Commute to NAS PAX (Annapolis, Waldorf: condo, hotels, buying)

[fjh3]

I am starting a position at NAVAIR in April. I am wondering if anyone can give me an idea of where to live? I am used to living in a more urban are and looking for an area that has entertainment or an Annapolis like feel to it. Does that exist in southern Maryland? My girlfriend and I are in our early 30s and do not have any children.

I am also considering the National Harbor area. How far of a commute would it be from the National Harbor area? I did the drive outside of rush hour and it was roughly a hour. Would it be imflated greatly during rush hour?

Thanks in advance!

[tercel95]

Originally Posted by fjh3

I am starting a position at NAVAIR in April. I am wondering if anyone can give me an idea of where to live? I am used to living in a more urban are and looking for an area that has entertainment or an Annapolis like feel to it. Does that exist in southern Maryland? My girlfriend and I are in our early 30s and do not have any children.

I am also considering the National Harbor area. How far of a commute would it be from the National Harbor area? I did the drive outside of rush hour and it was roughly a hour. Would it be imflated greatly during rush hour?

Thanks in advance!

There is really nothing like what you are asking for within a reasonable commute to NAS PAX... I really like the area there but it is definitely suburban/rural...

The closest semi-large town is Waldforf which is about 45 minutes away... I wouldn't live directly in Waldorf but the neighboring towns of La Plata or Charlotte hall are good choices...

Where exactly is national harbor? The only thing I see coming up is Oxon Hill which in that case yes traffic would make the commute much longer... The area around PAX itself gets pretty crowded during rush hour...

[slowlane]

National Harbor is a newly opened hotel resort development beside the river at Oxon Hill, MD, my former long-time hometown. It claims to be the largest non-gambling convention resort on the East Coast, and includes a 14-story hotel (built by "Gaylord" of Opryland Nashville) and 2 other hotels with fancy shops also some expensive new Condo's. A Disney Corp. resort will be added in the future. National Harbor was envisioned and talked about for 30 years before finally opening. The National Harbor compound is separated from the greater community of Oxon Hill by a big security fence, and the management strongly avoids any association with the community name "Oxon Hill" which people associate very much with crime. I would not want to commute there from NAS PAX.

The waterfront town of Solomons, just across the river from NAS PAX, has some tourist charm and appeal including seafood restaurants and boutiques, but is not a city like Annapolis or Alexandria. The county seats of Leonardtown and LaPlata also have a little charm with walkable "main streets" and art boutiques, and even communities of Amish / Mennonite people nearby.

The localities of Lexington Park and California, MD beside NAS PAX have department stores and chain restaurants, as well as a stage theater, but the closest city with an 2-story enclosed shopping Mall is Waldorf, MD near where I now live. Waldorf (a sprawling un-incorporated community which includes the gigantic planned community called "Saint Charles") has a wide variety of housing types, dining options, a new baseball team, and an ice rink. But it's getting an increasingly bad image.

[beilart]

About the only town with an "Annapolis feel" is Annapolis.

[tercel95]

Originally Posted by slowlane

National Harbor is a newly opened hotel resort development beside the river at Oxon Hill, MD, my former long-time hometown. It claims to be the largest non-gambling convention resort on the East Coast, and includes a 14-story hotel (built by "Gaylord" of Opryland Nashville) and 2 other hotels with fancy shops also some expensive new Condo's. A Disney Corp. resort will be added in the future. National Harbor was envisioned and talked about for 30 years before finally opening. The National Harbor compound is separated from the greater community of Oxon Hill by a big security fence, and the management strongly avoids any association with the community name "Oxon Hill" which people associate very much with crime. I would not want to commute there from NAS PAX.

The waterfront town of Solomons, just across the river from NAS PAX, has some tourist charm and appeal including seafood restaurants and boutiques, but is not a city like Annapolis or Alexandria. The county seats of Leonardtown and LaPlata also have a little charm with walkable "main streets" and art boutiques, and even communities of Amish / Mennonite people nearby.

The localities of Lexington Park and California, MD beside NAS PAX have department stores and chain restaurants, as well as a stage theater, but the closest city with an 2-story enclosed shopping Mall is Waldorf, MD near where I now live. Waldorf (a sprawling un-incorporated community which includes the gigantic planned community called "Saint Charles") has a wide variety of housing types, dining options, a new baseball team, and an ice rink. But it's getting an increasingly bad image.

Well put...

[Astrini]

I commute to PAX from Old Town Alexandria, approx. 65 miles, 1 hour & 20 minutes. I don't have any issues with traffic, but I'm going the opposite direction of most other people. I LOVE living in Alexandria, and hate loosing 3 hours a day in commuting! Learn to love books on tape, podcasts, talk radio, etc. Other than that, it's really not too bad, and not a completely unusual commuting time for people working in DC.
We've been looking at buying something in the area, and were also considering the harbor area. We're more seriously considering the northern part of Waldorf, MD 20603. This portion is inside the Saint Charles county border, for whatever that's worth, and you can get much more for your money there. You'll have a 1 hour commute to PAX and 25 minutes to downtown DC, and 18 miles to Alexandria.
Might be worth a look?