down there might be a better bet.

Bikes can be taken on Metro rail during non-peak hours (10 AM - 3 PM on weekdays or all day weekends, except for certain holidays). Also, all Metro buses have been equiped with racks to carry up to two bikes, a service offered at no cost to the rider.

Last updated: 1 May 2004