Marinas and Waterfront
Gives location and description of local marinas and waterfront areas. Recommends activities and ties these areas in with specific communities.
Ford’s Landing
Ford’s Landing is in the Southeast Quadrant of Old Town Alexandria at Union Street and Franklin Street. (Union Street is runs parallel to and closest to the Potomac in Old Town.) Ford’s Landing is a highly regard community of luxury townhomes near and on the Potomac waterfront. Ford’s Landing is served by Lyles-Crouch Elementary School, George Washington Middle School, and T.C. Williams High School
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(all data current as of
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$1,749,000 : 700 Union St S, Alexandria3 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths
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Potomac Riverboat Company
Cherry Blossom sternwheeler
The Potomac Riverboat Company operates several authentic split sternwheelers (also known as riverboats) on the Potomac River near Alexandria VA. They also operate a pair of watertaxis which ferry passengers from the Gaylord/National Harbor to Old Town Alexandria. Unlike most cruise companies in America, the Potomac Riverboat Company does not operate “restaurant boats”. Rather, they use their boats as touring and private party and or charter boats. When a vessel is chartered, whether you have a party of 2 or 200, the boat belongs exclusively to you.
The Potomac Riverboat Company offers a 40-minute narrated Seaport Cruise which plies the waters between two magnificent historic sites — Alexandria (in Virginia) and Georgetown (on the Washington, D.C. side of the river). Passengers are treated to riverborne views of America’s greatest monuments. They also offer a narrated cruise downriver to George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens.
Into Fitness?
Athletes, would-be athletes and nature lovers should head south from Old Town Alexandria.
Stretching along the Potomac River from the southern border of Old Town to Mount Vernon Estate is the Mt. Vernon bike path. Eight miles of asphalt allow locals and visitors to walk, run or bike while enjoying river views and wildlife sightings. Bald eagles, ospreys, blue heron, cormorants, egrets, ducks and geese are among waterfowl commonly spotted along this corridor, while deer, groundhog and fox sightings are frequent. Combine cardio and conservation by following a nature trail through Dyke Marsh.
Along the bike path is a fitness course and several points of access for canoes or kayaks.
Businesses in the nearby Belle View shopping center allow you to tone up at Curves or take karate lessons. Adjacent to Belle View is the Mt. Vernon Recreation Center, which provides Fairfax County residents with an indoor pool and ice rink. Farther south on Route 1 is a Gold’s Gym.
Local communities such as River Towers, Porto Vecchio and Belle View also offer their residents tennis, swimming and basketball facilities as well as their own in-house gyms.
River Towers Pricing
If you’d like to learn more about River Towers click here?
Check what’s available now.
Here’s a price report based on the last two years of sales and rentals.
| Unit Type | For Sale | Rental |
| Studio, about 430-490 sf | 120,000 (95,000 to 140,000) | 875 (775 to 975) |
| One bedroom, about 714 sf | 177,300 (150,000 to 200,000) | 1200 (950 to 1300) |
| Two Bedroom, about 980 sf | 228,500 (210,000 to 265,000) | 1500 (1450 to 1600) |
| Three Bedroom, about 1360 sf | 293,500 (280,000 to 320,000) | 1650 (1649 to 1750) |
River Towers is located near the intersection of Belle View Blvd and the
George Washington Parkway. With easy access to Richmond Highway
(Route One), the Belway I-495/I-95, and just minutes away from Old Town
Alexandria and the Huntingon Metro on the Yellow Line. River Towers was built in 1963 and is a 15 minute commute to D.C.
Amenities include:
Nine-story high-rise framed by evergreens
- Open spaces
- Outdoor pool
- Gym
- Ample Public Parking
- Garage Parking
- Wood Floors
- Tennis Courts
- Children’s Playgrounds
- Tennis Courts
- Community Unit Washer/Dryer
- Heating, Cooling, Electric included in Condo Fees
- Short Walk to shopping at Belle View
- Bike and Walk paths on the GW Parkway walking distance away.
| About the Author — Ben Fornshell is a licensed real estate agent with Condo Alexandria. To learn more about available rentals and purchases in the area check out our free search.
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Torpedo Factory condominiums
The Torpedo Factory condominium complex is located at 115 N. Lee St. in Old Town Alexandria just 1 block from King St. and across the street from the Carlyle House. The Torpedo Factory offers 1, 2 and 3 bedroom condominium homes centered around a well-kept courtyard. The Torpedo Factory doesn’t offer the standard condo amenities like a pool and fitness room.
