any other "new environments"? (Arlington, Reston: home, employment, neighborhoods)

[TheAllens]

I am moving from Phoenix to NOVA within the next couple of months. I love the feel, the look and the "newness" of the area from Tysons Corner to the Sterling area. I did not go out to the Ashburn area but am reading alot of good things about it. Is the Ashburn area just as "updated" as the area I like? My hubby will be commuting to areas of Maryland, Rockville/Bethesda, for work so we are looking to stay fairly "close to the border" :-) I have 3 children in middle school and high school and definately schools, good family areas and shopping are a big desire.
Thanks for any feedback.
Greatly looking forward to moving here and having the beautiful environment and much cooler weather.

[zenetanar]

Rockville is not close to Ashburn as there is not a direct route. But yes, it is very "new."

[Dingler]

The key to successful living in the DC area is to find a home near your job and other key employment areas in case you move to another position in the future. Asburn to Rockville is 2 hours.

[knopfler]

Originally Posted by TheAllens

I am moving from Phoenix to NOVA within the next couple of months. I love the feel, the look and the "newness" of the area from Tysons Corner to the Sterling area. I did not go out to the Ashburn area but am reading alot of good things about it. Is the Ashburn area just as "updated" as the area I like? My hubby will be commuting to areas of Maryland, Rockville/Bethesda, for work so we are looking to stay fairly "close to the border" :-) I have 3 children in middle school and high school and definately schools, good family areas and shopping are a big desire.
Thanks for any feedback.
Greatly looking forward to moving here and having the beautiful environment and much cooler weather.

If you're looking to commute conveniently from Virginia to Rockville/Bethesda, don't even bother looking at Ashburn. No direct route. Focus your energies on Vienna, which has a nice hometown feel but is still very updated as well - half of "Tysons" (which has no official zip code) is considered Vienna.

Any schools that you find in McLean/Vienna/Great Falls/Arlington will be suitably acceptable for your children. It's a good area - the downside is that it's priced accordingly. Expect to spend a minimum of 600k for a single family in Vienna. If that's too rich for your blood, the next towns out to look in would include Reston and Falls Church...

[5stones]

Asburn to Rockville is 2 hours

NOT! I live in Leesburg and can get to Rockville in 30 minutes (in non rush hour) just take Whites ferry over to 28 and you are there. Ashburn would be about 15min minutes more.

NOw... that's something I would want to do for an everyday commute. The ferry shuts downs some during the winter for ice on the river etc... and then you would have to go up to Point of rocks to take the Bridge over.

For MD lliving close to Rockville look into Germantown/Gaithersburg/montgomery village etc... all close. Good schools etc...
Frederick MD as well cheaper cost of living.(unsure about the schools in federick though)

Also right near Point of rocks MD there is a fairly new develpoment right off of 15. The MARC train runs out of there into Rockville and on into DC from Point of Rocks.

For VA the easiest place to live and commute to Rockville would be Lovettesville (right by the point of rocks bridge on the VA side) Small town but it's growing pretty fast with new housing etc...

[claremarie]

To minimize your husband's commute, you might consider areas in Montgomery County, such as Potomac or Bethesda. Potomac would have more of the "newness" you like; Bethesda has many charming (and expensive) neighborhoods but they are older. Both have lots of trees, rec facilities, excellent schools, shopping, restaurants -- everything you will find in NOVA but much closer to his work locations.
If you must live in NOVA, then stick to areas that are within a few miles of the Beltway, such as McLean, Great Falls, and Vienna. Ashburn is NOT within reasonable commuting distance of Rockville and Bethesda, unless your husband is working the midnight shift. There is nothing in Ashburn that you can't find somewhere in Maryland.

[saganista]

Well, the ferry does run 5am to 11pm every day, and it's only $6 for a round trip ticket, but it isn't like the Staten Island Ferry or anything...

http://www.mcmullans.org/canal/image...ry-Cropped.jpg

If one were just hung up on VA, you'd have to be close to the Beltway, e.g., McLean or Falls Church-ish, but I'd concur that there are plenty of areas, particularly north (including NE and NW) of Rockville, that while a little distant from the city, do have a lot to offer. That's probably where I would look first...

[5stones]

Don't get wrong...I don't suggest living in Ashburn for a commmute to Rockville. but I just wanted to claify that it IS NOT a 2 hour trip.

The ferry runs loads of commuters but it can only hold about 20 cars per trip and it's slow! and also it's unrealiable in the winter.

I too say if the job is in Rockville...look just north of the area, it's very nice.