Alexandria Visitor Center (Ramsay House) — Attraction in Alexandria

Minutes from DC yet A WORLD AWAY? I think not. I want to share a number of rude cultural experiences that added up to a forgettable travel experience.  We were excited about a lunch date in Old Town on Day 1.  Unfortunately, a Baby Boomer member of the restaurant's wait staff berated us about not wearing a mask while we were seated at the table.  Very rude.  She also neglected to simply pour water for us.  She chose to stand 12 feet from us to social distance. The DC-inspired mask mandate is not a political statement.  It is not data-driven. It is actually driven by confused people who could not pass an organic chemistry class to save their lives.

The George Washington Masonic National Memorial announced a mask mandate via email, then subsequently cancelled our tour on Day 2.  Very rude.  The Memorial Hall is huge...allowing adequate DC-inspired social distancing to satisfy the confused staff.  A Baby Boomer "Soda Jerk" earned his name when he demanded our ice cream order at an highly visible Old Town shop.  We had just walked into his establishment on Day 3.  Rudeness seems to be an Alexandria theme.  Three strikes for seasoned travelers like us.  The final rude cultural experience occurred outside the Old Presbyterian Meeting House.  A rude Baby Boomer struck again!  She was walking her dog on the sidewalk when we approached her to request simple directions to find the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution.  As a former Naval Officer and the son of a decorated Korean War veteran, I was looking forward to paying my respects to a fellow Patriot.  The Alexandria resident questioned our motivation for visiting the Tomb.  Very rude.

The Readers' Choice Awards are considered to be the most important awards in the travel industry, celebrating the best places, movers and fixers on the planet – we will not show our support for this city in next year's survey.  My firm will not spend a penny for future meetings in Alexandria.  It is clearly not a premier...

We stopped at the Visitor Center after we grabbed our morning coffee, to see what was happening in Old Town. We finished our coffee in the comfy seats on the porch. Then after we checked out the extensive information inside, the helpful staff asked if we were interested in a walking tour. It turned out that there was one leaving from there within a few minutes and we decided to go. The price was very reasonable and our guide, (Ashley?) was so friendly and knowledgable. There is so much history and historical architecture around every corner, from as far back as the 1700's. Just imagining George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and other Forefathers roaming these streets was...

A good place to start if you're visiting Old Town. There are maps, information on shops, restaurants and special events, and a wide range of gifts. The Visitors Guide has a self-guided walking tour that's easy to follow and will give you some interesting historical background. There's a lovely porch if you want to sit and rest in the shade, or benches in the garden. If stairs are a problem, there are Visitors Guides, local newspapers and maps on the ground level near the...