On the Potomac River waterfront sits the quaint city of Alexandria, located a mere 20 minutes from Washington D.C. This charming and affordable destination is perfect to explore or to use as a starting point to visit surrounding areas. It’s a great place for families along with loads of fun attractions. Kids activities abound from museums and historic sites to bike rides and boat tours. There are many free things to do as well. Here are some of the kid-friendly attractions for your family to discover.

Our Special Harbor

This free water park has an amazing splash pad for the kids, in addition to dumping buckets, spray fountains, water guns, misting sunflowers, a lighthouse, and many other water play features. There is a quiet beach area with interactive water tables and gentler bubblers for younger children, while a water maze adds to an energetic atmosphere. Anyone under 12 must wear closed-back water shoes or they will not be allowed into the park. Our Special Harbor, with its Chesapeake Bay themed spray ground, can be found at the Family Recreation Area at Lee District Park.  Read the rest of this entry »

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The arrival of spring marks the beginning of the festival season here in Alexandria. No matter your interest, there are a variety of festivals in the area that are well worth attending. Let’s discuss a few and what they have to offer.

Alexandria St. Patrick’s Day Parade

For 38 years, Alexandrians have been invited to don their best green apparel and flock to King Street in Old Town for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade put on by The Ballyshaners, an organization dedicated to promoting and preserving Irish Heritage. The parade features Irish pipe bands, Irish dancers, the Notre Dame Alumni Parade, and a variety of cars and floats. Read the rest of this entry »

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The original Dodge Caravan was first introduced for the 1984 model year, and ever since then drivers have been in love with the minivan. To celebrate the minivan’s continued success, Dodge is launching a new 35th Anniversary edition of the Grand Caravan SE and SXT. Let’s discuss some of the features that you can expect from the new edition.

Exterior

For its 35th Anniversary, Dodge is giving the Grand Caravan special anniversary badging, a shinier grille, and 17-inch Tech Silver aluminum wheels. The anniversary edition will be Read the rest of this entry »

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As we near spring and the weather starts to get warmer, it’s time to start planning outdoor activities. Luckily for those of us who live in the Alexandria area, there are a ton of great places to go hiking and enjoy nature. Let’s take a look at some nearby trails.

Mount Vernon Trail

The 18-mile Mount Vernon Trail stretches all the way from the Mount Vernon Estate, where George Washington once called home, to the historic monuments of Washington, D.C. The trail is great for hiking, jogging, and bicycling. While traversing the Mount Vernon Trail, you’ll be treated to a wide variety of beautiful sights, from stunning views of the Potomac Read the rest of this entry »

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When you think of the Jeep automotive brand, you probably picture the Wrangler or Cherokee, but did you know that Jeep once produced pickup trucks? The Jeep pickup truck line, discontinued in 1988, is making a comeback for the 2020 model year with the all-new Jeep Gladiator. Let’s talk about some of the features you can expect from this exciting new pickup truck.

Trim Levels

With four trim levels to choose from, you’re sure to find a 2020 Jeep Gladiator that fits your style. The Sport trim will come standard with Bluetooth hands-free calling with voice command, a 5-inch infotainment screen, USB port, and backup camera. A special cold weather package and larger Read the rest of this entry »

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Nothing beats a morning cup of joe. If you want to try a new place in Alexandria, Virginia, or perhaps are still on the hunt for a coffee shop worthy of a morning routine, use our guide of the top coffee shops below.

1. Killer E.S.P.

Located in Old Town Alexandria, Killer E.S.P. might be the spot for your next coffee fix. They have all your bases covered. If you’re looking for a sweet treat to pair with your coffee, you can order a delicious slice of pie or a scoop of sorbet. The E.S.P. in the name stands for espresso, sorbet, and pie. The cozy interior offers plenty of room for relaxing and enjoying your food if you have the time. Read the rest of this entry »

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If you’re looking to buy your first Jeep model, it can seem a bit daunting. There are several styles to choose from, and many of them vary in price point rather wildly. Because of this, it can be hard to decide which model is right for you or your family. If feeling a little lost, here’s a quick guide to some of the best Jeeps for first-time buyers.

