Most walkable neighborhoods in VA?

[Anonymous]

We are moving back to the DC area this summer and looking for a family friendly neighborhood that’s also ‘walkable’. We lived in the DuPont circle area for years and love city life. Now we’re in the Boston area with two little kids (5 and 2) and want a bigger home with a large backyard. But we also want to be able to walk to a few things. Maybe the local library, some parks, a grocery store, a few neighborhood restaurants (one day they will open again!).... not little strip malls... Where would that be? Arlington is my best guess and we had certainly spent some time there back when we lived in DC... but are there any other options? We’re drooling over the bigger houses in falls church, Fairfax, even McLean - but most places seem to have a poor walk score. Are there any lovely little neighborhoods that feel residential but are still walkable / have decent proximity to DC?? We have a decent budget for buying a house. Commute isn’t a major factor as we’ll likely be working from home at least half the time (maybe more). And yes - we are considering upper NW DC - but wanted to explore VA as an option. Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

Check out Old Town Fairfax.

[Anonymous]

Vienna

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vienna

+1

[Anonymous]

Old Town Alx

[Anonymous]

City of Falls Church

[Anonymous]

Westover in North Arlington and the neighborhoods west of it toward rt29. Some are walkable to Westover and the Harrison Street shops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Old Town Alx

Walkable, but not “large” backyards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Westover in North Arlington and the neighborhoods west of it toward rt29. Some are walkable to Westover and the Harrison Street shops.

Lee-Harrison shops are “a little strip mall.”

[Anonymous]

Maywood, Cherrydale, Clarendon

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Westover in North Arlington and the neighborhoods west of it toward rt29. Some are walkable to Westover and the Harrison Street shops.

Lee-Harrison shops are “a little strip mall.”

But Westover is not- it is nice to be able to walk to both. Harrison has the grocery stores- which (gasp) are almost always in a trip mall).

[Anonymous]

Westover is definitely a good bet. We love it and pre pandemic and even post walked up to the little shops, to the farmers market each week, etc. Houses and yards aren’t often huge though but there are some bigger homes and bigger yards. Vienna like others said is also nice, though I would say it’s kind of a strip mall you walk to. But that might better fit the larger home and lot plus some walkability you’re looking for.

[Anonymous]

Del Ray Alexandria neighborhood

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Westover is definitely a good bet. We love it and pre pandemic and even post walked up to the little shops, to the farmers market each week, etc. Houses and yards aren’t often huge though but there are some bigger homes and bigger yards. Vienna like others said is also nice, though I would say it’s kind of a strip mall you walk to. But that might better fit the larger home and lot plus some walkability you’re looking for.

We love it too. My family visits from the Midwest and describes it as “Leave it to Beaver”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Westover in North Arlington and the neighborhoods west of it toward rt29. Some are walkable to Westover and the Harrison Street shops.

Lee-Harrison shops are “a little strip mall.”

But Westover is not- it is nice to be able to walk to both. Harrison has the grocery stores- which (gasp) are almost always in a trip mall).

Westover is two strip malls.

I think Vienna is more New Englandish in looks. Where will you work?