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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand, just move to Nw DC and live in the city. Glover Park is a nice compromise

OP here - DH and I grew up in the suburbs and always envisioned raising our kids in the suburbs with a yard and plenty of space. After living in a big city for years, it’s hard to let that lifestyle go, but I think raising kids in the suburbs will be easier and better for them. Just my personal opinion.

There are plenty of houses with bigger yards in DC. There are plenty of suburbs near DC where you can walk your stroller to cafes, restaurants, ice cream shops (like Downton Vienna, Manassass, Old Town Fairfax, Old Town Alexandria). My kids grew up in DC suburbs and none of them drive, they can walk everywhere, bike or catch the bus to gym, cafes, restaurants, Tysons. They've been using metro with their friends since middle school.

But in these "suburban" but walkable areas, don't you kind of have to buy a house right next to the walkable parts? Forgive my lack of knowledge about each of these towns, but I'd imagine that most houses would be a bit further away and no one is going to walk a mile to go get coffee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC suburbs absolutely suck. This place is basically like Ohio or Indiana but if the residents were 10,000% more pretentious and arrogant and full of themselves. And that 10,000% figure isn't an even an exaggeration. People will live in bland-as-f*ck Virginia and pretend they're the center of the universe.

LOL. So spot on. They crap all over “flyover country” when most of that is much nicer than where they live.

+1 I don’t get it. As a native of the dc suburbs, this area is truly nothing special. It’s full of traffic, and it’s a rat race where your standard townhouse can run you a million dollars. Just to be walkable to a town center that’s 2 miles from where you live.

Well then go buy a mansion in the middle of nowhere? I don't know why people bash DC so much on DCUM. Like, move and stop posting on this forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC suburbs absolutely suck. This place is basically like Ohio or Indiana but if the residents were 10,000% more pretentious and arrogant and full of themselves. And that 10,000% figure isn't an even an exaggeration. People will live in bland-as-f*ck Virginia and pretend they're the center of the universe.

LOL. So spot on. They crap all over “flyover country” when most of that is much nicer than where they live.

“Most of that is much nicer than where they live”

Oh, my sweet summer child. As someone who has family in poor and middle class regions of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Missouri…you know not of what you speak. I love Cracker Barrel as much as anyone, but let’s not be silly. Most of it is not much nicer.

Go fly a kite. Have you ever seen some of rhe beautiful suburbs and city neighborhoods in the Midwest or the South. They blow their analogues in DC out of the water. It is not all farmland and poor/middle class people, “my sweet summer child.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you haven't already bought in the suburbs, don't do it. You'll be miserable unless you live in a place like parts of Arlington and Alexandria.

If you move to a place like Reston or McLean, you will be miserable OP.

But what about the public schools being way better in a place like McLean? Unfortunately it just seems like the more city-like areas (or DC proper) gave bad public schools.

The public schools in McLean and Great Falls are the best in the state. Great Falls is rural and spread out but parts of McLean are walkable and there is easy Metro access.

I don’t understand people who think walkable to to anything in McLean is a benefit? They truly must never have lived in a city or like cities? It sounds awful to have the only things walking distance be soulless strip malls or a mush mash of little places surrounded by parking lots. It’s not the actual dry cleaner or coffee place that i yearn for, it’s the running into friends while walking all over, the variety of places, charm of the area, multiple options to sit outside, walking distance to parks, etc. and a real sense of community. We moved from the UWS to upper nw. While it was walkable to playgrounds and the library, it still felt isolated. We ended up moving again to old town, Alexandria and it feels a lot like the UWS. While we have cars and it’s easy to drive to the airport or beach or whatever, we pretty much walk everywhere. We go to the playgrounds and run into friends, there are lots of community events, the kids walk to sports, etc. The elementary school is excellent but we chose private for after that, although friends who stayed in public swear that it’s good as long as you’re in the gifted and talented classes

+1

Well, to be fair, once the Chesterbrook shopping center is fixed up, matters will improve.

