Dominion Hillls, Arlington-good place to live? (Herndon, Vienna: skateboarding, houses, neighborhood)

[beawaters]

Hi,
My family and I are relocating to the NoVa area for my husband's job. This could potentially be a permanent move. He'll be working in D.C. and will commute-he is terrible at public transportation commuting and would like it to be as short and efficient as possible. However we have kids in elementary/middle school so we need to focus on school quality too. After some research I've found some houses we could afford in the Dominion Hills area of Arlington. A short bus ride to Ballston metro for him, good school pyramid for the kids. One of the houses is more towards the Seven Corners area (McKinley Road?)and I've read some "scary" stories about this area on the forum. Could anyone shed any light on what Dominion Hills is like as a neighborhood? Safe? Family-oriented?

Thanks

[CaseyMac]

Dominion Hills is a GREAT place to settle. The neighborhood has great character, GOOD schools, is safe and best of all, within the shadow of Ballston and DC! Depending on where you are in the neighborhood, your husband will either walk to the East Falls Church station on Metro's Orange Line or take a Metrobus running along Wilson Blvd for an 8 minute ride to the Ballston Station. From there, DC is simply minutes away.

So you have heard about Seven Corners.... Yep, Seven Corners in and of itself is a place we like to get through, rather than stick around. They do have a good Barnes and Noble and the Dogfish Alehouse is a good neighborhood pub. But Seven Corners might as well be in another state when you enter Dominion Hills. I would not worry in other words.

Best of luck!!!

[beawaters]

Thanks, CaseyMac, you've told me pretty much what I wanted to know!

[CaseyMac]

Oh no problem. I feel badly as many people move here and move to distant suburbs and in turn do not get to see the beauty and uniqueness of this area. I forgot to mention some other things about DH:

-You are very near the W&OD/Custis Bike Trail. Bike to DC or bike west out to Vienna, Herndon or Purcellville.
-The Westover shops and restaurants are a little strip along Washington Blvd (5 mins away) with places like the Lost Dog Cafe for pizza, a Thai place and the legendary and loved Lebanese Taverna. This is a great place to go if you want a quick (but good) sit down meal or take out.
-The Upton Hill Regional Park is right across Wilson Blvd from DH. There's mini golf for your kids (and visiting friends/cousins), a pool, etc.
-A new skateboarding park has opened on Wilson Blvd right across from Dominion Hills
-There is a swim club next to the above
-A community garden/tennis court/garden at the bottom of the hill where Wilson and Manchester meet

All of this is like right in your neighborhood and then of course--coming down the hill on Wilson you see the Ballston buildings and the Washington Monument!