i hate the dc burbs! are there ANY like philly or boston burbs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You won't see the huge houses on huge lots, all different, like you are accustomed to. Definitely won't see the number of trees. Absolutely won't see the education. And forget about the smiling faces.

You are clearly doing your bit to cheer everyone up, sour-tits.

[Anonymous]

I think the areas most similar to what you are talking about is most like the upper nw neighborhoods in DC - like Wesley Heights, Foxhall, Kent, Spring Valley, and the town of Chevy Chase MD. Unlikely you will find much under $1 million and those areas go up much, much higher.

[Anonymous]

I grew up on the Main Line and live in Bethesda now. Not exactly like home but I like it.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in the Boston suburbs and I find Beth-CC to be much more walkable. Other things are different of course, maybe because Mass. is still mostly organized around towns, whereas most of metro DC is unincorporated (the places that are incorporated, like Town of CC, Garrett Park, Alexandria probably have more of that suburban Boston feel).

[Anonymous]

Agree with 21:32. The nice "burbs" OP wants are actually inside the District... the areas that were built up in the 1920s and 30s.

OP... why not just live inside the District? The public schools in upper NW are good. I know people are going to say cost of housing is an obstacle but you're not really going to find what you're looking for unless you live inside or really close in.

I live in Glover Park and LOVE it. The houses are considerably less than a $1M as PP stated. As I'm typing this it's dead quiet and peaceful outside. Many of family and friends can't believe this neighborhood is "still in the city" (their words).

[Anonymous]

Takoma Park seems lots like many of the Philadelphia stops, at least the ones where I used to live.

[Anonymous]

correct on not being able to buy a nice house in mclean under 800K but like I said..there are less than pristine areas of the mainline where the houses are not a nice and more affordable. Keep in mind that Philly in general is cheaper than DC area. I love Philly but I have to say that there is way more to do here esp. for kids so I am not crying over being away from home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
You won't see the huge houses on huge lots, all different, like you are accustomed to. Definitely won't see the number of trees. Absolutely won't see the education. And forget about the smiling faces.

We live in Reston and love it. It can be a bit far out depending where you work. My DH was stationed at Crystal City and caught a commuter bus each morning. I work in Tysons and my commute is 15 minutes. Plus, the metro is coming out to Reston in a few years.

We love it. LOTS of trees, walking trails, pools, parks, tennis courts, activities for families, small lakes, etc. People here DO smile and talk to each other. Reston is a planned community - so where there are trees, parks, trails - you know they will stay. Reston also has a great Town Center with a movie theatre, lots of restaurants and shops and planned family acitivities.

Home prices range quite a bit - there are condos, townhomes and single family homes. Reston was specifically planned so that people from many different walks of like could live there.

[Anonymous]

My sister lived on Main Line just outside Philly and I loved her neighborhood so much that i looked for similar feel in the DC area and ended up in Chevy chase,dc. I think the DC side of Chevy chase is quite different than the MD side (DC side has alleys, more sidewalks, smaller lots, tighter neighborhoods).

[Anonymous]

The Old Town side of Mt Vernon...not past the Mansion. Lots of old trees and small town feel and then you are like 5 minutes from Old Town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Lots of tiny houses on huge lots here.

You won't see the huge houses on huge lots, all different, like you are accustomed to. Definitely won't see the number of trees. Absolutely won't see the education. And forget about the smiling faces.

Perhaps you are speaking about the Philly burbs, but having lived in and right outside of Boston for over 5 years, I had to laugh at this. Smiling faces...in Boston??? That's a good one...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Old Town side of Mt Vernon...not past the Mansion. Lots of old trees and small town feel and then you are like 5 minutes from Old Town.

Agree with this. I actually grew up in Mt Vernon but right past the Mansion. You will find nice homes on big lots there as well, especially some of the older neighborhoods on or near the Potomac. Takes about 15 minutes to get to Old Town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sister lived on Main Line just outside Philly and I loved her neighborhood so much that i looked for similar feel in the DC area and ended up in Chevy chase,dc. I think the DC side of Chevy chase is quite different than the MD side (DC side has alleys, more sidewalks, smaller lots, tighter neighborhoods).

I live in chevy chase MD and completely disagree with your assessment that it is quite different from CC DC. The plots in my section are exactly the same size, every street has sidewalks, the neighborhoods are just as tight.

the one difference is that we have great schools all the way up to high school.

[Anonymous]

Parts of Arlington remind me of the Boston burbs. Older houses, lots of trees, quiet neighborhoods. Some neighborhoods (Westover, Lee Heights, Waverly Hills, Cherrydale) have older shopping centers nearby with local hardware stores, kids' toy stores, etc. that seem New Englandy to me. But basically the neighborhoods are new compared to Boston - from the 1930s and 40s compared to the 1700-1800s in some parts of Boston. And of course, the beach is not 30-45 minutes away!

[Anonymous]

Downtown Silver Spring-- very walkable, not a planned community, much more authentic.