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Located just outside of Washington, D.C., historic Old Town Alexandria is a charming cobblestone area brimming with rich history, funky shopping, and delightful restaurants. A landmark of the Old Town landscape, the Torpedo Factory Art Center attracts over 500,000 artists, visitors, and tourists each year. Established in 1974, it is housed in a former munitions plant (hence the name) and houses the largest number of working artists open studios under one roof. Explore all that you can see and do on a visit to the Torpedo Factory. Galleries The Torpedo Factory boasts thousands of square feet dedicated to showcasing the works of established and rising artists alike among its many gallery spaces. The Target Gallery is the center's space dedicated to exhibiting contemporary pieces. This gallery hosts eight exhibitions each year focusing on contemporary works. more Gallery 311 is the newest gallery at the Torpedo Factory Art Center. This gallery represents works created by members of the Torpedo Factory Artists Association, the founding entity of the Torpedo Center. The Artist's Association is a guild of nearly 300 visual artists that is dedicated to opening their workspaces to public visits. One of the original medium-specific galleries at the Torpedo Factory, the Scope Gallery aims to showcase high-quality clay work. Scope features the works of over 30 local ceramic artists that regularly exhibit in rotating monthly themes. Classes Each year, over 10,000 children and adults take art classes at the Torpedo Factory. The Art League School offers classes in virtually all of the visual arts, from drawing to jewelry making to fiber arts. Classes convene weekly in most cases and are taught by highly qualified, professional art instructors to students of all levels. The Art League also offers a wide array of classes for children ages 5 and older. Alongside more traditional visual art mediums, children can also explore such art forms as cartooning and clay animation. During the summer months, the Art League offers summer camps at the Torpedo Factory focusing primarily on painting, sculpting, printmaking, and drawing. Specific subject matter camps are also available for children who wish to focus their energies on one medium. Special Events One of the more spectacular settings in the Washington D.C. area, the Torpedo Factory Art Center makes a striking choice for hosting private events . The unique architecture features chic industrial exposed pipes, ductwork, and a smokestack that harkens back to the building's former historical function. Bright white paint offset by playfully colored accents creates a welcoming feeling that can be customized for any occasion. A dramatic two-story atrium overlooks the building's main space, with a catwalk from which to view events below. The art-filled halls of the building lend an elegant air to the space that impresses guests at the many weddings, parties, and receptions held here. Whether you are an established artist or a budding Picasso, the Torpedo Factory Art Center is a true treasure in the Washington D.C. area. Its bright, sun-filled spaces are a natural fit for the creativity within the numerous artist's studios. The art center successfully democratizes art, making it accessible to anyone who steps inside. Image via Flickr by Ron Cogswel l/Under use by CC BY 2.0

Located just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., Old Town Alexandria is an endlessly charming and historic area to explore. Old Town boasts special shops, delightful restaurants, and historic sites that play a starring role in the foundation of our country. Check out some of the best places to scout out on a visit to Old Town. Boat Tour At the foot of the main drag of King Street, the Potomac River lines the eastern edge of Old Town. This beautiful waterfront area features restaurants and public areas for a stroll or outdoor event. It is also the launching point for the many boat tours that leave from Old Town to visit sites along the Potomac from the comfort of a boat. The Potomac Riverboat Company offers a number of itineraries to suit your interests. See the monuments of Washington from one of their vessels, or head just south down the River for a quick trip to George Washington's home, Mount Vernon. Particularly popular are the Potomac Riverboat Company's Canine Cruises. Bring along your favorite more four-legged friend for a canine-friendly sightseeing tour — bring your own bones. Hard Times Cafe Hard Times Cafe is a D.C.-area institution, opening its first restaurant in Old Town in 1980 before expanding into multiple locations throughout the area. Hard Times is comfort food central, best known for its burgers, wings, and nachos. But their signature offering is chili, served in several recipes, including a vegetarian option. Enjoy it in a bowl or go all-in with their famous chili mac, comprised of spaghetti smothered with chili and loaded with cheese, tomatoes, hot dogs, and other toppings. Once you're set up with your food and a drink, Hard Times is the ultimate place to settle in to watch the big game — or games! Loaded with televisions showing all of the local sports teams, this cozy setting is a great time to huddle with pals or meet new friends enjoying the warm, boisterous environment. Walking Tours Steeped in history and located on the Potomac River, there is no shortage of sights to explore in Old Town. Consider one of many walking tours of the area, such as an Old Town Alexandria history tour that follows the footsteps of such notable figures as George Washington and Robert E. Lee. A walking tour explores the important moments in Old Town's history from colonial times through the Civil War. Not for the faint of heart, Old Town ghost tours offer a spooky perspective on the town's colorful past. Follow your 18th-century costumed guide along a lantern-lit exploration of entertaining ghost stories, legends, and folklore. Children ages 9 and up are welcome with adults, and tours are held most evenings from March through December. While it can be tempting to head downtown to D.C. for a day of sightseeing, Old Town is an equally fascinating and action-packed area to give a further look. From walking tours to delicious food, Alexandria truly offers something to please everyone. Image via Flickr by Ken Lund /Under use by CC BY-SA 2.0

