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I prefer the new money look of NOVA, but I appreciate the Mainline's beauty.
My issue with new money suburbia in NOVA is it's just too disjointed and random feeling. I'm thinking Woodbridge, Occoquan. Sometimes it feels like I'm driving through a giant mall sometimes. Especially in places like Dunn Loring, Reston and Alexandria.
My issue with new money suburbia in NOVA is it's just too disjointed and random feeling. I'm thinking Woodbridge, Occoquan. Sometimes it feels like I'm driving through a giant mall sometimes. Especially in places like Dunn Loring, Reston and Alexandria.
Exactly. Say what you will about uber-white, upper-crust areas like the Main Line or Metrowest (I think they're both more diverse than they get credit for and are getting moreso, but clearly there's much more progress to be made), but they both ooze with a classic/timeless charm that is few-and-far between in the DC area.
Exactly. Say what you will about uber-white, upper-crust areas like the Main Line or Metrowest (I think they're both more diverse than they get credit for and are getting moreso, but clearly there's much more progress to be made), but they both ooze with a classic/timeless charm that is few-and-far between in the DC area.
I think Katherine Hepburn and Helen Hope Montgomery Scott would agree.
Also just for reference, the Main Line are not Philadelphia's only eclectic and historic suburbs.
Bucks County is just as beautiful and nice as the Main Line in so many ways.
(In addition to Lower Gwynedd and West Chester/Brandywine Valley which is not considered the Main Line).
Here is a fantastic profile of Bucks County for those not familiar.
Mainline definitely feels like what I envision England to be (never been to the UK)
In general, Baltimore and Philly are the cities and suburbs that make me think most of England.
Which Baltimore suburbs would those be, besides Ellicott City I'd guess (I've never been)?
The way you feel about DC's MD suburbs (which I get why they are the way they are) is how I feel about Baltimore's suburbs, which always make me ask "WHY????"
Since it's been brought up a few times, I also think Philadelphia's NJ suburbs get an unfair profile. Yes, they're generally not quite as affluent and less "well kept" in more cases than the PA 'burbs, but there's still a bunch of very nice/pleasant areas that often go under the radar or get overshadowed by the PA 'burbs:
Since it's been brought up a few times, I also think Philadelphia's NJ suburbs get an unfair profile. Yes, they're generally not quite as affluent and less "well kept" in more cases than the PA 'burbs, but there's still a bunch of very nice/pleasant areas that often go under the radar or get overshadowed by the PA 'burbs:
My favorite thing about New Jersey and Philadelphia is the fact that the New Jersey Shore is considered part of the Philadelphia CSA and only about an hour from Center City.
I mean Ocean City, New Jersey is just so quaint. DC has nothing comparable within about 60 mins.
Philadelphia has a stronger shore/beach culture than DC overall.
You can take the NJ Transit train (which DC has no strong commuter rail service) direct from Center City Philadelphia to the Atlantic Ocean in 60 minutes and for less than $9.75 each way! Insanely affordably to have a fun day trip at the beach from Philadelphia to the Atlantic for less than the average cost of an uber and the trip time is only 60 minutes on public transit. That is insane!
But the culture is literally and blatantly "dullness". People buy into it for schools, predictability, privacy, homogeneity, and quiet. Mainline is the same. with slightly denser centers but its not super exciting. by any stretch of the imagination.
I think Main Line town centers are a little more established, and feel busier in the daytime.. than say, the town centres in MetroWest.
I prefer the Main Line to Metrowest. MetroWest is like 1% excitement.
But again prefer both to strip mall or newer suburbs of NOVA.
Which Baltimore suburbs would those be, besides Ellicott City I'd guess (I've never been)?
The way you feel about DC's MD suburbs (which I get why they are the way they are) is how I feel about Baltimore's suburbs, which always make me ask "WHY????"
Ellicott City, and Maybe Towson/Glyndon. Could be some other places that I'm not thinking of at the moment.
I can see city looking like England in quite a few neighborhoods.
I'm not a fan of most of Baltimore's suburbs...I HATE everything about the Liberty Road Corridor. I love Towson and Owings Mills, Reisterstown (lived there for 11 years), Columbia, Hunt Valley, Hampstead, Westminster.
My favorite thing about New Jersey and Philadelphia is the fact that the New Jersey Shore is considered part of the Philadelphia CSA and only about an hour from Center City.
I mean Ocean City, New Jersey is just so quaint. DC has nothing comparable within about 60 mins.
Philadelphia has a stronger shore/beach culture than DC overall.
You can take the NJ Transit train (which DC has no strong commuter rail service) direct from Center City Philadelphia to the Atlantic Ocean in 60 minutes and for less than $9.75 each way! Insanely affordably to have a fun day trip at the beach from Philadelphia to the Atlantic for less than the average cost of an uber and the trip time is only 60 minutes on public transit. That is insane!
You cannot do that in DC. Win for Philadelphia.
I can't even lie.... I like how you take shots at other cities. You have mastered the art.
Which Baltimore suburbs would those be, besides Ellicott City I'd guess (I've never been)?
The way you feel about DC's MD suburbs (which I get why they are the way they are) is how I feel about Baltimore's suburbs, which always make me ask "WHY????"
Dundalk actually, with all the old suburban rowhomes .
But more so Baltimore itself and it’s older stone buildings near Clipper Mill and Hampden, and down in Mt. Winans where there’s really old architecture and ancient rowhomes with old machinery and rolling grass lots. Up by Pimlico even, there’s some Tudor and Stone Rowhomes Even the formstone and the cobble stone down Fells Point. Lotta squat brick or even stone buildings and some Tudor finishes. Attached suburban SFHs too especially in far NE Baltimore. Even parts of Waverly and Better Waverly.
I drive some people from England in my Uber up I-83 and based off what they saw in the highway they said it reminded them of Leeds.
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