Alexandria Makes 'Top Holiday Towns' List

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- With its sparkling holiday lights down King Street and annual Christmas parade, boat parade of lights, holiday home tours and upcoming Waterskiing Santa and First Night celebrations, it's no wonder that Alexandria has made a national "Top Holiday Towns" list this year, recently published by USA Today.

Here's what they had to say about Alexandria:

Located minutes by car or subway from Washington, D.C., visitors feel like time travelers to Christmas Past in Alexandria’s quaint Old Town. The colonial-era brick-lined streets play host to numerous Christmas events such as the annual Christmas tree lighting Nov. 25, hosted by the mayor with appearances by Santa and Alexandria’s town crier. The 46th annual Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend that begins Dec. 2 includes a lavish parade of Scottie dogs, dancers and bagpipers on Dec. 3. Ten miles south, revelers who visit George Washington’s Mount Vernon on weekends between Nov. 25 and Dec. 18 can glimpse fireside caroling and 18th-century dancing.

Among the other top holiday towns were Taos, N.M., New York City and Breckinridge, Colo. (See the entire list here.)

You can experience loads of holiday happenings in Alexandria this season by perusing the Old Town Alexandria Patch Calendar.

Also read:

• Historic Alexandria to Host Candlelight Tour
• Holiday Fireworks Coming Up at Mount Vernon

PHOTO of Alexandria's Christmas tree courtesy of Visit Alexandria