Where to live.....McLean Arlington or vienna

[Anonymous]

Where we live now in McLean is more walkable than where we lived in Vienna. It depends on the neighborhood. Vienna includes three zip codes (22180, 22181, 22182). When people say it’s walkable, they tend to have specific areas in 22180 near the Maple/Park intersection.

[Anonymous]

^ in mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are the neighborhood schools, the whole aap thing aside, we do not want an aap center, but a neighborhood school. Suggestions for Vienna? I think we were looking around Sherman es in McLean. Not that it’s the most important but my kids would love to walk to school. Thanks!

The area around Franklin Sherman would be great. FS is a great school. This is my choice. The library and McLean Community Center are close too. The commute would be spectacular.

The commute from Vienna, would be 2x at least as long. You would have to go through Tyson's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the neighborhood schools, the whole aap thing aside, we do not want an aap center, but a neighborhood school. Suggestions for Vienna? I think we were looking around Sherman es in McLean. Not that it’s the most important but my kids would love to walk to school. Thanks!

The area around Franklin Sherman would be great. FS is a great school. This is my choice. The library and McLean Community Center are close too. The commute would be spectacular.

The commute from Vienna, would be 2x at least as long. You would have to go through Tyson's.

Did you read this? Commute to where? What?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you guys so much..what’s the commute like Vienna to McLean and where are streets in Vienna where you would get a coffee, etc. Thanks!

Maple Ave is the Main st through Vienna. It has 2 Starbucks and a Peet’s. One street over is Church St. Cafe Amore is there. Commute from Vienna to 267/495/area you indicated would probably be 20 mins during regular traffic. In Vienna, I would try to find something in the town, specifically the NE or SE part so you are on the Tysons side of Vienna (not the Oakton side).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I should add that we would like to take advantage of the DC area stuff and urban area (we’re coming from Maine). No thoughts on Arlington?

In terms of commute, it will be the worst. Plus your older kids will have to go to 2 schools in 2 years. I would focus on McLean or Vienna. Having lived in both, I think Vienna is way more family-friendly and welcoming, plus more walkable. Obviously farther from DC.

+1

Where in McLean?

I would do Vienna if the commute isn't bad. McLean as a backup. They are all fine for non-rush-hour adventures in DC.

-Arlington resident

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the neighborhood schools, the whole aap thing aside, we do not want an aap center, but a neighborhood school. Suggestions for Vienna? I think we were looking around Sherman es in McLean. Not that it’s the most important but my kids would love to walk to school. Thanks!

The area around Franklin Sherman would be great. FS is a great school. This is my choice. The library and McLean Community Center are close too. The commute would be spectacular.

The commute from Vienna, would be 2x at least as long. You would have to go through Tyson's.

The problem with McLean is that it is pretty ugly and not very walkable. Even the “walkable” areas kind of suck. For instance, if you live around the library/community center, that is pretty much it unless you cross 123 and go in to “downtown McLean.” To get a coffee, you would have to walk pretty far to Starbucks or Greenberry. No one really walks to things in McLean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I should add that we would like to take advantage of the DC area stuff and urban area (we’re coming from Maine). No thoughts on Arlington?

In terms of commute, it will be the worst. Plus your older kids will have to go to 2 schools in 2 years. I would focus on McLean or Vienna. Having lived in both, I think Vienna is way more family-friendly and welcoming, plus more walkable. Obviously farther from DC.

+1

Where in McLean?

I would do Vienna if the commute isn't bad. McLean as a backup. They are all fine for non-rush-hour adventures in DC.

-Arlington resident

Oops. Just seeing that you'd be on the other side of Tyson's Corner. I'd probably go with McLean. Tyson's traffic is worst in the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the neighborhood schools, the whole aap thing aside, we do not want an aap center, but a neighborhood school. Suggestions for Vienna? I think we were looking around Sherman es in McLean. Not that it’s the most important but my kids would love to walk to school. Thanks!

