At the 47-acre Dora Kelley Nature Park in Alexandria, adventurous locals can get a sense of native wildlife while also escaping the hustle and bustle of everyday living. While this beautiful wooded park is located just minutes from the downtown area, its self-guided nature trails and rocky creek will make you feel like you’re a world away. There are both paved and non-paved trails to accommodate all types of hiking, biking, and walking, so bring your bike for a scenic ride along the well-maintained trails, or embark on an afternoon hike to get a bit of exercise outdoors.

Dora Kelley Nature Park also hosts the Jerome "Buddie" Ford Nature Center, founded in 1978, where local school groups can learn about Alexandria’s local wildlife, including snakes and turtles.

Dora Kelley Nature Park
5750 Sanger Ave
Alexandria, VA 22311
(703) 746-5559
www.yelp.com/biz/dora-kelley-nature-park-alexandria

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr intoruth

If you love Italian pastas and pizzas, you haven’t even experienced all of this delicious cuisine’s decadent offerings. Casa Rosada Artisan Gelato offers a less common taste of Italian dining in the form of authentic gelato, a cold dessert similar to ice cream that is made with a creamier consistency and unique, dense flavors.

This Alexandria dessert shop is hip and relaxed, with chalkboard menus displaying the day’s current flavors and a stainless steel gelato counter imported from Italy for the freshest, most authentic taste possible. The gelato itself comes in flavors like coconut, dulce de leche, merlot and apple cinnamon, and there is also a small selection of sorbettos for dairy-free guests.

If you’re planning a party or ordering for a group, Casa Rosada Artisan Gelato also makes its gelatos in the form of cakes that are even more decadent and delicious.

Casa Rosada Artisan Gelato
111 S. Payne Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 349-1001
www.crgelato.com
www.yelp.com/biz/casa-rosada-artisan-gelato-alexandria-2

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr SanguineSeas

As sweater weather approaches we hope you all stay warm and cozy this season! What are some of your favorite winter activities?