"Visiting Alexandria VA ... What to do?" Topic

I am going to be in the Alexandria VA area for an Army Conference next week.

What good wargames related sites should I try to see or do in the evening, that is "not too far" from National Airport?

Well, you have Mount Vernon, Washington's home, just a hop skip and a jump from there. Across the river, there is an old 19th century for (Fort Washington?), was used during the ACW and Spanish American War. In DC, there is a museum for African American tropps during the ACW. For wargames stores, there is a place called Eagles & Empire near Ft. Belvior. Never been myself. Lemme know if you need anything else.

I am not sure but I think Egales and Empire have game nights on Wednesday.
VR
James Mattes

E&E has Flames of War on Wednesday nights.
Thursday is WHFB.
Friday is 40k.

What not to do?! Within driving distance of many ACW and AWI sites. When I say driving distance I mean, as in I live in a large Southwest state. So a hundred miles is nothing.

Drive a hundred miles in the evening after work? And back? In DC traffic? You're optimistic.

The Air and Space Museum on the Mall closes at 7:30pm during the week in the summer, that's 4 or so Metro stops down from your location.

Will you have a car available? That opens up more possibilities.

Drink?
That's what I did last time I was at Fort Belvior.
Of course I was there for a wedding…

Stay in your room and have a few beers!!! Mike

Fort Washington actually dates back to the American Revolutionary War.

Fort St. Phillip is also over there. It is an old ACW dirt fort, in really bad shape, but the 300lbers are still in the positions over there. I was amazed when I went over there last year. Fort Hunt is on the way to Mount Vernon. It is the companion to Fort Washington and has the battery positions still in place from the Spanish American War. It was also a prisoner of war camp during WW2. They kept German submariners there, among others. There is another ACW dirt fort in Alexandria, whose name escapes me, which is in much better shape. They have a nice museum too. All that stuff is well within 20-30 minutes of National Airport. All the monuments are open at night on the National mall. The museums are closed though. There are several more ACW dirt forts around the area, but I can't comment to their conditions.

Eagles and Empires is okay. They do have gaming there at night. Big on FOW. I live nearby and never go. They don't carry much that interests me.

Ft. Stevens is close by and is the only location in the Civil War where President Lincoln came under enemy fire.

Quantico has the Marine Corps museum. It is awesome.

"….and is the only location in the Civil War where President Lincoln came under enemy fire."

Other than Ford's Theater, I suppose?

Thank you all. TMP'ers helpful as always.

I was trying to see if I should take the Govt rental car or not and your comments have helped.

Garrett,
If you are at Ft Belvoir you can make the inner harbour in Baltimore in less then an hour. I know I lived in Laurel Md and worked a few days a week at Hq at Ft Belvoir. Most site close around 6 but if your military conference is anything like in my day you can get done by 4 or 5. Going South (you will hit traffic unless you go down route 1) YOUR very best bet is to try and hit the new Marine Corps Museum at Quanico. It is gun shot distance from I-95. As confirmed by the sniper (okay wako with a rifle) who took a few shots at it from the interstate. It is new and perhaps you should put it on your must see locations while in Alexanderia. Alexandria has several historical sites worth a look as well. Air and Space in DC or the new Annex out at Dullas are a must see. I recommend walking into any DC/MD/Va bookstore and picking up the book "An Eyewitness Guide to Washington" there are many sites to see just driving around the area. Do not forget all the ACW and American History Statues downtown in DC. Yes you are safe but like any big city watch your six as you would anywhere in the world. Walking up the steps of the Lincoln Monument at Dark is to really get an idea about what DC and this country are all about. I love to visit the Marine Corps Monument at the base of Arlington at dark. Very moving.
VR
James Mattes

Agree about USMC museum, but it closes at 17:00 during the week, so you'll have to save that for the weekend.

Keep in mind for planning purposes that the DC area has the second worst traffic in the country (after Los Angeles), so driving anywhere in the after-work timeframe will be very slow.

If you'll be staying thru Saturday morning there will be Friday night miniature gaming out at the Game Parlor in Chantilly.

Traffic can be a bear at times but I know all the short cuts! Really depending on where and when it can be a pain. Stay off I95 south from 4 to 7pm, I295 North from the beltway to Powdermill road is bad from 5 to 7pm, West 66 evening, same time. Inbound I95 6am to 8am, I295 South from 7-8am, 95 south in Md from 7-8am, 66 east from 6am to 830AM, loop over the WW bridge from 7-8am and 4pm-6pm. Other then that most roads will be busy but not that much of a delay unless there is an accident. Oh in bound 395 past the loop heading down to DC will be a bear from 630-830 past the Pentagon.
VR
James Mattes

Oh, it is fort Fort Foote, not St. Phillip. I had other things on my mind. Fort Ward is in Alexandria and is nice to wander around.

The District is crazy in love with photo enforced speed limits (though they mainly catch city vehicles, police cars, and the out of towners). When the locals brake for no reason, it is a clue you should too. They have started putting big black box photo speed enforcement boxes behind bridge supports. I think they got every car on the road last Monday. I think the thing burned out as it was gone by Wednesday. Of course Tuesday every one of the locals knew it was there so they did not get burned again.

You don't need James Mattes, you need a GPS with traffic notices! You'll probably be seeing a sea of red roadways though…

Realizing that you've probably already left, from Alexandria, I'd just go into Old Town and hit a few restuarants and bars. If you're staying over a weekend, and haven't ever been, Mt. Vernon is the place I'd go.

Guns of August convention is going in in Willaimsburg VA (2.5 hours south od WASH DC) 12-14 Aug.

Nice little local convention. You can read deatils here on TMP.

SFC Retired

Or here.

odms-club.com/convention

@Col Scott: Right on Belvoir are some "ruins" of revolutionary war era mansions – not much to see, but they are there. It's been twenty years, so I don't recall much about them, but they are tied in with Mt. Vernon which is right across a branch of the Potomac.

Arlington is good. Right at Ft. Myers, the 6th Infantry routinely puts on Drill & Ceremony shows, and of course there is the cemetary and Lee's house.

Not too far, it was a day trip in 1861, is Manassas Junction. Probably the most popular and well maintained ACW site after Gettysburg. The area is now a bedroom community for DC.

@SM Critter1: Was I there? I Don't remember.

Thanks guys I will be using the info again.