Best Neighborhood for Short-Term Family

[Anonymous]

Clarendon will definitely get you 2, 3, and 4. If you want to be in DC proper, yes, Capitol Hill or NW DC. There are been a lot of threads on that lately, so a search should get you there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think living in Arlington would really fit your criteria for #1,2, and #4. For those, I'd suggest that you stick to living in DC proper, e.g., the Hill, Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, Woodley, etc. These areas are all very family friendly. You'll be able to get out and experience DC more spontaneously, versus living in the suburbs and timing the Metro or driving. Trust me, I used to live very close to the city and Arlington, and it always was a hassle to go into DC on the weekends, even though we did it frequently.

If you were going to make more of a long term commitment, then perhaps I would say that school could be more of a priority.

#2 and #4 would work if we are talking about clarendon which is less than 2 miles from the DC border...if you hop on metro clarendon or courthouse or rosslyn metro you will be at metro center in less than 15 min. neighborhood is walkable to at least a half dozen or more really good parks, schools, music classes, playgroups, train tables, metros, bars, restaurants and movie theaters..my nanny likes it over here more than our upper NW neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think living in Arlington would really fit your criteria for #1,2, and #4. For those, I'd suggest that you stick to living in DC proper, e.g., the Hill, Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, Woodley, etc. These areas are all very family friendly. You'll be able to get out and experience DC more spontaneously, versus living in the suburbs and timing the Metro or driving. Trust me, I used to live very close to the city and Arlington, and it always was a hassle to go into DC on the weekends, even though we did it frequently.

If you were going to make more of a long term commitment, then perhaps I would say that school could be more of a priority.

#2 and #4 would work if we are talking about clarendon which is less than 2 miles from the DC border...if you hop on metro clarendon or courthouse or rosslyn metro you will be at metro center in less than 15 min. neighborhood is walkable to at least a half dozen or more really good parks, schools, music classes, playgroups, train tables, metros, bars, restaurants and movie theaters..my nanny likes it over here more than our upper NW neighborhood.

#3 was a given--should have included that...but if you do want your 'dc moment' walk out the door and you see a monument...you have to go to dc for that..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think living in Arlington would really fit your criteria for #1,2, and #4. For those, I'd suggest that you stick to living in DC proper, e.g., the Hill, Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, Woodley, etc. These areas are all very family friendly. You'll be able to get out and experience DC more spontaneously, versus living in the suburbs and timing the Metro or driving. Trust me, I used to live very close to the city and Arlington, and it always was a hassle to go into DC on the weekends, even though we did it frequently.

If you were going to make more of a long term commitment, then perhaps I would say that school could be more of a priority.

#2 and #4 would work if we are talking about clarendon which is less than 2 miles from the DC border...if you hop on metro clarendon or courthouse or rosslyn metro you will be at metro center in less than 15 min. neighborhood is walkable to at least a half dozen or more really good parks, schools, music classes, playgroups, train tables, metros, bars, restaurants and movie theaters..my nanny likes it over here more than our upper NW neighborhood.

Sure it may take 15 minutes on a normal weekday to get into the city, but on a weekend? Forget about it. Between track work and a reduced schedule, you need to at least double the 15 minutes.

Also, they don't call the Orange Line the Orange Crush without good reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think living in Arlington would really fit your criteria for #1,2, and #4. For those, I'd suggest that you stick to living in DC proper, e.g., the Hill, Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, Woodley, etc. These areas are all very family friendly. You'll be able to get out and experience DC more spontaneously, versus living in the suburbs and timing the Metro or driving. Trust me, I used to live very close to the city and Arlington, and it always was a hassle to go into DC on the weekends, even though we did it frequently.

If you were going to make more of a long term commitment, then perhaps I would say that school could be more of a priority.

#2 and #4 would work if we are talking about clarendon which is less than 2 miles from the DC border...if you hop on metro clarendon or courthouse or rosslyn metro you will be at metro center in less than 15 min. neighborhood is walkable to at least a half dozen or more really good parks, schools, music classes, playgroups, train tables, metros, bars, restaurants and movie theaters..my nanny likes it over here more than our upper NW neighborhood.

Sure it may take 15 minutes on a normal weekday to get into the city, but on a weekend? Forget about it. Between track work and a reduced schedule, you need to at least double the 15 minutes.

Also, they don't call the Orange Line the Orange Crush without good reason.

orange crush is coined for the crowds during rush hour-no maintenance issues typically on orange. Rosslyn is blue line. We pop into dc over Roosevelt bridge or key in 5 min on a weekend...do it all the time. I don't think a good portion of MDers or DC even know the area well. There's a ton of misinformation.

[Anonymous]

The OP said she wanted D.C.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The OP said she wanted D.C.

you didn't eve read the OP. he/she clearly states "we are also open to MD and VA"

[Anonymous]

OP: Things to think about -
If I were coming for a year, I'd choose somewhere in DC because part of your goal is fun and excitement and something new. However, schools are complicated (and you need one) and your quarters will be smaller.

Given where you will be working, I wouldn't look at Suburban Maryland. It is far.

If three kids is a lot, and you want life to be easy and commutes to be small, I recommend the Orange line corridor. All the schools are plenty good enough so you don't have to think hard about that. There's plenty of fresh air for the little ones and the nanny. Your commute will be easy. DC is so close by it is still easy to get there and take advantage. If you stay South of Lee Highway, you will find diversity - that question's always a complex one, though. Alexandria with stops on the blue line is further away. Delray, which has a metro stop, is very artsy and very nice. Also fairly diverse.

(Not sure of what your ethnicity is, but if halal is important to you, Arlington is awesome. )

Enjoy your year.

[Anonymous]

OP were biracial and bi cultural too. we live in ballston and LOVE it! zip22203.
short comute to DC walking distance to grocery, metro, mall, library, parks, community center... endless possibilities for the children!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The OP said she wanted D.C.

you didn't eve read the OP. he/she clearly states "we are also open to MD and VA"

...yeah, right after she said she preferred D.C. "We would probably prefer to be in DC, but are also open to MD and VA."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The OP said she wanted D.C.

you didn't eve read the OP. he/she clearly states "we are also open to MD and VA"

...yeah, right after she said she preferred D.C. "We would probably prefer to be in DC, but are also open to MD and VA." [/quote

do you know what fucking "open" means? Alot of people prefer it before they know what the area and schools are like.

[Anonymous]

If I were the OP, I would not take recommendations from someone who talks like you do.

[Anonymous]

If you need to get to Rosslyn, forget Maryland. Too much traffic to get from there to there.

[Anonymous]

Do not think DC if you want good public schools for your kids.

PS: All of DC metro is welcoming of biracial families. Folks may casually look twice, but there will be only very, very fiew who judge. Pretty common, no biggie.

[Anonymous]

Do not think DC if you want good public schools for your kids.

Sorry, untrue. 'specially for a 5 and 6 year old.

This said, working in Roslyn and that rent cap would have me recommending Arlington.