Family living in Rosslyn - can it be done?

[Anonymous]

Thinking of moving to Rosslyn with our 2 kids under 3. What is it like to live in Rosslyn with kids this age? How are the options for daycare, babysitting, parks, etc.? I see that the Rosslyn Childcare Center gets good marks on this board. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I know two families who live in Rosslyn - both in townhouses. While the houses are very nice, they do have to rely on parks/playgrounds for most outdoor activities. But Arlington has TONS of parks and lots of activities to sign up for through the county. No idea about childcare, but I wouldn't limit your search to Rosslyn unless you need to walk there - there are tons of options in other parts of Arlington that would only be 5-10 minutes away.

[Anonymous]

Arlington has a TON of parks and playgrounds, but I don't think there are any in Rosslyn (unless you count all the green space around Iwa Jima -- lots of room to roam there!) But there are a bunch near Courthouse and Clarendon -- just a mile or two up Wilson Blvd. or Lee Highway.

Here's the link to the Arlington County website listing of playgrounds: http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/ParksRecreation/scripts/playgrounds/ParksRecreationScriptsPlaygroundsPlaygrounds.aspx

There is good child care nearby, too. DC is at Arlington Children's Center, which is just up Lee Highway -- closer to Courthouse Metro but not far from Rosslyn. And we found our babysitter on SitterCity.com. She lives in Ballston, which is close.

[Anonymous]

We live in Rosslyn right now and have one toddler. Rosslyn has two childcare centers that I know of - Arlington Childrens Center and Rosslyn Childrens Center - both of which seem to be pretty good (although I do not have any personal knowledge). There are a few small parks scattered around - one small one near the Atrium/Turnbury Tower in the heart of Rosslyn, and another park on the other side of Lee Highway closer to the Potomac. You can also walk into Georgetown or Clarendon/Courthouse. The parks in Rosslyn aren't usually hopping so we tend to go to the bigger parks in Clarendon/Courthouse/Lyon Village/Lyon Park. They are all very close by.

Babysitters are no easier or harder to come by than anywhere else.

We live in a townhouse and in our community there are a number of families with small children - mainly babies and toddlers. There are, however, a few families with elementary age kids as well and I see them play outside frequently.

We love Rosslyn for the convenience factor. It sits at the intersection of all major thoroughfares - GW parkway, 66, Lee Highway, Key Bridge, etc. The schools are also fantastic. With all that being said, I think we will end up moving out of Rosslyn to get a yard. Our place feels tight with just one child and I know that we will want more room eventually. Most of the housing stock in Rosslyn are condos, townhouses, with an extremely limited number of small or expensive single family homes scattered into the mix.