Moving from NYC to DC suburbs...tell me why you like the DC suburbs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why not get an apartment in DC instead of living in the suburbs?

Elementary schools are great in some wards.

But it is still different than a great school in the suburbs.

In the suburbs, everyone goes to the neighborhood bus stop. You meet other parents. Kids play with their school friends who live in the neighborhood. In DC, families are scrambling to figure out which school to go to, what to do about middle school, and then traipsing all over town to get their kid to the school they got into. Then, if you are lucky enough to have other kids in the neighborhood, they may not be at the same school.

As much as I loved living in DC, I think it is much better for kids to grow up in the DC suburbs. There is a greater sense of community around the schools, schools are overall much better, crime is lower, and by and large the kids can run around on their own after school.

[Anonymous]

Many of the DC suburbs are quite Southern with a slower and more genteel pace of life. I also like how it's generally quieter and everyone goes to sleep earlier, so no crazy loud nightlife.

[Anonymous]

Shout out for MD suburbs here. I have lived in NOVA and MD and much prefer MD. I love that we don’t have to take a bridge to get into the city which doesn’t matter until it matters a lot. I love the C&O canal path - it’s proximity, width and safety. I can go see bald eagles at will. Our neighbors and friends are amazing and fun while still leaving room for privacy. With the kids we can go have a city day or head easily out to the “country”. Add in the diverse population from around the world and it’s truly wonderful. Good luck with your relocation! It is hard starting over!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shout out for MD suburbs here. I have lived in NOVA and MD and much prefer MD. I love that we don’t have to take a bridge to get into the city which doesn’t matter until it matters a lot. I love the C&O canal path - it’s proximity, width and safety. I can go see bald eagles at will. Our neighbors and friends are amazing and fun while still leaving room for privacy. With the kids we can go have a city day or head easily out to the “country”. Add in the diverse population from around the world and it’s truly wonderful. Good luck with your relocation! It is hard starting over!

Where do you go see bald eagles and where do you go to see the “country”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in a low-key area of rockville. People are smart and down to earth. My kids don't freak out about having the right name brand clothes to fit in because it's not an huge competition. We live close to a beautiful hiking trail. I have a lot of really nice neighbors. Our community pool and swim team brings a lot of joy to my kids. Every place has its problems, but we are generally really happy here.

You really think a New Yorker should move from an apartment in Manhattan to…..Rockville?!?

Lol. I did! First we moved to an apartment in Bethesda. It was funny - everyone in Bethesda thought downtown Bethesda was so sophisticated and urban. It’s two streets of chain restaurants. We bought a house in Rockville. There are definitely things I miss about city living (NYC living) but it turns out I love having a deck, trees, and greenery everywhere. Good luck, OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in a low-key area of rockville. People are smart and down to earth. My kids don't freak out about having the right name brand clothes to fit in because it's not an huge competition. We live close to a beautiful hiking trail. I have a lot of really nice neighbors. Our community pool and swim team brings a lot of joy to my kids. Every place has its problems, but we are generally really happy here.

You really think a New Yorker should move from an apartment in Manhattan to…..Rockville?!?

Lol. I did! First we moved to an apartment in Bethesda. It was funny - everyone in Bethesda thought downtown Bethesda was so sophisticated and urban. It’s two streets of chain restaurants. We bought a house in Rockville. There are definitely things I miss about city living (NYC living) but it turns out I love having a deck, trees, and greenery everywhere. Good luck, OP!

Is downtown Bethesda just Bethesda Row? I visited recently for the first time and wasn’t too impressed. Some trendy stores but pretty small.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many of the DC suburbs are quite Southern with a slower and more genteel pace of life. I also like how it's generally quieter and everyone goes to sleep earlier, so no crazy loud nightlife.

