A Guide to Choosing the Right D.C. Suburb For Your Lifestyle

North Arlington is a prestigious Virginia suburb with excellent amenities for families. Top-rated schools, several parks, and an array of local businesses make this a sought-after community. People are drawn to its easygoing vibe and high-end neighborhoods.

Shopping and dining are easy finds in North Arlington, and eateries showcase this dynamic and diverse community. Ballston Quarter features a plethora of international restaurants, including Bollywood Bistro Express, Copa Kitchen & Bar, and Meze. Retail locations include Macy’s, LensCrafters, and a variety of local services. Catch a movie at Regal Cinemas or sip some wine, grab a bite, and explore your inner artist at Muse Paintbar.

Grocery shopping is easy, even for the granola and natural food lovers, with Whole Foods. Support a smaller market with many efforts to boost sustainability at MOM'S Organic Market. Get the freshest local produce, baked goods, fish, meat, and artisanal products at the Westover Farmers Market.

Finding some R&R and parks for running around with the kids is no struggle in North Arlington. Quincy Park offers a baseball/softball field, six tennis courts, a basketball court, a sand volleyball court, a playground, and plenty of open space to frolic and bask in the sun’s rays. Oakland Park is a great spot to enjoy a picnic, hang out with friends, and just reflect on your week. Thomas Jefferson Community & Fitness Center has plenty of exercise equipment, an indoor track, sports courts, and programs for folks of all ages.

These are a few of Arlington Public Schools District excellent schools:

 

 

Offering a more on-the-go feel than North Arlington, South Arlington is home to the Pentagon and Amazon’s second corporate headquarters. This community has a modern vibe with many recent expansions in tow. Super close to D.C., it’s easy to get around with the well-developed public transportation system. This town is definitely about the hustle-and-bustle and has premier shopping and nightlife to match the modern ambiance.

Fashion Centre at Pentagon City will quickly meet all your shopping and dining needs. From Aldo to The Apple Store, Coach to Cinnabon, this substantial retail space has everything you need to have a lovely, well-spent afternoon. Seven Corners Center is a terrific retail location to grab some paints at Michaels Arts & Crafts, home-remodeling materials from Home Depot, or just about anything your family needs from Burlington Coat Factory.

For some in-depth shopping of home goods, groceries, and nearly everything under the sun, head to the nearest Target. Support a local grocery store with fantastic Asian ingredients and fresh, exotic produce from the Vietnam Supermarket.

There are so many great pastimes available to South Arlington residents. Providence RECenter has countless fitness and swimming classes for children and adults alike. This center hosts extensive camps and programming for children, ensuring they stay active while having fun. Bluemont Park offers South Arlington residents a 7-acre lush park with amenities galore. There are grassy fields for soccer, football, and lacrosse, tennis and volleyball courts, picnic areas, various trails, and nature areas with streams. Upton Hill Regional Park is teeming with activities suitable for the whole family. You can play some minigolf, cool off at the Ocean Dunes Waterpark, hit the batting cages, or take a serene walk through one of the walking trails.

These are a few of Arlington Public Schools District excellent schools:

 

Springfield is a suburb in Fairfax County, Virginia, featuring many excellent retail locations, restaurants, parks, and trails. An excellent combination of outdoor and indoor recreation with a small-town feel, Springfield is an ideal community for professionals and families alike. The suburban nature has many folks commuting to work, quickly done with terrific public transit systems.

For entertainment, dining, and shopping, Springfield Town Center has it all. Meet up with friends for some games and drinks at Dave & Buster’s. Get your brows done at Perfect Eyebrows before snagging that new makeup set from Sephora. A Regal Cinema, department stores, services, and more, this retail center is IT. Lake Accotink Park is the premier nature area of Springfield. The 493-acre park offers countless family-friendly activities, camps, classes, events, picnic areas, pedestrian trails, and waterfront recreation.

Fortunately for natural food lovers, Whole Foods has graced Springfield with its presence. Trader Joe's is accessible as another fantastic choice for daily groceries and specialty goods. For something different and local, FRESHFARM hosts countless vendors every Saturday, selling seasonal produce, freshly prepared foods, meats, cheese, coffee, and so much more.

Fairfax County Public Schools District serves the Springfield community:

 

 

Annandale is a suburb in Fairfax County and features endless acres of forests and parks. Beautiful hills, stream valleys, and outdoor recreation make it ideal for nature enthusiasts. Known as D.C.’s unofficial Koreatown, there are incredible authentic Korean restaurants throughout this community.

