School’s out! Now what? Sure, the summers are hot and humid in Virginia, and the air conditioning makes you want to stay inside all day, but don’t let your kids get stuck sitting on the couch for the next few months.

Living next to a university campus offers a plethora of benefits. Young minds bring fresh vitality to the community, mature trees and historic buildings dot the landscape, and countless learning opportunities are right at your fingertips.

In the mood for a great workout? Maybe go for an indoor run on a hot summer day, shoot some hoops, lift a few weights, take a dance class, or step into the ring for a boxing match?

If you really want to step back into time and do some shopping at the same time, then Union Station should be your stop. Just three stops from Chancellor's Row at the Brookland/CUA Metro station on the red line, Union Station is a masterpiece of design that has served countless travelers over the years. Before airplanes became popular, it was trains that moved the masses throughout the country and Union Station was built in 1908 to serve as a gateway to the nation's capital. Back in 1908, The station covered more ground than any other building in the U.S. and was the biggest train station in the world.

A short walk to Metro from Chancellor's Row and you have easy access to the entire city. Five stops from the red line Brookland-CUA Metro stop is Gallery Place/Chinatown and that's where I visited today. As I exited the subway, the Chinatown arch rose before me. It is ornate and yet huge in size, brilliant in color and reminiscent of the rich cultural heritage that it represents. To either side of the arch is an array of restaurants, some chinese, some not. I am tempted to step in and grab a bite but I keep walking. With the Verizon center down the block, a variety of stores, bars and restaurants are positioned to serve the thousands who come to witness the both sports and entertainment. The hardest lunchtime decision is deciding what to actually eat, a decision I will save for later.

Are you an early bird? Every Saturday morning vendors from all around the region set up shop (or table) at the Alexandria Farmers Market. Although it officially starts at 5AM, some have their wares out even earlier. This last Saturday I arrived at 7AM to find the courtyard full of vendors, the sun working its way up through the trees and a light breeze welcoming me. Laid out across many tables were vegetables of all shapes, sizes and colors, freshly made muffins, flowers, trinkets and antiques waiting to be purchased. In a squared off area were the cooked breads from Bonjour Bakery. They were amazing and I couldn't help but have a cranberry muffin. Yes, it was tasty and the experience of shopping with birds flying overhead and the sun coming up made it even better. Three steps away was a fresh squeezed orange juice vendor where I washed down my muffin in several large gulps.