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What's the most vibrant/similar city around DC that isn't in DC?
Would it be Silver Spring, MD? Would it be Arlington, VA? Alexandria, VA?
Thinking of urban density, walkability, pedestrian-friendly, etc...all the attributes that an urban environment might have....and that would be closest to a DC city life...that isn't in DC?
Alexandria. It predates DC, so you've got a historical core that is incredibly walkable. Silver Spring, Arlington and Bethesda are all dense, but they all feel like dense modern suburbs, and not like actual cities.
Alexandria. It predates DC, so you've got a historical core that is incredibly walkable. Silver Spring, Arlington and Bethesda are all dense, but they all feel like dense modern suburbs, and not like actual cities.
I agree. I know very little about Maryland. But when I went to Silver Spring it seemed a little older and less polished than say Ballston or Crystal City. Bethesda I was on a couple dates (got pretty darn drunk so memory is a little fuzzy LoL) but remember it being nice and fun. Nice restaurants.
I'd say that Arlington has some pretty old residential areas too just not as old as Old Town or most neighborhoods in the District. The house I live in was built in the 40s that's not very modern to me.
I'd say Arlington and Bethesda. Yes they're suburbs but they're the only ones that can match DC's density. You won't find tall buildings in Alexandria, and even though I love Old Town, I have to admit it feels more like a tourist attraction than a city sometimes. Also the walkable areas of Arlington are considerably larger than the ones in Alexandria.
What's the most vibrant/similar city around DC that isn't in DC?
Would it be Silver Spring, MD? Would it be Arlington, VA? Alexandria, VA?
Thinking of urban density, walkability, pedestrian-friendly, etc...all the attributes that an urban environment might have....and that would be closest to a DC city life...that isn't in DC?
Alexandria. It predates DC, so you've got a historical core that is incredibly walkable. Silver Spring, Arlington and Bethesda are all dense, but they all feel like dense modern suburbs, and not like actual cities.
I disagree, Silver Spring, Bethesda and Ross-Bal feel more like real Cities to me than Alexandria with the taller buildings. Old Towne is just about all Alexandria has to offer and even then its predominantly residential and retail, with the exception of that suburban looking Carlye/Patent agency complex. If they had mixed in more office I would say other wise.
And there's more to urbanity than the built physical environment. If we are talking Transportation options and international diversity then Silver Spring is unmathced even by D.C. itself (for the later).
I'm interested to see what responses this thread gets... I want to move to a more urban area, but I really don't think I could afford to move to DC proper right now. Would somewhere like Arlington or Alexandria be slightly cheaper, while still providing that more urban feel?
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