It is kinda hideous and surprisingly so, considering the $$$ of the area. Friends from Winnetka, IL and Birmingham, MI have been shocked by McLean’s lack of high end shopping centers compared to what they have at home. Some things in “flyover country” can be very nice compared to what we’ve got.

I’ve been to Bloomfield, MI and sure it’s nice but come on, you actually want to live there as opposed to close to all the stuff that DC offers?

I don’t know what Winnetka IL is but same comment as above.

What does DC offer that is so special other than some museums people visit once a year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC suburbs absolutely suck. This place is basically like Ohio or Indiana but if the residents were 10,000% more pretentious and arrogant and full of themselves. And that 10,000% figure isn't an even an exaggeration. People will live in bland-as-f*ck Virginia and pretend they're the center of the universe.

LOL. So spot on. They crap all over “flyover country” when most of that is much nicer than where they live.

“Most of that is much nicer than where they live”

Oh, my sweet summer child. As someone who has family in poor and middle class regions of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Missouri…you know not of what you speak. I love Cracker Barrel as much as anyone, but let’s not be silly. Most of it is not much nicer.

Go fly a kite. Have you ever seen some of rhe beautiful suburbs and city neighborhoods in the Midwest or the South. They blow their analogues in DC out of the water. It is not all farmland and poor/middle class people, “my sweet summer child.”

Only a person who has not been to most of flyover country would say that most places there are much nicer than DC. That’s not to say that DC is something amazing, but it’s not reality that most places in what’s known as flyover country are much nicer. To say that is pure silliness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you haven't already bought in the suburbs, don't do it. You'll be miserable unless you live in a place like parts of Arlington and Alexandria.

If you move to a place like Reston or McLean, you will be miserable OP.

But what about the public schools being way better in a place like McLean? Unfortunately it just seems like the more city-like areas (or DC proper) gave bad public schools.

The public schools in McLean and Great Falls are the best in the state. Great Falls is rural and spread out but parts of McLean are walkable and there is easy Metro access.

I don’t understand people who think walkable to to anything in McLean is a benefit? They truly must never have lived in a city or like cities? It sounds awful to have the only things walking distance be soulless strip malls or a mush mash of little places surrounded by parking lots. It’s not the actual dry cleaner or coffee place that i yearn for, it’s the running into friends while walking all over, the variety of places, charm of the area, multiple options to sit outside, walking distance to parks, etc. and a real sense of community. We moved from the UWS to upper nw. While it was walkable to playgrounds and the library, it still felt isolated. We ended up moving again to old town, Alexandria and it feels a lot like the UWS. While we have cars and it’s easy to drive to the airport or beach or whatever, we pretty much walk everywhere. We go to the playgrounds and run into friends, there are lots of community events, the kids walk to sports, etc. The elementary school is excellent but we chose private for after that, although friends who stayed in public swear that it’s good as long as you’re in the gifted and talented classes

+1

Well, to be fair, once the Chesterbrook shopping center is fixed up, matters will improve.

It is kinda hideous and surprisingly so, considering the $$$ of the area. Friends from Winnetka, IL and Birmingham, MI have been shocked by McLean’s lack of high end shopping centers compared to what they have at home. Some things in “flyover country” can be very nice compared to what we’ve got.

I’ve been to Bloomfield, MI and sure it’s nice but come on, you actually want to live there as opposed to close to all the stuff that DC offers?

I don’t know what Winnetka IL is but same comment as above.

What does DC offer that is so special other than some museums people visit once a year?

I love DC, but I’m laughing at the ignorance of people who don’t know the US beyond a handful of places. DC has nice museums, but to act as if they are on par with some of those in other global capital cities shows how little knowledge some of these posters have. I have many well-traveled colleagues in Europe and Asia. If you ask them where they want to visit in the US, DC seldom makes the list. If you ask them about their favorite museums in the world, maybe 1 in 20 will mention something like Air and Space. If you ask about their favorite museums in the US, you are more likely to hear them mention museums in NY, Chicago. It’s perfectly valid to love DC, but understand many people here and around the world do not have the same love we have for the city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you haven't already bought in the suburbs, don't do it. You'll be miserable unless you live in a place like parts of Arlington and Alexandria.

