Walkable towns in NOVA

[Anonymous]

I know there was a thread on communities, towns and walkability not too long ago but I can't seem to find it. I'm from a small town that you could walk to the market, coffee shop, flower shop, etc and would love to find something similar. Town of Vienna seems to be the best option, but is there somewhere else we should consider? Any area of Reston? Fairfax City? I work in Tysons, DH in Springfield and would die for a >30 min commute!

[Anonymous]

Vienna is amazing - or maybe Merrifield?

[Anonymous]

You can walk to a lot from Merrifield now - I'm a little annoyed at myself for moving out right before the Target and the town center opened, along with all those restaurants and bars. (The Safeway shopping center is really handy too.)

City of Falls Church, City of Fairfax, parts of Arlington are like this too. (Westover/Larchmont/Highland Park or Overlee houses walkable to Lee Harrison.) There are parts of McLean that are walkable to commerce.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vienna is amazing - or maybe Merrifield?

+1

[Anonymous]

Are you looking for a SFH or a condo? Merrifield does have a lot of amenities now (plus Dunn Loring Metro), but there aren't really any truly walkable SFH neighborhoods (townhouses and apartments/condos, yes).

SFH neighborhoods walkable to town centers: Fairfax City; Vienna; Reston; Old Town or Del Ray, Alexandria; Falls Church City. Obviously the more walkable homes/neighborhoods command higher price tags.

[Anonymous]

Central McLean as well. But you need $$$$.

[Anonymous]

Del Ray is a very walk-able neighborhood, with a farmers market, butcher, restaurants, and coffee shops, and SFHs and townhouses on either side of main street (Mount Vernon Ave.) It's a 20 min. train ride from Braddock Road metro to Metro Center. It's easy to get to larger super markets, Old Town, and into the city for events.

[Anonymous]

Falls Church city

Downtown McLean

Many parts of arlington

Mosaic

[Anonymous]

The Westover neighborhood in Arlington has a small town vibe IMO. Easy commute to Tyson's too.

[Anonymous]

Falls Church City, no question in my mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vienna is amazing - or maybe Merrifield?

Town of Vienna is very walkable. Library, Town Green for concerts, Community Center, restaurants, Whole Foods (and Fresh Market and Giant), tons of sport fields/playgrounds, coffee shops, shopping are all within a walkable distance. Plus the W&D runs right through as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vienna is amazing - or maybe Merrifield?

Town of Vienna is very walkable. Library, Town Green for concerts, Community Center, restaurants, Whole Foods (and Fresh Market and Giant), tons of sport fields/playgrounds, coffee shops, shopping are all within a walkable distance. Plus the W&D runs right through as well.

x10000

Vienna and certain parts of Falls Church. Mclean's "progress" for downtown just got shot down, yet again, so that means that the downtown area will probably never be developed, so forget that area.

[Anonymous]

The Westover and walkability claim over and over is ridiculous, it is one shopping center.

I like Vienna, but when we bought a year ago, people told us no one really walked, and that seems to be the case. Same thing with the City of Fairfax.

[Anonymous]

Leesburg if you're commuting to Tysons. Not too bad. Probably the only town in the region with any semblance of charm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Westover and walkability claim over and over is ridiculous, it is one shopping center.

I like Vienna, but when we bought a year ago, people told us no one really walked, and that seems to be the case. Same thing with the City of Fairfax.

+1

No one is walking anywhere in NOVA unless you're in Old Town or Clarendon (even then most drive). It is an Ohio mindset in the suburbs of DC.