The quaint, charming Annandale Shopping Center serves the community’s needs with retail locations, services, and restaurants. This center is home to Beanetics Coffee Roasters, Annandale’s single coffee micro-roastery. Featuring Hapmudo Martial Arts, Comics and Cards, Cue Club Cafe, and Hair Unik, this open-air shopping mall is essential to Annandale.

Giant Food has affordable groceries with weekly sales and has been serving the Washington D.C. community since 1936. H MART is an excellent grocery store for grabbing authentic Korean specialty items, skincare, and your everyday supermarket needs.

Lush environs provide excellent outdoor recreation options. Hidden Oaks Nature Center features a large open nature area, exhibits, a pond, creeks, woodland trails, playgrounds, live animal exhibits, a rain garden, and a resource library. This community treasure holds events for children of all ages, exposing them to nature’s endless beauty and wonders. Practice your ollies or get your skateboarding basics down pat at Wakefield Skate Park. Ossian Hall Park is a pet-friendly park with a large playground and trail fit for dog walking, cycling, hiking, and pedestrians. This park offers ample grassy space for picnics, an outdoor basketball court, a football/soccer field, and a baseball/softball field, making it ideal for a family outing.

Fairfax County Public Schools District serves the Annandale community:

 

 

If you’re looking for an urban landscape with boundless shopping, dining, and entertainment options, Downtown D.C. is the place for you. This lively community is a cultural focal point of D.C., brimming with galleries, museums, and landmarks. Home to the White House and other monuments, simply open your eyes, step outside your condo, and see the epitome of American culture and history on every corner.

When you’re not busy painting the town red, get your everyday needs met at Whole Foods. Fresh produce, pasture-raised beef, pastured eggs, and more are within reach at the FRESHFARM By the White House location.

Luxury retail stores are peppered throughout downtown, including Christian Dior, Tiffany & Co., and Gucci, to name a few. Pick up your next pair of luxury eyeglasses or sunglasses at Morgenthal Frederics and an intoxicating fragrance from Jo Malone London. Stop in for a brew and scrumptious American-style meals at the acclaimed Yard House. Once you’ve gotten dinner underway, head to The National Theatre for top-tier performances, ranging from Broadway to classical music. Revel in a chic nightclub with refined friends at L8 Lounge. Downtown D.C. is vibrant and ideal for those who relish in the lap of luxury.

Learn about the history of wildlife, flora, fossils, and so much more at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Head to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture to educate yourself on the plight and rich history of African Americans through grand exhibits, poetry workshops, children’s programs, and a multitude of resources. The White House Visitor Center is free to visit and has nearly 100 historical artifacts and insights about our nation’s Founding Fathers.

The District of Columbia Public Schools serves Downtown D.C.:

 

Touted for being diverse and containing a wide range of communities, Falls Church is an excellent suburban neighborhood in Virginia. Families and professionals love the many eateries, retail spaces, and nature areas Falls Church has to offer. This town has a good mix of urban scenery with suburban charm, drawing inhabitants with its array of amenities.

Supermarket needs are easily met with significant savings at ALDI. For a selection of local vendors’ specialty goods, farm-fresh eggs, seasonal produce, fresh fish, cold-pressed juices, and more, head to the Saturday Falls Church Farmers Market.

Falls Church has strip malls and shopping centers throughout the town. The Eden Center is home to a supermarket and over 125 Vietnamese restaurants and boutiques. This center is a treasure of the East Coast Vietnamese-American community. Seven Corners Center features Michaels Arts & Crafts, Home Depot, Barnes & Noble, and other beloved big-brand stores.

Enjoy a family-fun day out, complete with grilling and playing on the playground of Big Chimneys Park. Roberts Park is a community favorite, featuring a basketball court, picnic tables, play equipment, a water fountain, and a large open field that’s great for soccer matches. Many community events and activities occur in Cherry Hill Park, earning the name of “crown jewel” of Falls Church’s park system. With all these recreational options, Falls Church is an ideal community for growing families.

Falls Church City Public Schools District serves the Falls Church community:

 

When you’re ready to move to D.C., please contact me. I have over 13 years of experience buying and selling properties and have significant knowledge of Washington's real estate market. Working with The Vantage Realty Group, I will find the perfect D.C property for you and your family.