Formerly the Hotel Monaco, Alexandria, The Alexandrian seemingly rolls out the red carpet for everyone. The Alexandrian’s lobby felt like a family reunion — without the bickering. Everyone was there and everyone blended together beautifully.

Located in the center of Alexandria on King Street — where Old Town Alexandria action is in full swing — this hotel has a ton for families. Starting with the fact that it sits just a few steps from the great museums that make Alexandria such a historical find. You’ll also love the great dining, both upscale and fresh, and fast food that wreaths the hotel. And you can’t beat the amenities that make this hotel so fun for families like the indoor heated pool, the backpacks at check-in for kids and the evening wine reception for parents.

The beautifully appointed rooms feature a small refrigerator and an iPod docking station. If you’re up for splurging on a fancy suite, depending on which you reserve you’ll receive a courtyard balcony, a soaking tub, or a living room plus full kitchen. Every room and suite is elegantly decorated in Windsor Castle meets Kate Middleton. Very cool.

Guestrooms
The guestrooms feature one king or one queen bed or a two double beds. There is a mini-fridge and a flat screen television. Connecting rooms and cribs are available upon request. Bottled water and Wi-Fi are available for a fee.

Suites
The suites feature a separate living room area with a sleeper sofa and a second television and a king bed in the bedroom area. There is a mini-fridge and cribs and connecting rooms are available upon request. Bottled water and Wi-Fi are available for a fee.

Kids Club
The hotel group is generously welcoming families into their luxurious fold. Just mention the kids club when you make your reservation and those two little words will whisk cookies and milk to your guestroom for the kids on their first evening. And each room will be set up with a chalkboard and dry erase board with chalk and pens. Plus, each room is outfitted with "wild child" bathrobes that sport a fun animal print. (Take the kids' robes to the pool and wrap up when it's time to leave. Cozy.)

Daily Kids' Hour
The Daily Kids' Hour ushers in an hour of games like Trivial Pursuit, Xbox, juice and a snack. Come 5 p.m. and the lobby becomes the scene of the evening wine reception where complimentary wine is available for adults.

Indoor Pool
The hotel scores with a 40-foot, well heated indoor pool. And dive-in movies entrance the kids on select days. Local ordinances require that a lifeguard be on duty when the hotel pool is open, making it costly for Alexandria hotels to stay open during the day if the guests are out sightseeing. But the pool is open Monday through Friday from 6 to 10 a.m., opening again from 2 to 10 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, the pool is open all day from 6 to 10 p.m.

Doggie Yappy Hour
Wonderful pups of all sizes are welcomed like kings and queens at every Kimpton for no additional charge. Your human children will delight in seeing happy canines attending the Yappy Hour that takes place on select evenings in the hotel lobby. Owners can enjoy drinks by the glass while thirsty doggies can lap at several water bowls set up in the courtyard and snack on dog treats passed out by servers. Begging allowed.

Jackson 20
The onsite restaurant, Jackson 20 -- named after President Andrew Jackson -- serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a casual setting. Families can enjoy indoor or outdoor seating. The kids menus are loaded with standbys like hamburgers, grilled cheese, hot dogs and mac 'n cheese paired with a choice of fries, fresh fruit, raw vegetables or small greens. Juice or milk is included and the meal is topped with a scoop of ice cream and a house made cookie. Sunday Brunch might be the most impressive meal for the kids. One of Andrew Jackson's favorite dishes was pancakes, and Jackson 20 does our former president proud by flipping a light, fluffy Sunday brunch staple. Their special kids' brunch menu even offers PB&J, cereal and fresh fruit.

In-Room Dining
Jackson 20 meals are delivered to your room 24 hours a day with a smaller overnight menu beginning at 11 p.m.

All About the Extras
A stay here means that you can request and receive in your guestroom, cribs and play yards, high chairs, booster seats and child safety kits that include toilet latches, nightlights and outlet covers. Additionally, for a small rental fee, the concierge will arrange for a stroller, a bouncy seat or scooter sent to your guestroom.

Parking
There is a fee for overnight parking and a quick phone call brings your car to the front of the hotel.

Shuttle
A complimentary scheduled shuttle service is available between the hotel and Ronald Reagan National Airport every day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Service is available by request only. When you arrive at the airport, contact the hotel and the arrangements for your pick-up will be in motion.

Babysitting
If you need adult time, just speak with the concierge and you'll be directed to an accredited babysitter.

Fitness Center
This relatively large, bright fitness center is open 24/7 and features an array of Precor cardio machines with built-in TVs, free weights, yoga mats, huge towels, fruit, magazines, restrooms with showers, ear phones -- everything you need to have a good time.

Wi-Fi
There is a daily Wi-Fi fee.

The Art of Timing
High season begins in March and continues through the summer and well into the glorious fall months. The D.C. region gets very humid and hot in the afternoons from late May into September. So if you're visiting D.C. and Alexandria in the summer, plan to rise early to efficiently use the cool morning hours. In the afternoon, dive deep into a museum, pool or guestroom bed. All that said, beware of rain. Yes, even in the summer the D.C. region sees about three inches of downpour each month.

From late October through March the weather swings from "just lovely" days to "it's too cold to have fun" days with January being the coldest month. Snow joins the party with about fifteen inches each year.

Getting There
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) has it's own Metro stop on the blue or yellow line which will take you to Alexandria. Or if you prefer to use a hotel shuttle, rental car or cab, it's a mere 10-minute drive from Ronald Reagan Washington to Alexandria.

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is approximately a 40-minute drive to Alexandria. Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) will take more than 50 minutes to get to Alexandria.

Getting Around
For transportation you can be at the King Street Metro station in minutes by jumping on the complimentary King Street Trolley that runs every 15 minutes. Buy a Metro ticket and zip off to practically everything noteworthy in D.C. -- couldn't be easier.

For Mom and Dad
Evening Wine Hour
Complimentary wine is poured by the glass every evening in the lobby.

Spa Treatments
The hotel doesn't have a spa, but does offer in-room spa services by delivering estheticians and massage therapists right to your room. Choose from a host of treatments including massages, body wraps, facials and mani/pedis. Reserve at the front desk.