Impressions of NoVA/Metro DC...(so far) (Arlington, Alexandria: how much, school) - Northern Virginia - Virginia - City-Data Forum

Tiger Beer · 03-27-2012, 03:41 AM

Probably half are familiar to know I've looked quite a bit into living in the Metro DC area. This is just impressions so far...much more exploring to do.

So far, I've just did a trip of the periphery of the Metro area. I started in College Park, MD, drove up Route 1, went over to Ellicott City, than over to Frederick, than into the WV Panhandle....than into VA which was basically Winchester, down 17 to Warrenton, futher down 17 to Fredericksburg, than up to Woodside. Currently staying over night in Alexandria-Lincolnia. Essentially doing the peripheral commuter areas, and going in 'layers' from the outside untimately into the inside of DC itself.

Since this is the VA forum, I'm going to predominately focus on VA/WV and Frederick MD (as it's close to NoVA as well).

First off, I have to say that the METRO area is quite beautiful. Lots of woods, and rolling hills, and just a nice beauty to it. This goes for both the Maryland side and the Virginia side.

I'll start with Frederick, Maryland: Pretty cool city visually. I also liked Frederick County. I believe I've read that the cheaper housing is bringing in Baltimore and DC residents both. I can see that. It seemed to have a mix of both. Some 'limping' around, as I heard someone describe Baltimore people

Between BOTH whites and blacks, not a black thing. Anyways, it seems that Frederick is bringing in a bit of both of it's larger nearby cities. You can see elements of both from DC and Baltimore.

I also drove down to Point-of-Rocks, Brunswick and up to Harper's Ferry. Rural, with some access to MARC. Basically the housing around was predominately residential or farmland. Not much commercial stuff around. A few McMansions, but not tons.

Once I went to Charles Town, WV, that changed quickly. McMansions and sprawl. Pretty much every chain you can imagine was in abundance. Same when I went up to Martinsburg, WV. Also a mix of rural throughout as well, just around those two cities, a ton of sprawl. Shepherdstown, WV was a very nice college town. Not much sprawl around that one, very nice around it actually. Nice scenery between Charles Town and Shepherdstown.

WINCHESTER, VA: Okay, first outer NoVA city to report on. Yep, the actual downtown was nice. I was surprised with how much sprawl is all around it though. THe land is flatter than I thought. More hills and rolling hills in Frederick MD, and parts of WV (although parts of WV was also a bit flat too - Martinsburg area, in particular). At the time, I was thinking it was ironic that people move all the way out to Winchester and WV to escape sprawl, when it seemed like there was all the same chains just as you'd get closer to DC. But, when I later went to Springfield/Beltway, and realized how much crazier it is there, that I could than understand why people who like all the chains and stores, might prefer to like them 'way out there' instead.

FAUQUIER COUNTY: From Winchester, I drove towards WARRENTON. I believe I might have tapped a bit into Loudon and definitely Faquier. Insanely beautiful area! Highway 17. I definitely saw all the horse farms everywhere. I recall the village sign for 'PARIS', was spectacularly beautiful. All along 17, pretty much ALL WAY to Fredericksburg via Warrenton, I was surprised just how NON-EXISTANT the sprawl was. Just farms and forests and rolling hills, and simply beautiful. Along the way to Warrenton, the speed limit was strictly enforced at 45mph. I take it there are anti-sprawl, anti-traffic, etc. It wasn't until I got into I believe the Warrenton city limits, that I started seeing chains and such again. It was nowhere on the level that I saw in WV and Winchester. Warrenton looked like a pleasant place, in a very pleasant county.

FREDERICKSBURG, VA: Set up along a river, there are some nice views around there. Not hilly and beautiful like Shanandoah, etc., but nice views of the river along it. There is also VRE access - Viriginia Rail into DC. The town looked comfortable, walkable, and a nice size.

WOODSIDE, VA: I went to the Potomac Mills. Woodside seemed like a huge immigrant magnet. Lots of Spanish-speakers, I could also see African-Americans who I assume were gentrified out from further north? The people all looked family-oriented, hard-workers, etc. Lots of 'stuff' built everywhere for housing, in the style that looks very new.

NoVA Traffic: Particularly between Fredericksburg up to Springfield, I started seeing MANY signs of that crazy traffic and bad drivers that I've often read about. I didn't experience any of that on the Maryland side, or up in WV, or way out on the periphery parts of NoVA. But, in this area, it seemed like a ton more aggressive and crazy drivers. Lots of people going way over the speed limit and quickly swerving around you at the last second.

Springfield, VA: I didn't get to this area until around 8-9pm, but just amazed by the craziness of the traffic, and the excessive car-oriented nature of this area. It suddenly made sense why people try to get 'way out there' away from it. I'd read about the Spaghetti Bowl. Just one of the most car-oriented places I've ever seen. I also tapped a bit into Annandale, but will explore more today. But, tapping into Springfield, I can suddenly understand more of the NoVA area, and the regular comments to drivers/cars/etc.

Well, that's just basically the impressions. It's probably quite consistent with what everyone always says anyways. Nothing all that new there.

I've been awake since 4:30, currently 5:30am, and just a roar of traffic all last night, and even now. Been watching TV, and they are already doing traffic reports, and cameras of the traffic. Yep, definitely crazy around here with cars and traffic. I'm sure I'll have more to say about it after today.

Today's plans: Arlington, Alexandria, Annandale, Burke, Vienna, Tyson's Corner, Fairfax, Falls Church, etc. I'll probably drive out to Reston and Leesburg out of curiousity. Than over into MoCo, PG, HoCo and such in Maryland. Will also get into the District itself (although I've previously explored that quite a bit in the past, so not a high interest, but definitely want to get into there again as well). Doing things in layers, and in a spiral, so going closer and closer in today and tomorrow.

OrangeFish · 03-27-2012, 04:29 AM

Great post, Tiger Beer! I'm enjoying your NoVA travelogue.

(I think what you referred to as Woodside is Woodbridge.)

My dream is to move to Paris, VA once my kids are out of school. I just adore that area, and it is not that far from DC for museums, the arts, etc.

Enjoy your day today!

vermonter16 · 03-27-2012, 04:55 AM

I'm on the road by 3:50am to beat the morning traffic! I think you mean that the Spaghetti Bowl is the Mixing Bowl? Maybe I'm mistaken but I've actually never heard Spaghetti unless that is something new. I live in Manassas and try to stay far away from the Mixing Bowl though it has improved a lot over the years.

Great log!

CAVA1990 · 03-27-2012, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vermonter16

I'm on the road by 3:50am to beat the morning traffic! I think you mean that the Spaghetti Bowl is the Mixing Bowl? Maybe I'm mistaken but I've actually never heard Spaghetti unless that is something new. I live in Manassas and try to stay far away from the Mixing Bowl though it has improved a lot over the years.

Great log!

With all the flyover interchange ramps I think I like spaghetti bowl better.

Caladium · 03-27-2012, 05:11 AM

You sure covered a lot of ground, TB. Impressive that you made it out to West Virginia, and then Springfield! It's a shame you just missed the cherry trees, but at least there are a few still in bloom.