For those that grew up in NoVA (or spent a long time here) (Arlington: best town, apartments)

[KittyTwoShoes]

I recall growing up that the problem with the suburbia as a teen was you really needed a ride pretty much everywhere. While I had a small shopping area within a 1-2 mile walk, hanging out with friend required a parent with a car, or a friend who drove. While the Fairfax County area now is very different from the late 80's/early 90's, I spent a good deal of my teen/young adult years at: Springfield Mall area, Fair Oaks mall area, and Rolling Valley Mall. Tysons wasn't that built up at the time and Reston Town Centre was just a youngin' on the scene - and a LONG drive back in the day.

I mentioned to my spouse that when we eventually return to the DC area as most government employees do, I'd like to live in a place that is decent for our young kids to grow up as teens in. My last visit to Fair Oaks area I noticed a huge change in the area. I can say the same for Tysons and Springfield. I dream would be to live in Vienna/Oakton (I had many friends from that area that loved the walkability of Vienna, plus Amphora's is 24/7. In Fairfax I had Denny's and Tastee 24 Diner as my weekend hang-outs.

For those that live in West Falls Church - has there been a lot of rennovations? And how is the Tyson's expansion coming? I feel nostalgic a bit, but it's good to see change.

[car54]

I was born here in 1951 and have been here ever since. Until we got our driver's licenses (at 15 in those days) me and my buddies rode bikes everywhere within about a 25 mile radius of the 'hood (Annandale). We thought nothing of biking into DC or south to Occoquan to go swimming. And we were aboard clunky old Schwinns with balloon tires...not the carbon fiber racers of today.

Obviously, there was far, far, far less traffic in those days....and of course no "devises" that people can't seem to look up from for more than a few seconds at a time. Nope, what we did would be suicide today...we'd have probably been dead by the 4th of July.

[slowlane3]

Vienna was rated the #1 best town in the U.S.A. by Money magazine a few years ago.

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by car54

I was born here in 1951 and have been here ever since. Until we got our driver's licenses (at 15 in those days) me and my buddies rode bikes everywhere within about a 25 mile radius of the 'hood (Annandale). We thought nothing of biking into DC or south to Occoquan to go swimming. And we were aboard clunky old Schwinns with balloon tires...not the carbon fiber racers of today.

Obviously, there was far, far, far less traffic in those days....and of course no "devises" that people can't seem to look up from for more than a few seconds at a time. Nope, what we did would be suicide today...we'd have probably been dead by the 4th of July.

Oh, I'm going to go down memory lane now. First off, I was raised in Maryland (PG County) and we didn't even have any malls. Going to Springfield Mall was our big treat!

I was born in 1963 and remember being 9 years old and riding my lavender banana seat bike down Indian Head Highway from our apartments to the Fort Foote convenience market to buy candy. It took most of the morning to do it. I think if I tried that today, I either be dead very quickly or picked up by the helicopter parents.

[Middlin]

I also grew up in PG County and actually worked at Iverson Mall (oh my) but in those days no one hung out at the mall. We were within a mile of two shopping centers and we would ride our bikes to Burger King and 7-11 or to Roy Rogers. We tended to "hang" at the park in the neighborhood, ride bikes to various destinations before we got our licenses.

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by Middlin

I also grew up in PG County and actually worked at Iverson Mall (oh my) but in those days no one hung out at the mall. We were within a mile of two shopping centers and we would ride our bikes to Burger King and 7-11 or to Roy Rogers. We tended to "hang" at the park in the neighborhood, ride bikes to various destinations before we got our licenses.

I worked at Iverson Mall in the early 80s at the Barbara Ellen Fitness Center.

[HokieFan]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

Oh, I'm going to go down memory lane now. First off, I was raised in Maryland (PG County) and we didn't even have any malls. Going to Springfield Mall was our big treat!

I was born in 1963 and remember being 9 years old and riding my lavender banana seat bike down Indian Head Highway from our apartments to the Fort Foote convenience market to buy candy. It took most of the morning to do it. I think if I tried that today, I either be dead very quickly or picked up by the helicopter parents.

Or picked up by CPS because your parents allowed you to "free range".

[KittyTwoShoes]

I remember when Rolling Valley Mall had a movie theater. Also when Springfield was 'the' mall to go to. Somewhere along the line Fair Oaks surpassed Springfield, and Springfield turned into a 'no-go' zone due to issues with teens in the late 90's. We drove to Tyson's for the Tower Records and into Georgetown to pick up Manic Panic hair dye and Doc Martens. Ah, the days before Hot Topic opened up in the malls.

I was saddened to see Tastee Diner close down on 29 though. Yeah, it was kinda a dump, but it was a beloved one.

[JT-3]

Grew up in Herndon, it's hard to believe how much it's changed. I can remember Peoples, the movie theater, Evans, Bradlees, A&P, Hechinger, etc. Herndon and Vienna were great places to raise a family.

Beside more traffic, seems Great Falls has stayed mostly the same.

I was there recently. How is is the 29 diner is gone but that sleazy ship motel is still standing?

[r small]

I grew up in South Arlington. Everything we needed was within a short walking distance. Later my family moved to Fairfax Co. just south of Alexandria. Not as convenient as Arlington but we had a good shopping center nearby (Hollin Hall) and a short bus ride into Alexandria and DC. So not having a car wasn't too bad.