Everything you need to plan your trip
Getting There
By Air
The closest airports are:
Reagan National Airport (DCA): 20 minutes to the venue
(Has blue & yellow metro connection)
Dulles International Airport (IAD): 1 hour to the venue
(Has silver metro connection)
Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI): 1 1/2 hours to the venue
By Car
The venue address is:
Cedar Knoll
9030 Lucia Ln, Fort Hunt, VA 22308
Complimentary parking is available on-site
Ride Share
Uber and Lyft are all available in the area. We recommend scheduling rides in advance, especially for late-night returns to your accommodation.
Hotel Accommodations
Where to stay?
Alexandria, VA offers a huge range of hotels to suit any needs. Please feel free to book wherever is best for your group and individual needs/plans. We highly recommend staying within walking proximity to a metro station. This way, you may choose to visit Washington, DC and beyond if you want to during your trip. Here are some recommendations we would encourage:
Old Town, Alexandria (Top Recommendation)
Alexandria (More Economical Hotels)
Airbnb Options?
For groups and families staying the weekend or longer, you may wish to consider a home or apartment rental through services like Airbnb. Book these accommodations carefully as there may be more rules and restrictions than a standard hotel stay. There are many offerings directly in and around Alexandria.
Things to Do Nearby
Old Town Alexandria: Take a stroll on the King Street mile and waterfront. You will find a charming and historic mix of boutiques, galleries, cafes and restaurants.
There is a free trolley that goes between the King Street metro and the waterfront.
The Torpedo Factory Art Center: At the waterfront on King Street, there is a former munitions factory turned into an art space with great exhibits.
Enjoy a nice dinner / drinks: It’s the DC area. Did you think dining options were going to be slim? Go to Union Street Public House, ask to sit in the whiskey room, and order the smash burger. You’ll thank us later.
Quick History & Hidden Gems: Walk around the various Alexandria neighborhoods and you can find many historic placards and still working gas-lamps adorning the homes. Do note that the cobblestone and brick sidewalks are not forgiving, so wear comfortable walking shoes.
Want to visit DC?
We encourage everyone that would like to visit the capital to take the metro downtown and not drive or park downtown. There are too many road closures, protests, and unpredictable circumstances to suggest otherwise. The metro is very easy to navigate.
From the Alexandria, VA King St metro stop, take the Yellow Line north towards Mt Vernon Square/Convention Center. You will get off at Archives if you want to tour the usual DC National Mall and museums. If you want to check out some great restaurants, hop off the metro at Gallery Place instead. We would recommend any restaurant by Jose Andres as a great place to start. To return to Alexandria, simply take the Yellow Line back towards Huntington and hop off back at King St (if your accommodations are there).
Local Tips
September weather in Virginia is typically warm and humid.
The metro from King Street / Alexandria Old Town is only 25 minutes to downtown DC. We aren’t lying when we say it is far superior to driving.
Under no circumstances should you purchase food from a food truck in DC (there are plenty other excellent options). After the pandemic, all reputable food trucks have left, and the remaining ones are not regulated or inspected in any meaningful way.
While Virginia is known for lovely wineries, the wine is not that good (sorry). The wineries are, however, very nice to enjoy the grounds and some charcuterie.
The water-taxi from Alexandria to DC, while cool, is expensive and the metro is far cheaper.
Brunch is serious business in the area. Ensure you’ve made a reservation if possible.