Renee Sklarew and Rachel Cooper, experts on the area’s hiking scene, lead a springtime exploration of natural and historic sites in Alexandria, Virginia. Begin with a brisk 2.5-mile hike on the boardwalks and forested pathways of Huntley Meadows Park, the region’s largest freshwater marsh and a thriving habitat for birds, beavers, and amphibians.
Step into Alexandria’s colonial past at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, Old Town’s most popular 18th-century gathering place for leaders such as George Washington, James Monroe, and James Madison. Dig into a lunch of period favorites including peanut soup and chicken stew as interpreters share tales of Gadsby’s history as a center of political, business, and social life in early Alexandria.
Modeled after the ancient lighthouse of Alexandria, the George Washington Masonic National Memorial towers over the area from the highest point in the city. A guided tour of the structure—still in use as a Masonic lodge—includes visits to the Knights Templar Chapel, George Washington Museum, and a replica of an early-19th century meeting room, as well as provides background on the history of Freemasonry and the first president’s connection to the fraternal order. Complete the day by taking in the sweeping view of Northern Virginia and the District from the ninth-floor observation deck.
This tour includes lunch.