Instead, the neighborhood is the amenity here. The Torpedo Factory is surrounded by restaurants, shops and tourist attractions. It’s only one block from the Potomac Waterfront and is across the street from the Torpedo Factory Art Center. If you’re looking for a home in historic Old Town and you don’t want the maintenance that townhouse will require, you’ll definitely want to check out the Torpedo Factory.
Click the Torpedo Factory for the latest prices and for a map of the location.
Sailing the Potomac in late spring
Julie and I went sailing again. This time we put in at the Belle Haven Marina near Belle View condos and New Alexandria.
The marina has plenty of sailboats, canoes and kayaks for rent. They also offer lessons. Check out the spelling on the sign.
We had a great time on the Potomac. The winds were steady and fairly strong.
We were on the river until nearly sundown.
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About the Author — Will Nesbitt is the principal broker of Will Nesbitt Realty and maintains Condo Alexandria. Will specializes in condos, townhouses and single family residences in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Crystal City, and Kingstowne. Will resides in Belle Haven Estates just outside Alexandria VA in Fairfax County. |
Sailing on the Potomac
One of the great things about life in Alexandria VA is the proximity to two public marinas: one at Belle Haven and the other at Potowmack Landing north of Old Town. I have always wanted to sail, and yesterday Julie surprised me by signing us up for a social sail with the Sailing Club of Washington.
The Sailing Club of Washington is a group of over 400 people that includes a mixture of folks who have never sailed but want to learn and old salts who’ve been sailing for years along with those who simply enjoy socializing with other sailing enthusiasts. The Sailing Club of Washington (SCOW) is a 501(c)(7) organization (a social club) that was originally chartered on July 12, 1966 “to provide the membership thereof with the opportunity and instrumentalities to become expert in the art of sailing for their individual and mutual education, benefit and enjoyment.”
This boat used to be a club boat, but it’s owned by a member who still shares it with the club. The Sailing Club has six boats:
- four 19′ Flying Scots;
- two 25′ Catalinas
The boats are kept at the Washington Sailing Marina just south of National Airport. SCOW offers classes, individual use of our boats, club sponsored activities and a place for sailors in the D.C. area to come together and enjoy the sport and recreation of sailing.
We were excited as we prepared to board the vessel. It was a short walk along the dock and then we boarded.
National Airport is visible behind us. The winds were light and steady, perfect for beginners.
There were several other vessels nearby, most were sailors but there were a few flat-bottom fishermen out as well.
After we were underway, the skipper let me man the tiller! What fun! I had to make sure that we caught the right wind, without hitting posts or other boats.
Julie snapped a couple of pictures of me having a blast.
Eventually the sun started to set and it was time to head back to port.
What a great club! I can’t endorse this activity enough. The fees are reasonable, the company was pleasant. And I really like sailing.
We’ll be back another day.
If you’re looking for a home near the marina, you might consider some of the following communities:
- Potomac Greens
- Marina Towers
- Port Royal
- Alexandria House
- Harborside
- Harbor Terrace
- Potowmack Crossing
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About the Author — Will Nesbitt is the principal broker of Will Nesbitt Realty and maintains Condo Alexandria. Will specializes in condos, townhouses and single family residences in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Crystal City, and Kingstowne. Will resides in Belle Haven Estates just outside Alexandria VA in Fairfax County. |
River Towers is a great place to live
I have two great rental listings ready and waiting at River Towers! What is River Towers?
3 BEDROOMS — ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED FOR ONLY $1700 monthly.
I have a 3 bedroom condo available for rent at River Towers for just
$1700 monthly! 2 Full baths. Fresh paint and carpet. Nice kitchen.
1 BEDROOM WITH BALCONY — ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED FOR ONLY $1300 monthly.
Stunning views toward the Dyke Marsh and Potomac. Don’t miss this one.
All about River Towers
River Towers is a beautiful condominium community located just blocks from the GW Parkway. River Towers is a the end of Wakefield Drive—a horseshoe-drive that loops through the Belle View Condos.
This green and serene oasis is unique in Northern Virginia because of its proximity to city while retaining a bucolic atmosphere. The buildings are situated on 27 acres of woods and wetlands which are then surrounded by parks on three sides.