If you're looking for a quiet study spot in Alexandria, Virginia, there are many places you can go. These will help you focus on that big test coming up, so you can pass it with flying colors. From coffee shops to libraries, you'll be able to find a place of solitude to help you finish your term paper or get ready for the upcoming exam. Java Loco Java Loco makes for a good study spot since it's quieter than your average coffee shop. While it's great to be at a crowded coffee shop when you want to socialize, it doesn't make for a pleasant atmosphere to concentrate. As you enjoy the solitude of this place, you have a variety of unique drinks to choose from. These include pistachio lattes, Cubano coffee, and green tea lattes in addition to a variety of food. Good drinks, plenty of food, and quietness is the perfect formula to put in a hard day's worth of studying. more Stomping Ground Caffeine is helpful to keep you awake when you study, but you also need a solid meal to keep you going. Stomping Ground will start your morning off right with its large selection of hearty foods to choose from. Get the veggie hash for your fill of protein and vegetables, or go with the breakfast grit bowl to stay full for hours. They also have plenty of espresso drinks to choose from if you need to wake up, including cold brew coffee, lattes, mochas, and more. You'll be ready to take on your tasks after a full meal here. Politics & Prose Bookstore and Coffeehouse One of the best bookstores in the D.C. area has a coffeehouse on the bottom floor, which makes it a perfect study location. You can browse the books when you need a break or if you need to do research for a paper. You'll also be able to study in silence while getting your caffeine fix at this cozy bookstore. They often have authors come to speak on certain subjects, so stick around to get even more educated on the topic you're studying. It's a good place to meet a study group as well. Alexandria Library There's no better place to study than the classic setting of a library. With librarians who enforce the "no talking" rule, you'll easily be able to get into your studies at the Alexandria Library. It's also a great place to do research, as you have access to thousands of different books to use as sources for your paper. You're also able to easily browse through newspapers and magazines by checking out their online databases. If needed, you can check out e-audio books or e-books, and you'll also have free access to the internet. When you need somewhere to study for the big test coming up, you have many places to choose from in Alexandria. Whether you need to spend the day researching at a library or want to get in the zone at a coffee shop, you'll love all the options available. Image via Flickr by pru_mitchell /Under use by CC BY 2.0

It's important to make time for fun events and activities, rather than letting the busyness of school, work, and routine responsibilities overrun your life. There are many events to check out this fall in Alexandria, Virginia, so make sure to clear your schedule. From taking a water taxi ride to spending a weekend learning how to teach children yoga, you'll love filling your time with these events. Attend the Colonial Market & Fair From Sept. 15-16, the yearly Colonial Market & Fair takes place for a weekend of family fun. Dozens of the finest historic craftspeople in America will be there to show how they make traditional items. You'll see everything from woodcarvings, leather works, furniture, food, baskets, tinworks, ironwork, and weavings being made and sold. There will be plenty of entertainment taking place during the weekend, including fire-eating, colonial music being played, a puppet show, and a balloon launch. You'll even see people in costume showing how they used to make chocolate in the 18th century. more Take a Water Taxi to the National Mall For a new way to visit the National Mall, take a ride on a water taxi. The Potomac Riverboat Co. will take you on a 30-minute ferry ride from Old Town Alexandria and drop you off by the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial at the National Mall. You'll also be near a Capital Bikeshare station if you want to explore the area by bicycle. Several Smithsonian museums are also nearby for you to visit. The water taxi service runs from Friday to Sunday until Oct. 28. Tickets cost $30 for an adult round-trip ticket or $18 for one-way. You'll pay $10 for a one-way ticket for children younger than 12 years old and $20 for a round-trip ticket. Attend a Salsa Dancing Festival From Sept. 27-30, you can attend the 3rd Annual Fall Salsa and Bachata Dance Festival. Every night will have a theme party to dress for and there will be four different rooms. You can choose to join the bachata room, kizomba room, salsa room, or the zouk room. Watch some of the best show off their skills, or attend one of the 50 workshops to become a professional yourself. Plenty of local restaurants will be participating in the event to fuel you after a full day of dancing. Learn Yoga for Kids Attend the 2018 National Kids Yoga Conference from Oct. 12-14 to learn how to educate children on the benefits of yoga. There will be a variety of talks to attend, such as interventions, research, policy, and trauma. You can choose several different training tracks, including the basic teacher training certificate, advanced teacher training, or teen-only teacher training. Attendees will learn the best ways to encourage kids to get into yoga and why it's important. You'll have a chance to listen to some of the top educators in this field and network with others to further your career. There are plenty of things to choose from when you're in Alexandria. Your fall will fly by when you fill your calendar up with these events. Image via Flickr by Phil Roeder /Under use by CC BY 2.0