A Del Ray mural walk that works with kids

The easiest version with kids

Use the current Del Ray Mural Stroll from Visit Alexandria as the route. It starts at Mount Vernon Recreation Center and covers about three quarters of a mile. The full list includes murals at the recreation center, 2417 Mount Vernon Avenue, Cheesetique, La'Baik, Dream Forest, St. Elmo's, Vélocity Bicycle Cooperative, the floral garden mural, Kaizen Tavern, and Junction Bakery.

With younger children, I would choose four or five stops instead of making every mural mandatory. Ask each child to find one animal, one train, one flower, and one favorite color. That gives the walk a job without turning it into a long scavenger hunt.

Start where the bathroom plan is clear

Mount Vernon Recreation Center is at 2701 Commonwealth Avenue and appears as the starting point on the current visitor route. The City says restrooms at recreation centers are available during operating hours. Check the Mount Vernon Recreation Center page before leaving because building access and hours can change.

Use the bathroom before the walk if the center is open. If it is closed, make another bathroom plan before promising the route. The murals are outdoors, but that does not make every nearby business a public restroom.

The murals most likely to hold a child's attention

The current route has several easy visual hooks. The Cheesetique mural shows the old St. Asaph Racetrack, trains, and the Washington skyline. The La'Baik wall is filled with dog portraits. Dream Forest uses bright blue and interlocking trees. The Vélocity Bicycle Cooperative mural shows an outdoor market scene with neighborhood children and dogs. The Junction Bakery mural brings the walk back to Del Ray's railway and streetcar history.

The Alexandria BPAC mural walk is a longer 1.2 mile version with 13 sites and more history. It is useful for older children or adults who want the full route. Families with short legs can use the smaller current route and stop whenever the walk has already been a win.

Treat the street crossings as part of the plan

This is a neighborhood walk beside active streets and businesses. Keep younger children beside an adult, use marked crossings, and pause before anyone runs toward the next mural. A stroller may help with distance, but this guide does not promise that every curb, sidewalk, or construction area will be easy to navigate on the day you visit.

Before starting, tell children how many murals you plan to see and where the walk ends. If the group still has energy, add another stop. If not, the first four murals still count as the whole plan.

Do not promise the splash park yet

The Del Ray Gateway project at 2700 Mount Vernon Avenue is turning the former pool into an interactive fountain and splash park. The City's May 2026 update says the opening was delayed and construction was still in progress. Treat it as a construction site, not a water play stop, until the City posts that it is open.

Bring water and weather protection for the walk. If the heat is too much, save the murals for another morning instead of counting on the unfinished fountain as the cool down plan.

An optional indoor art stop

Del Ray Artisans Gallery is across from the recreation center at 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue. It is free and open to the public during exhibit hours, but it closes to the public in July and after the Holiday Market in December. Check the current gallery hours before adding it. It works best as a bonus when it is open, not as the part of the outing children were promised.

Keep the next plan simple

Use the Alexandria family outing guide when the mural walk needs a nearby second stop. For another no admission plan, compare the Northern Virginia free outing guide. If rain makes the sidewalks a poor choice, switch to the rainy day guide instead of forcing the walk.

The two minute check before leaving

Check the weather, recreation center access, the City construction update, and the current mural route. Bring water and choose the stopping point before the first mural. The walk itself is free, but food, drinks, shopping, and parking choices can add cost. A short walk with one snack afterward is usually easier than trying to turn every Del Ray stop into one long outing.