The rear of the property abuts the Dyke Marsh, a national wildlife preserve, the southern end of the property is adjacent to Mt. Vernon District park.
All these parks mean that once you are on River Towers property, everything is quiet and peaceful.
Peaceful & serene but easy access to the City!
The heart of the Old Town shopping district is just 3 minutes away. Three minutes in the opposite direction is suburbia:
Lowes, Target, Marshall’s, Chili’s, T.G.I. Fridays. Traffic in the area is relatively free from congestion. This is truly unique in Northern Virginia.
- Excellent views of either the Potomac or Alexandria and Washington
- Many with updated kitchen & cabinetry
- All utilities are included (except phone & cable)
- Association offers an in-house repair program – very convenient and only $15 per hour.
- Handicapped accessible.
- Small pets (under 35 pounds) welcome.
- Located on 27 acres, some of which include a federally protected wildlife preserve.
- Grounds are landscaped and well-maintained.
- Large pool, 2 tennis courts, a basketball court, and a very large picnic area with grills and a playground.
- Boat storage and a kayak rack on site.
- Parking is free and plentiful.
Nearby
- Quiet & serene – 2 miles south of Old Town Alexandria just off the George Washington Parkway.
- 2 miles to Huntington Metro Station (Yellow Line). Metro bus stops on condo grounds every 10 minutes during rush hour.
- Walking distance to the following:
- Potomac River & GW Parkway bike trail – 5 blocks
- Belle Haven Marina with boat rentals (sailboats, kayaks, etc.) – ½ mile
- Library & county recreation center with an ice rink – 2 blocks away
- Belle View Shopping center (Safeway, Dunkin Donuts, Subway, movie rentals, restaurants & many other shops) – 2 blocks away
Port Royal — affordable condos in Old Town Alexandria
Residents and visitors know that Old Town Alexandria is a special place. Old Town Alexandria is at once colonial and 
historic, a seaport and city, urban and chic. Old Town is home to many shops, restaurants, boutiques and coffee shops. Much of Old Town is filled with elegant brick townhouses and rowhouse houses. Some of these (Abingdon Row for example) are new. But many are historic.
Another thread in the tapestry of Old Town are the high-rises near the waterfront at the north end of Old Town. Among these are the condominiums on N. Pitt Street known as Port Royal. From the 16 floors of Port Royal one will find some of the best views in Old Town. The rear of the building overlooks the Potomac and the flight approach to Reagan National Airport. The lobbies and common areas of the building are well-maintained and pleasant.
Port Royal has a variety of models from studios and up. The units vary in condition, but most are very nice and have been recently renovated. Contact Condo Alexandria Alexandria to arrange a tour of available condos at Port Royal. To view the interiors of units and to browse properties online, please check the following links:
- For sale — Live data on all condos for sale in Port Royal’s zip code (22314).
- For rent — Live data on rentals in 22314 zip code.Rental info at Port Royal.
- Homes for sale — All homes for sale less than $500,000 in 22314 zip code.
- Homes for sale — All homes for sale from $300,000 to $700,000 in 22314 zip code.
- Homes for sale — All homes for sale over $650,000 in 22314 zip code.
Oronoco Bay Park
Oronoco Bay Park is a 4.5 acre Alexandria City park is located on the Potomac River at 701 North Lee Street. It has many entry points, the most obvious of which are at either the Madison or Pendleton Street entries or from the Wythe Street Plaza. The plaza entry is approximately in the center of the park, and there is also a sidewalk entry with trees and turf area between the Sheet Metal Workers of America building and the United Way building.
Oronoco Bay Park
The park was once known as “Texaco Bay” and before that it was owned by Standard Oil Company which was owned by John D. Rockefeller; however, the City acquired the property (and changed it to Oronoco Bay Park) in the early 1980′s. Historically, the Alexandria area was inhabited by Indians when Captain John Smith sailed up the Potomac in the mid 17th Century.
The park hosts several festivals and events including the annual “Red Cross Waterfront Festival”—the largest Red Cross fund raiser in the United States. Private concerns may reserve and rent the park for their events as well.
walking path along the Potomac Oronoco Bay
This park is part of the linear park system along the Potomac. People can walk, jog or bike along the river path and enjoy the many sitting and picnic areas. There are wooden sun decks out into the river and a wooden boardwalk path that connects the path to the point where the bay and river meet near the Rowing Facility building.
Old Town Alexandria waterfront at Oronoco Bay
