If you’ve hit up Tysons or Pentagon City three times this month and still haven’t found anything good, it might be time to take a break from the chain stores and try a boutique shopping experience instead. Our favorite spot for local shopping? Old Town Alexandria, where the cobblestone streets are lined with independent shop after independent shop. And starting Friday, those shops have banded together to offer a major incentive for visiting: the annual scavenger hunt.
Here’s how it works: Grab a passport map (pictured above) at a participating store, or download one at home. Get your passport stamped at all 35 participating stores, then stop by Periwinkle (1557 Potomac Greens Dr.; 703-519-5242) to pick up your reward: a swag bag filled with fun goodies from all the shops you visited.
When you hand in your completed card (which you can do at any of the participating locations), you’ll also be entered to win the highly desireable prize of a $100 gift card to each of the participating stores—that’s a $3,500 shopping spree! The OTBD will also be giving away single sets of $100 gift cards. Here’s a hot tip: If you register in advance you’ll double your chances of winning.
Participants have all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (September 21 through 23) to compete their passport. Make sure to plan ahead: Some shops aren’t open on Sunday, so Saturday is your best bet to finish.
Learn more about the Scavenger Hunt at the Old Town Boutique District’s website.
Sarah is the Editor-in-Chief of Washingtonian Bride & Groom, and writes about weddings, fashion, and shopping. Her work has also appeared in Refinery29, Bethesda Magazine, and Washington City Paper, among others. She is a Georgetown University graduate, lives in Columbia Heights, and you can find her on Instagram at @washbridegroom and @sarahzlot.