Jeep Compass

The 2019 Jeep Compass is a great entry-level Jeep. It’s the most affordable of the lineup, but it still delivers on the brand’s renowned style and dependability. It features all the modern comforts of a compact SUV such as a higher ride height and available four-wheel drive. You also get access to the entertainment suite which includes an Apple Music subscription.

The Compass offers plenty of cargo room for camping, road trips, and weekend grocery hauls. You can also add excellent driver assistance safety features such as blind spot monitoring, rear parking Read the rest of this entry »

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If you’re on a road trip and happen to be winding your way through Virginia, make sure to spend some time in Alexandria. Sure, there’s plenty of great food and museums in the area, but if want a truly memorable experience, you should look for some of the more unique attractions Alexandria has to offer. Here are some of the top strange attractions to visit in Alexandria.

The Apothecary Museum 

The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary shop opened in 1792, and it’s one of, if not the, oldest apothecary in the United States. Due to the rise of synthetic drugs and legislation to favor it, the shop closed in 1933 and re-opened as a museum six years later. Still open to the public, you can visit this piece of Read the rest of this entry »

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If you’re considering the new 2019 Chrysler 300, you’ll need to decide which trim level is right for you. There are five trim levels on this year’s model release. Each offers a new set of features and there are a handful of exterior changes between the trims. Here’s a quick guide to help you determine which trim level is right for you.

The base trim level for the 2019 Chrysler 300 is the Touring trim. In regards to power, it has a capable 3.6-liter V-6 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission with variable valve timing. Automatic projector beam headlights are standard. If you’re looking for driver assistance safety features you’ll need to opt for a higher trim level. Entertainment is readily available on the Touring trim. Features such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM are standard inclusions on the 300’s uConnect system.

Touring L

The next trim level on the 300 is the Touring L. The Touring L has many of the same standard features Read the rest of this entry »

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Sometimes the best way to stay safe on the road is to practice proper safe driving habits. No matter how many years you’ve been driving, it’s always good to review some of the best habits. Before you hit the road for your next trip, make sure you’re familiar with these top safe driving practices.

Know the Weather Forecast

Weather can have one of the biggest impacts on road conditions. It can also severely affect your visibility. Before you head out on the road, make sure you know if the forecast is calling for rain, fog, ice, snow, or any other hazardous conditions. If you have the possibility of facing severe weather, it’s always better to postpone your plans and stay off the road than risk driving through dangerous conditions.

Maintain Your Vehicle

Even if you’re a safe driver and you always pay attention to what’s going on around you, it won’t do you any good if you have an accident because a tire blew out or your brakes failed. Routine maintenance not only keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently, but it also improves your safety. At least once a month you should go through your vehicle and check the battery, tire pressure, oil level, windshield wipers, wiper fluid, air filter, belts, hoses, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and coolant.

Stay Focused

Changing the radio station, checking directions, talking to passengers, looking at a text message, and taking a phone call can all take your eyes off the road and your hands off the wheel. These dangerous distractions also cause you to lose focus. Fortunately, vehicles like the Dodge Charger come with features to help keep your focus on the road. This includes an infotainment system that comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to get directions, make calls, and send and receive texts while still keeping your eyes on the road.

Look Past the Car Ahead of You

While it’s always good to watch what the car in front of you is doing, you should also scan multiple car lengths ahead of that car. By looking to the right and left of the car ahead of you, you’ll be able to quickly process upcoming road conditions, stoplights, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other important information. Plus, it’s possible you might see a dangerous situation before the vehicle ahead of you, which means you’ll have more time to slow down.

Watch Your Speed

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speed was a contributing factor in 27 percent of accidents in 2016. When you speed, you have less time to react to situations happening on the road in front of you. If you often find yourself driving above the speed limit, leave earlier to allow yourself more time to get to your destination, use cruise control whenever possible, and make sure you always pay attention to how fast you’re actually going.

No matter what type of car you drive, safe driving is always important. Keep these safe driving tips in mind the next time you get behind the wheel, so you can avoid costly and dangerous accidents or breakdowns and enjoy the adventures of the open road.

Image via Flickr by State Farm/Under use by CC BY 2.0

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