“Kind people are our kind of people.” A lofty mantra, indeed, pressed onto the tee shirts of the wait staff at HomeGrown. And they live up to it, hiring the nicest staff you can imagine. At this daytime eatery in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, you’ll experience memorable breakfasts, clearly made with love and served with kindness. Read about it >

As summer temperatures soar, a fountain—whether it’s trickling or gushing—can help you beat the heat, especially in urban environments, where concrete and tar make increasingly angry thermometers seem even more oppressive. The care, attention, and craftmanship of many fountains add to the relief these enchanting oases provide, and give you something very pretty to look at and contemplate while misty sprays cool you down a bit. Read about the top five fountains >

Boston has the best, most authentic Little Italy I’ve ever been to. So, when I found myself there on an early Sunday afternoon, I channeled my Italian heritage and tradition of having Sunday dinner at about 1 p.m. and strolled into Monica’s Trattoria. Opened three decades ago by Monica’s sons, this warm, friendly restaurant serves up love in every delectable bite. Read about it >

Located on the ground floor of The Alexandrian Hotel, King & Rye prides itself on seasonal slow food, genuine Southern hospitality, and “damn fine whiskey.” Many of its ingredients are sourced through real relationships with farmers, makers, and butchers. And if you just came from the Old Town Farmers’ Market across the street, you’ll find some of those ingredients in your brunch selections on a lazy Saturday morning. Read about it >

Dinner always tastes better when it comes with a great story. At Il Porto Ristorante, a beacon for authentic Northern Italian food in Alexandria, Virginia, your excellent meal is served with a hefty dose of history—you’ll be dining in a building that was a sea captain’s house, a brothel, a secret distillery, a butcher shop, a speakeasy, and a Nazi radio network. Read about it >

At the quieter end of King Street Mile, Archer Hotel Old Town Alexandria straddles the perfect intersection of walkability east to restaurants, shops, and the bulk of the attractions in this appealing Virginia city and west to the Amtrak train station where I would be arriving, a handy Washington, D.C Metro station, and the colossal George Washington Masonic National Memorial. Complementing its ideal location, the hotel’s services, amenities, and general vibe make it the perfect place to stay. Read about it >

If you start walking up King Street Mile in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, from its head at King Street Park on the Potomac River, the very first restaurant you’ll see is Mai Thai. Why go further if you’re ready for dinner? Pop in and take a “journey of authentic Thai cuisine” in one of many historic buildings in the third-oldest historic district in the United States. Read about it >

Given Alexandria’s founding as a colonial port town and growth into one of the American colonies’ most important ports, it’s no surprise that this Virginia city should offer up some excellent choices for seafood dinners. I found one of the best at The Wharf, where the 25-year-old restaurant operates out of a 200-year-old building only 500 feet from the Potomac River. Read about it >

King Street, the main commercial strip in Old Town in Alexandria, Virginia, boasts a wide variety of international cuisine for your dinner options, everything from Thai to Italian, Greek to Indian. On my first night in town, I gravitated toward the Oktoberfest sign hanging over the entry doors to Alexandria Bier Garden and the big Bavarian flag cascading down from the roof. It had all the makings for an authentic German meal. Read about it >