THINGS TO DO:
1. Check in at the Hyatt Arlington, a really nice hotel with beautiful rooms
2. Spend the afternoon/evening in Georgetown:
- Walk across Key Bridge to Georgetown
- Wander through the Francis Scott Key Park on your way to buy amazing cupcakes at Georgetown Cupcake
- Take your cupcakes and eat them at the Georgetown Waterfront Park
- Stroll up and down the Potomac River
- Share a pizza for dinner at il Canale
- Walk back to the hotel along M Street, enjoying the many shops and sites
- Time your walk in order to watch the sun set on the Potomac from the middle of Key Bridge
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| Georgetown Walking Path (Point B - Francis Scott Key Park, Point C - Georgetown Cupcakes, Point D - Georgetown Waterfront Park, Point E - il Canale, Point F - Hyatt Arlington) |
3. Wake up early and eat a picnic breakfast while watching the sun rise over Washington, D.C. (the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial and Netherlands Carillon are both close by and both great spots)
4. Return to the hotel (relax) and then check out of the hotel
5. Return to Georgetown and take a Washington Monument Cruise (roundtrip to Old Town Alexandria) and see the Jefferson Memorial, John F. Kennedy Center, the Washington Monument, Memorial Bridge, and the 14th Street Bridge along the way
6. Stop over and spend the afternoon/evening in Old Town Alexandria
- Walk to the Ramsay House Visitor Center (pick-up a map and brochures of the area)
- Go take a tour of the Gadsby's Tavern Museum, temporary quarters of George and Martha Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams
- Visit The Lyceum, a city historical museum with two galleries, historical exhibits of Alexandria, and a gift shop
- Stop and see the bronze sculpture, The Confederate Soldier
- Stroll over to the Old Presbyterian Meeting House and see a marker commemorating the Unknown Soldier of the Revolutionary War
- Stroll down Price Street to Waterfront Park to see a scenic view of the river
- Visit the Torpedo Factory Art Center, previously used to manufacture torpedoes during World War I and II and now houses the studios of about 160 artists
- Go on a romantic stroll along Alexandria's waterfront
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| Old Town Alexandria Walking Path (Point B - Ramsay House Visitor Center, Point C - Gadsby's Tavern Museum, Point D - The Lyceum, Point E - Old Presbyterian Meeting House, Point F - Waterfront Park, Point G - Torpedo Factory Art Center, Point H - Founders Park) |
7. Take the boat back to Georgetown to end your weekend getaway
THINGS TO KNOW:
Plan to spend this romantic getaway walking hand-in-hand with your spouse-this adventure requires no car, but it does require comfortable shoes. This overnight trip is the perfect way to spend quality time together and reconnect.
The Hyatt Arlington is a reasonably priced hotel with clean and beautifully decorated rooms. It is the perfect hub for a romantic weekend, given it is close to so many wonderful things to see and do. Either take the Metro to the hotel (steps away from Rosslyn Metro Station) or park your car at the Hyatt (for a fee). You won't need your car for approximately 24 hours. If you park at the hotel, verify how long you can leave your car in the garage without paying extra fees.
Check into your hotel as early as you can to give yourself time to enjoy Georgetown. Make a beeline for Georgetown Cupcake. We were surprised to see a long line extending out the shop door and up the road; however, the line moved pretty quick and the cupcakes were delicious and worth the wait. We chose to buy our cupcakes before dinner to avoid the dessert crowd and enjoyed eating them on the edge of the Potomac River. We then went on a walk before dinner. Il Canale had great food-the pizza is authentic Neapolitan prepared by an Italian-born chef. We were not only impressed with the quality of the food, but also with the atmosphere and the service.
On the way back to the hotel, we stopped by a convenience store to grab some quick and easy breakfast items for the next morning. Watching the sun rise over the city is magnificent and is definitely something everyone should do at least once (if not many times).
One of the great things about living in or near D.C. is living so close to the monuments that celebrate the great people and great moments of our history. But driving by them so frequently, sometimes they become simply a background. The boat ride you will take from Georgetown to Old Town Alexandria provides you with an opportunity to step back and see the monuments from a different perspective than what you see every day. Whether in a different light or a different altitude, these different vantage points help to regain an appreciation for what surrounds us.
When you arrive at Old Town Alexandria, you can either stay on the boat and return to Georgetown or debark and enjoy the area. If you have time, we recommend taking a tour of Old Town. Customize your time in Alexandria based when you need to return home. The boat operates well into the evening, so there's no rush. If you decide to stay until evening, you will find a great selection of places to eat dinner.
