Two Girls and Two Dogs Take a Walk Through Historic Alexandria, Virginia

 

This weekend we finally got a break from winter and took advantage of it.  Boomer and I joined our friend Jean and her dog Daisy for a 6 mile urban hike from our Del Ray neighborhood through Old Town and back home.

Jean and I are friends, neighbors, and our career paths have a number of similarities.  In addition to exercise and time with the dogs – I was excited for time with my friend.

Fitbits full charged and humans fully caffeinated, we took off on our trek that would take us through a variety of Alexandria neighborhoods, to the Potomac River, through historic Old Town and back to Del Ray.

The morning was ours for exercise, dog time and some much needed girl time – perfect for solving the world’s problems, a walk of this nature provides many “snoop-worthy” stops and google moments.

Our Del Ray neighborhood was built around a rail yard in the late 1800s.  Crossing those historic (and currently used) train tracks was the beginning of our hike.

Along the way we ran into dogs (and their owners) and one of Jean’s colleagues and his dog. 

Boomer and Daisy did well on the walk, and about 40 minutes into our excursion, they got a well-deserved play break at Old Town’s Founder's Park in the heart of Old Town and on the Potomac River.  Old Town Alexandria, Virginia is a town with a rich history, and played a featured role in the Revolutionary War, the formation of Washington, D.C., and the Civil War.  Today, it’s the backdrop of the PBS series Mercy Street.  It’s also a great place to window shop, grab a bite to eat and wander streets that look close to the way they did 200 years ago.

A much needed romp in Founder's Park

 

We leave Founder’s Park we work our way past the Torpedo Factory.  The Torpedo Factory actively produced torpedoes until the end of World War II. 

 

 

 

 It was used for storage by the federal government until the mid-1970s when it was turned into an arts center.  Today it houses nearly 100 art galleries and studios.

 

From the Torpedo Factory we turned up one of our favorite streets – Cameron Street.  We passed the backside of the familiar Carlyle House, which was once part of the Mansion House Hotel. 

The back of the Carlyle House, the focal point of Mercy Street

During the Civil War, Alexandria – a Southern town and the hometown of Robert E Lee, was occupied by Union troops.  Any large home or building (hotel) was immediately taken by the Union and turned into a hospital or utilized by the Army.  This is largely the plot of Mercy Street.

Jean, Daisy, Boomer and I have walked about 6,000 steps when we hit Wise’s Tavern – at the corner of Cameron and North Fairfax streets.  On April 16^th 1789, George Washington was first publically addressed as President of the United States at an event at Wise’s Tavern.

Wise's Tavern

 

We stop and say hi to a passerby and her dog.  It turns out she’s the owner of the dog-friendly Sonoma Cellar on King Street.  We plan on visit for their Taco Tuesday and wine tasting.

A few blocks further up Cameron is Gadsby's Tavern – which is where the Colonial elite hung out – including George and Martha Washington.  Their “city” house is within eyesight of the tavern.  Apparently Martha wasn’t much of a cook, so when they were in the city, they had their meals at Gadsby’s.  Like much of Old Town, Gadsby’s is also said to be haunted. 

 

As we hit Washington Street one of the two main thoroughfares in Old Town, we are facing Christ Church, which was the home church to both the Washington and Lee families.

Walking down Washington Street we pass Oronoco Street where the Lee family lived in several homes, including the Lee Fendall House, where Jean had her wedding reception.  At the end of the block at St. Asaph Street is  Old Towne School for Dogs which is packed full of delicious treats, accessories and food for dogs and cats.

We cross Washington Street and walk down Oronoco heading into the Parker Gray neighborhood, which was created during and after the Civil War for freedmen and emancipated slaves.  The neighborhood remained historically significant during the Civil Right era with notable leaders of that movement residing in the neighborhood.

We’ve broken the 10,000 step mark as we turn down Fayette Street – looking at renovated houses, sleeping secret gardens, and courtyards that look eager for spring.

A beautiful garden waiting for Spring

 

Finally, crossing back to our side of the railroad tracks, we’re home.  We’ve made new friends, seen some old ones, solved the world’s problems, made plans for Taco Tuesday and had some quality girl and dog time!

 

Doggie photo op by the Potomac