If you ever go to Old Town, the historic district of Alexandria, Virginia, there are pleasant and…read morepanoramic views of the Potomac River from the parks & walkways along the waterfront area. We parked on the waterfront and walked through each park. The first one we encountered was the Waterfront Park. The park is well maintained , has many views, and things to do with lots of benches to sit . It had a statue of "The Shipbuilder". There are public bathrooms nearby by the art building. The paid parking lot beside the Waterfront Park is very affordable and not so stressful to park at despite the tight parking spaces. We paid only $15 - for the whole day (unlimited hours). It was very easy to find, and we had no trouble parking.

Such a cool spot along the Potomac River. There was space for chillin, eating, playing, and…read morerestaurants along the way. You can catch the ferry. The atmosphere was wonderful on this beautiful sunny day. The visitors center was around with staff dressed like it was the 18th Century. Such a wonderful experience.

This section of waterfront is in the process of developing. I'm glad that land is available for…read morepedestrian use, but this is still very much a work in process. After bypassing a fenced in yard that separates this park from Downtown Alexandria, I was greeted by a nice little path but a bunch of collapsing boardwalk structures with signs to stay away. Hopefully in its final form the park will have more to offer, but at this point it's just an area to walk through.

I've been to Oronoco Bay Park on two occasions: 1. the International Food Festival (don't quote me…read moreon that name) and 2. Alexandria Half marathon post-race shenanighans. I love that fact that this park sits on the shore of the Potomac River. Everyone says that if you visit Alexandria that you have to take a quick stroll around this park. While the park is nice, it feels more like a huge lawn, rather than an actual park. However, there is nothing wrong with that because it's a perfect place to have large events such as food festivals. Also, the views of the Potomac River are pretty nice. I will say that during my last visit, I noticed quite a bit of trash/debris that washed up on shore. But, this wasn't something too off putting.

Beautiful park in Alexandria with water views. We walked about a mile, just past the restaurants…read moreBarca and some on the water. Then circled back for about a little over 2 miles. It's best to go early. Plenty of benches and covered areas for comfort while in the sun. Great place to walk with your dog or go on a date. There were also other places you could park further down the walk if you don't want to start at the end near the bridge. Lovely walk that I would enjoy doing again.

Lovely park in Old Town Alexandria with a decent amount of parking and space to explore, picnic or…read morejust take a walk or bike ride. The views of the Potomac are lovely and the urban + historic vibe is a real treat. The underpass is a great area to to hang out, get out of the sun and people-watch as there are sometimes dancers, group workouts, etc., going on. It gets a bit shady (aka questionable) here sometimes - hence the periodic police presence. The bathrooms and nearby areas can get trashed which is truly a shame. I would not come here after dark, but that's just me. I've been here many times and have some stories to tell so just putting that out there. Don't let it deter you, just use common sense and be aware of surroundings and you'll be A-OK :)

This is such a great little playground right near old town Alexandria…read more It has a sand box, 2 play areas and a small "climbing wall". This park is also near the water which is beautiful and has. Large open field where you can play soccer or tag. Only downside is there are no restrooms near the park area.

This was a small park near the water, by some nice apartments, and a little beach area. A pleasant…read morearea, and as they say, not too much parking available. A beautiful view.

While I was here for only a few minutes, I thought this was a nice park. The park does not have…read moremuch to offer, but the sights are pretty nice, and I think it's a good place to a small picnic. Before coming to the park, I received some incorrect information. I was under the impression that there was a dog park within the park. However, it's more of a park that allows dogs off leash instead of a a fenced in dog park, which is great. Perhaps, receiving this "misinformation" was my fault because i did not specify that I was interested in a fenced in dog park. However, I believe there is a fenced-in dog run a few blocks away from Founders Park.

Great place to stop, rest in shade of trees and watch the waterfront in the heart of historic and…read morecharming old town Alexandria; plenty of nearby places to check out for shopping, dining or takeout. Also they have free 2 hour parking on the weekends and they have garage parking as well for a few dollars.

If your child needs a break while shopping King Street the Tot Lot is your spot. It's not the…read morelargest park, but it is filled with used ride-on-toys so it keeps my child happily entertained. Plenty of cozy coups for everyone! The playground has a good climbing structure and slides as well.

Cute little neighborhood playground with slides and a sandbox. It's a bit set back from the street,…read morein between narrow townhouses, so you might pass without noticing it, as I have many times. The crowd there is usually neighborhood moms with toddlers. There are a few benches but I believe you have to climb up some stairs (for those of us with strollers). The grounds are maintained well and there are a few trees.

Great little park for toddlers and younger preschoolers! I even some crawling babies exploring and…read morehaving a lot of fun. It's enclosed, has a soft ground, and age appropriate playground equipment. It was clean and the other people at the playground were friendly and welcoming.

New park and playground on Commonwealth and East Del Ray Avenues…read more Geared towards two to five year olds, it's about half done with a cool rock and log theme. It features open lawn, ground up tire surface and rain gardens on the outside of the space.

This section in a string of waterside areas is one of the nicer parts. It's quiet. The tide lock…read moreitself is nice to look at and nothing special, but the path by the water gives one a more peaceful feeling than you're going to get in Downtown Alexandria or by the airport. There are no immediately available facilities in this stretch of park. There is some historical signage if you're wondering where the canal was.

Accessible from Canal Center Plaza, Third Street, or Montgomery Street. Panoramic Potomac views…read morefrom every tree covered bench. Breezes from the water. Wide paved walking paths. A little bit of lock history. Some sculptural art. Lots of driftwood collects by the lock if you're looking for some worn, wet, chunks of wood.

A pleasant spot near the King Street Metro Station, this park evokes several aspects of…read moreAlexandria's history: a tricorn hat, a ship's prow, a farmer's plow, and the marshland that originally made up this area.

Randomly found this place right next to Tide Lock Park while taking the "river route" on the Mt…read moreVernon trail. Lots of river views and a big grassy area to relax along with some volleyball nets and picnic tables. Worth checking out along with Tide Lock if you're in the area.

Between Tide Lock and Oronoco Bay parks, is Rivergate city park. It's open until 10 PM, as are the…read moreother dozen riverfront parks, and there are plenty of benches, and a couple of picnic tables, right on the Potomac. It's not totally clear what the boundaries of the parks are, but I'm assuming the beach volleyball area is technically at the Tide Lock boundary. Anyway, it's a beautiful portion of the public park system that covers the entire City of Alexandria waterfront. No bikes are allowed, so it's a peaceful place to stroll and enjoy a picnic, except for the airplanes that often go flying by - my toddler loves this. You can see the US Capitol and National Harbor here. My city is the best!