The area around Franklin Sherman would be great. FS is a great school. This is my choice. The library and McLean Community Center are close too. The commute would be spectacular.

The commute from Vienna, would be 2x at least as long. You would have to go through Tyson's.

Did you read this? Commute to where? What?!

Yes, I did read it. The OP said where the commute was in a previous post. It is on the McLean side of 267, east of 495. That is MUCH closer to Franklin Sherman area of McLean than Vienna.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the neighborhood schools, the whole aap thing aside, we do not want an aap center, but a neighborhood school. Suggestions for Vienna? I think we were looking around Sherman es in McLean. Not that it’s the most important but my kids would love to walk to school. Thanks!

The area around Franklin Sherman would be great. FS is a great school. This is my choice. The library and McLean Community Center are close too. The commute would be spectacular.

The commute from Vienna, would be 2x at least as long. You would have to go through Tyson's.

The problem with McLean is that it is pretty ugly and not very walkable. Even the “walkable” areas kind of suck. For instance, if you live around the library/community center, that is pretty much it unless you cross 123 and go in to “downtown McLean.” To get a coffee, you would have to walk pretty far to Starbucks or Greenberry. No one really walks to things in McLean.

You can get coffee at Sweet Leaf. And, isn't really isn't very far to Greenberry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I should add that we would like to take advantage of the DC area stuff and urban area (we’re coming from Maine). No thoughts on Arlington?

In terms of commute, it will be the worst. Plus your older kids will have to go to 2 schools in 2 years. I would focus on McLean or Vienna. Having lived in both, I think Vienna is way more family-friendly and welcoming, plus more walkable. Obviously farther from DC.

+1

Where in McLean?

I would do Vienna if the commute isn't bad. McLean as a backup. They are all fine for non-rush-hour adventures in DC.

-Arlington resident

Oops. Just seeing that you'd be on the other side of Tyson's Corner. I'd probably go with McLean. Tyson's traffic is worst in the area.

^ or maybe even the Westover and Lee-Harrison areas of Arlington (22205/22207). Or even Falls Church City (22046). Easy commutes to that part of McLean.

[Anonymous]

This is really helpful. Thank you everyone. While I like the idea of a short commute, I think Vienna will be a better fit for what we're looking for with our kids and my wife will be home (not working) for the time we're there. Any more thoughts on particular areas in Vienna? Vienna Elementary/Wolftrap, walkability, families, etc... we currently live in a community where the kids can go outside and find someone to play with/bike around with. It's awesome, and I realize this doesn't happen everywhere... They play soccer so that's also something we'd like to get them signed up for once we find a place. Basically just regular kids who enjoy going to school but aren't geniuses or anything.

[Anonymous]

Yeah for walkable, commute and good schools I would suggest Falls Church City.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is really helpful. Thank you everyone. While I like the idea of a short commute, I think Vienna will be a better fit for what we're looking for with our kids and my wife will be home (not working) for the time we're there. Any more thoughts on particular areas in Vienna? Vienna Elementary/Wolftrap, walkability, families, etc... we currently live in a community where the kids can go outside and find someone to play with/bike around with. It's awesome, and I realize this doesn't happen everywhere... They play soccer so that's also something we'd like to get them signed up for once we find a place. Basically just regular kids who enjoy going to school but aren't geniuses or anything.

Vienna Elementary has a really good community. Tons of families walk to school and it is right in the center of town. Wolf trap is also good, but the community does not seem as tight knit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is really helpful. Thank you everyone. While I like the idea of a short commute, I think Vienna will be a better fit for what we're looking for with our kids and my wife will be home (not working) for the time we're there. Any more thoughts on particular areas in Vienna? Vienna Elementary/Wolftrap, walkability, families, etc... we currently live in a community where the kids can go outside and find someone to play with/bike around with. It's awesome, and I realize this doesn't happen everywhere... They play soccer so that's also something we'd like to get them signed up for once we find a place. Basically just regular kids who enjoy going to school but aren't geniuses or anything.

Falls Church City. Tons of young families and walkable.