What is one thing you wish you'd known before YOU moved to NoVa? (Richmond: home, closing)

[chariega]

Originally Posted by cdmurphy

It wouldn't have been a dealbreaker for me, but I was surprised to find that self-service car washes (the kind where you pull into a bay and wash your car yourself with the sprayer and brush) are rare here. I prefer that kind. I finally found one in Manassas that I like.

I thought I was the only person who missed those car washes! There's also one at the Shell station (used to be Crown) on Leesburg Pike across from the Culmore shopping center in Falls Church.

[hiker16]

Wait.... there are times when it *isn't* rush hour?

[ngadude]

Originally Posted by HEATHER72

I wish someone told me that when refering to let's say road North 29 and South 29... it's more like north = east and south = west. To this day it still confuses me! This can also be true for signs for 495. I have yet to figure out what is the outer and inner loop.

The beltway doesn't bother me, but Rt. 29 is a pet peeve of mine too! The only place it heads SOUTH is after Warrenton down to Culpeper and beyond (I guess). Here in NOVA it is east/west! I can't count the times I've gone on it the wrong way trying to guess whether "south" or "north" is the way I wanted to go. Someone needs to fix the signs on it here in NOVA, but they won't as it's been this way since I moved down here in 1981 (and before that, obviously).

[ACWhite]

Originally Posted by ngadude

The beltway doesn't bother me, but Rt. 29 is a pet peeve of mine too! The only place it heads SOUTH is after Warrenton down to Culpeper and beyond (I guess). Here in NOVA it is east/west! I can't count the times I've gone on it the wrong way trying to guess whether "south" or "north" is the way I wanted to go. Someone needs to fix the signs on it here in NOVA, but they won't as it's been this way since I moved down here in 1981 (and before that, obviously).

I'm with both of you! I've done the same thing.

I also wish that the route 66 entry ramps were better marked in the McLean area, near the beltway. I visit a friend out there and always get turned around.

Heather, I don't know if your confusion is the same as mine was about the inner and outer loops, but here was the solution to my confusion. If you think of one O a little smaller than another placed inside the bigger one, the smaller one is the "inner loop." Therefore, for example, if you are going north on 495 from the Mixing Bowl/Springfield area to Georgetown Pike, for example, you are on the inner loop. If you are going south on 495 from Georgetown Pike to Springfield, you are on the outer loop.

[pcity]

Originally Posted by ACWhite

Heather, I don't know if your confusion is the same as mine was about the inner and outer loops, but here was the solution to my confusion. If you think of one O a little smaller than another placed inside the bigger one, the smaller one is the "inner loop." Therefore, for example, if you are going north on 495 from the Mixing Bowl/Springfield area to Georgetown Pike, for example, you are on the inner loop. If you are going south on 495 from Georgetown Pike to Springfield, you are on the outer loop.

Or another way to remember:

Inner Loop is clockwise. Outer Loop is counterclockwise.

[lovemy4kids]

Hi Jenny,
We lived all over the US and even lived over seas for three years. The biggest shock (or disappointment) is the way sports are here. We are new to sports with young kids so do not have a lot to compare. The soccer is run quite well in that all the games and practices are at one location (Gainesville, Haymarket, Bristow area). However, our sons who are under the age of 10 have to go to practice at 8:00 pm on a school night and the drive is about 25 minutes from our home. There's no way to request a coach who practices closer to our kids' school. We've had this discussion with so many parents who feel the same way. Even some coaches have said they wish they could get kids who live closer to the practice site so more could show up.

Good luck with it all!

[Flamingo13]

Originally Posted by hiker16

Wait.... there are times when it *isn't* rush hour?

I believe that would be: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and probably 2 or 3 a.m. until about 4 a.m. lol

[CaliTerp07]

Originally Posted by Flamingo13

I believe that would be: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and probably 2 or 3 a.m. until about 4 a.m. lol

Negative, ghost rider. They do construction on the beltway between midnight and 5 am, and shut it down completely at short intervals. I've come back from class late at night on Fridays to that joy sometimes!!!

[Flamingo13]

Originally Posted by CaliTerp07

Negative, ghost rider. They do construction on the beltway between midnight and 5 am, and shut it down completely at short intervals. I've come back from class late at night on Fridays to that joy sometimes!!!

Guess I stand corrected - there is NO time to avoid traffic LOL

[Alltheusernamesaretaken]

I am from NJ, and I guess it's all relative, how things are perceived here. I find people to be VERY nice in NoVa, and I love that strangers will talk to me. I always talk to strangers but up north it's not well-received. =D

I am also amazed I don't get the finger while driving and that people actually let me change lanes without making me feel like it could be the last thing I ever do.

I love being called Ma'am, I love that the cashiers acknowledge my existence and say "Have a nice day," I love that neighbors I haven't actually met yet still wave "hello."