Spring fling

Each spring, cherry-blossom mania takes over the nation’s capital, and the fever spreads across the Potomac to Alexandria, Va. In March and April, when the trees are in full bloom, red-brick sidewalks are strewn with the billowy pink petals, and quaint shops peddle cherry-blossom-themed soaps, candles, sweets, even pet toys. The Washington area is fun to visit any time of year — but the flower-filled parks and streetscapes make spring perhaps the loveliest season.

With an allure rivaling D.C.’s oldest neighborhoods like Georgetown and Dupont Circle, Old Town Alexandria oozes charm, from its cobblestone streets to the picturesque waterfront. Metro service, guided bicycle tours and bike rentals, and a water taxi connecting Alexandria to The Wharf, Georgetown and the National Harbor — including a seasonal Cherry Blossom tour — makes it an optimal base to explore the region.

The city’s convenient (and free) King Street Trolley makes getting around Old Town a cinch. But Alexandria is a pedestrian paradise — to get the most out of your visit, lace up your walking shoes and start exploring. Use our suggested itinerary as a guide for planning your own trip.

Day 1

Afternoon

Whether arriving by car (a 6-hour drive from Charlotte) or by plane (a 1.5-hour direct flight), chances are you’ll need a pick-me-up after traveling. Turkish Coffee Lady at the corner of King and Patrick streets provides the caffeine jolt needed to jump-start your weekend. The shop serves specialty coffees and teas on gleaming silver trays, along with sweet treats such as baklava (pistachio, walnut or chocolate), Turkish delight and more. Co-founder Gizem Şalcıgil White is well-known locally as an ambassador for Turkish culture, and her staff will walk you through the selections if you’re not sure what to order.

After fueling up, stroll down to Alexandria’s waterfront, where an annual public art series provides Instagram-worthy installations. In March, a thought-provoking installation by Jamaican-born, New Yorkbased artist Nina Cooke John is set to debut, inspired by ships uncovered on the city’s waterfront in 2015 and 2018.

Evening

If the weather’s nice, grab dinner and drinks at BARCA Pier. Built on a commercial shipping pier — the bar is a repurposed shipping container — the waterfront restaurant serves Mediterranean-inspired tapas in a clean, modern space. (The adjacent BARCA Wine Bar provides a more intimate, all-weather setting.) Relax with a glass of stone fruit sangria and enjoy small plates with bright, zesty flavors, like the Brussels sprouts (red harissa, garum, pickled peppers, walnuts and mint) and the beef tenderloin (salsa verde, spring onions, asparagus).

Old Town is home to dozens of restaurants and cocktail bars. Stretch your legs after dinner and stroll up King Street to Brabo, a cozy brasserie adjacent to the Lorien Hotel, for a nightcap before resting up for the weekend’s adventures.