Exploring Historic Alexandria and Mt. Vernon

Washington, DC might be all about political heavyweights, special interest groups and hard-hitting news, but Alexandria, VA, located on the other side of the Potomac River, offers a vastly different experience. The decidedly unstuffy nature of this town is even reflected in the name of its visitors' website: www.Funside.com. Offering culture as well as kids' attractions, living history and spooky mystery, Alexandria, neighboring Mount Vernon and this entire part of Virginia is a fascinating, vibrant destination perfectly suited to families.

Washington's Homestead
Start off at a big backdrop to American history: George Washington's estate at Mount Vernon. The recently unveiled Education Center boasts state-of-the-art interactive exhibits (including a Revolutionary War "immersive experience"), a hands-on history center, a 20-minute movie that was produced in Hollywood (meaning it has lots of action); and 13 galleries. The sprawling, beautifully maintained grounds afford as much in the way of outdoor attractions as indoor: start with four-acre Pioneer Farms, with its costumed character "workers," baby farm animals and spring/summer wagon rides. There's always some kind of special event onsite, too -- Fall Harvest Family Days, September's 18th Century Craft Fair, December Candelight Tours with bonfire caroling ... and of course, countless holiday celebrations.

Mount Vernon offers more grown-up fun too. There's actually a working distillery on the grounds, which currently brews Washington's finest malt whiskey. (Washington was quite the distiller, in his day.) Even if you don't like the taste, it makes for good souvenir shopping (if only because you'll shock the stuffing out of everyone who expected you to bring back tri-corner hats).

Explore the Natural Beauty
The Potomac River itself is worth taking a moment to appreciate. It's the life force of the entire region, and Without this beautiful, vital river to nurture them, it's doubtful the colonists ever would have settled in the basin. Take a trip down the river, by cruise ship or charter yacht, water taxi or paddle wheeler. There are a number of boat tour companies in the area. Dandy Restaurant Cruise Ships offers gourmet dining and dancing on the water, while Potomac Riverboat Company is best known for its 40-minute daytime sight-seeing cruises.

Historic Old Town
Wander the quaint, cobble-stoned streets of Old Town, where George Washington and his pals used to wander as they cooked up revolutionary schemes and prepared to found our nation. Alexandria Colonial Tours offers an Old Town Scavenger Hunt for kids, which will not only keep them entertained, it might possibly sneak a history lesson in along the way. The same company also does a Ghost & Graveyard Tour that's spooky enough to tame the most rebellious pre-teen.

Two historic buildings to visit during your Old Town stroll are Ramsay House, which is now the Visitors' Center, and Gadsby's Tavern, a former social hall and inn which is now ... well, pretty much the same, actually. Though people don't drink, sup or sleep there anymore like they did in Colonial days, the rooms are still set up as though the "tavern keepers" (museum curators) are expecting customers any second. There's even a plastic feast laid out in the dining hall, with jugs of mead and platters of local shellfish.

Though kids will get about two seconds' worth of enjoyment out of Gadsby's on a non-event day, they might fall in love with the place when it's holding a special event. On these delightful days the curators bring in attractions you might have seen 200+ years ago: a "learned pig" that can do math sums, a feast that you eat with your fingers, perhaps a holiday masquerade.

Carriage rides are a fun way to explore the city -- but if you want to do it the way Washington did it, you'll have to hop on a mule. Wait for your noble steed at the intersection of King and Lee ... and be careful. Mules are known to kick.

You may be so happy on "the Fun Side," you don't even want to venture into DC, but if you do go into the capital, pay a visit to the fabulous Smithsonian, which always has a new slate of attractions for children. If you're going in fall or later, pay a visit to the Newseum, the latest cultural addition set to open in October, 2007. Or take the family on a weekend jaunt to fabulous Eastern Market, a historic hodgepodge of farm stand produce, artisan food producers, crafters, artists, flea market vendors and more.