Tell me you’ve never been to the dc burbs without saying it outloud.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shout out for MD suburbs here. I have lived in NOVA and MD and much prefer MD. I love that we don’t have to take a bridge to get into the city which doesn’t matter until it matters a lot. I love the C&O canal path - it’s proximity, width and safety. I can go see bald eagles at will. Our neighbors and friends are amazing and fun while still leaving room for privacy. With the kids we can go have a city day or head easily out to the “country”. Add in the diverse population from around the world and it’s truly wonderful. Good luck with your relocation! It is hard starting over!

Where do you go see bald eagles and where do you go to see the “country”?

Bald eagles on the Potomac - there’s several Nests on the Potomac but my couple lives at about the 13 mile marker. As for the “country” just keep going out River to Poolesville and point of rocks or on to Harpers Ferry. It’s absolutely lovely and peaceful. If you are interested in seeing bald eagles look here - tells you right where they live all over Maryland. https://marylandbirds.org/bald-eagle-nest-monitoring

[Anonymous]

Just stay away from PG and PW counties.

[Anonymous]

I have been living in DC for a decade now. I still miss NYC. I miss my Manhattan life pre kids.

I have 3 kids. We now live in a large home in a safe neighborhood with excellent schools. My kids play multiple sports. We are members of the local pool, racquet club and country club. I can’t imagine not driving my kids around. When it rains, I drive out of my garage and I don’t get wet. I can go on many excursions easily.

When I lived in Manhattan, I hated going on public transportation with a stroller. We would basically stay in the UES. Yes, we loved Central Park and our neighborhood. If there was something downtown or on the west side, I would often pass. I do not miss pushing a stroller or walking in the cold, rain and snow.

I can host large parties. We had a holiday party with 70 people. I’m having a birthday party for my child and we have 30 kids. I could not fit that many people in my 2 bedroom in the UES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have not read many of these pages. But, OP, have you looked into Falls Church City? Great neighborhood, schools, with walkability to town.

Yes to FC!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have not read many of these pages. But, OP, have you looked into Falls Church City? Great neighborhood, schools, with walkability to town.

Yes to FC!!!

There is an uptick in crime there. I wouldn’t want to move there. Gangs are creeping in.

[Anonymous]

I love these threads where some D from Azz Fv*k, OH, lives in Manhattan for a year and suddenly thinks they're too special to live in Alexandria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not get an apartment in DC instead of living in the suburbs?

Elementary schools are great in some wards.

But it is still different than a great school in the suburbs.

In the suburbs, everyone goes to the neighborhood bus stop. You meet other parents. Kids play with their school friends who live in the neighborhood. In DC, families are scrambling to figure out which school to go to, what to do about middle school, and then traipsing all over town to get their kid to the school they got into. Then, if you are lucky enough to have other kids in the neighborhood, they may not be at the same school.

As much as I loved living in DC, I think it is much better for kids to grow up in the DC suburbs. There is a greater sense of community around the schools, schools are overall much better, crime is lower, and by and large the kids can run around on their own after school.

LOL, what? On what basis do you say this? We live in DC and find that because 90% of the kids walk to school, the community is very tight. Many of us go to the playground after school, or the kids do aftercare together at the school. My kids have friends who both attend their school and privates in the neighborhood.

Growing up in Fairfax, my friends lived a drive away and we never hung out together after school. It is far more isolating out there than the way my kids grow up in the city. I also find city people are more community minded. Like, the fact that you don't mind sharing walls, prioritize walkability, etc. means you in general care about those around you. Most of my friends who moved to the burbs did so, so that they wouldn't be bothered by other people. Crime in NW is negligible.

OP, we are incredibly happy in NW DC. I am elated that I can give my kids this childhood compared to mine in the DC suburbs. It wasn't awful in early elementary because we lucked out having a house two doors down with kids we liked, but after age 10 I found it isolating, lonely, and boring. And if we didn't happen to have those neighbors, it would've been much worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many of the DC suburbs are quite Southern with a slower and more genteel pace of life. I also like how it's generally quieter and everyone goes to sleep earlier, so no crazy loud nightlife.

Tell me you’ve never been to the dc burbs without saying it outloud.

DP here. Tell mw you have never resided in NYC without saying it out loud.