If you move to a place like Reston or McLean, you will be miserable OP.

But what about the public schools being way better in a place like McLean? Unfortunately it just seems like the more city-like areas (or DC proper) gave bad public schools.

The public schools in McLean and Great Falls are the best in the state. Great Falls is rural and spread out but parts of McLean are walkable and there is easy Metro access.

I don’t understand people who think walkable to to anything in McLean is a benefit? They truly must never have lived in a city or like cities? It sounds awful to have the only things walking distance be soulless strip malls or a mush mash of little places surrounded by parking lots. It’s not the actual dry cleaner or coffee place that i yearn for, it’s the running into friends while walking all over, the variety of places, charm of the area, multiple options to sit outside, walking distance to parks, etc. and a real sense of community. We moved from the UWS to upper nw. While it was walkable to playgrounds and the library, it still felt isolated. We ended up moving again to old town, Alexandria and it feels a lot like the UWS. While we have cars and it’s easy to drive to the airport or beach or whatever, we pretty much walk everywhere. We go to the playgrounds and run into friends, there are lots of community events, the kids walk to sports, etc. The elementary school is excellent but we chose private for after that, although friends who stayed in public swear that it’s good as long as you’re in the gifted and talented classes

+1

Well, to be fair, once the Chesterbrook shopping center is fixed up, matters will improve.

It is kinda hideous and surprisingly so, considering the $$$ of the area. Friends from Winnetka, IL and Birmingham, MI have been shocked by McLean’s lack of high end shopping centers compared to what they have at home. Some things in “flyover country” can be very nice compared to what we’ve got.

The degree of turned up noses in Winnetka IL and Birmingham MI is crazy compared to even Mclean, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC suburbs absolutely suck. This place is basically like Ohio or Indiana but if the residents were 10,000% more pretentious and arrogant and full of themselves. And that 10,000% figure isn't an even an exaggeration. People will live in bland-as-f*ck Virginia and pretend they're the center of the universe.

This right here. OP, you’re making a huge mistake. I could maybe understand if you HAVE to move here for jobs and choose a neighborhood in the city. There are truly some beautiful city neighborhood with interesting architecture and walkable.

But the DC suburbs?! They are so unattractive and nothing remotely unique about really any of them. They look like somewhere in Ohio but so much more expensive. I can’t imagine choosing to live in Arlington over a place like Bronxville or New Canaan. You’re going to be constantly comparing Arlington to whatever you know in NY and you’ll hate it. You’ll also be nowhere close to a decent beach or good skiing.

You’ve been warned!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please only share positive things. I need a morale boost! I’m gonna miss stepping out of my apartment and walking to my favorite coffee shops, restaurants, playgrounds, etc. I don’t mind driving but getting the kids in and out of car seats vs. taking them places in a stroller seems like a hassle. I know I’ll get used to it but would love to hear why you love living in this area!

Why oh why would you move to the suburbs? The best part of DC is DC itself -- much better for families than NYC btw. Plenty of housing options in NW, and very affordable to someone coming from NY!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC suburbs absolutely suck. This place is basically like Ohio or Indiana but if the residents were 10,000% more pretentious and arrogant and full of themselves. And that 10,000% figure isn't an even an exaggeration. People will live in bland-as-f*ck Virginia and pretend they're the center of the universe.

LOL. So spot on. They crap all over “flyover country” when most of that is much nicer than where they live.

+1 I don’t get it. As a native of the dc suburbs, this area is truly nothing special. It’s full of traffic, and it’s a rat race where your standard townhouse can run you a million dollars. Just to be walkable to a town center that’s 2 miles from where you live.

Well then go buy a mansion in the middle of nowhere? I don't know why people bash DC so much on DCUM. Like, move and stop posting on this forum.

That’s the thing. These places aren’t in the middle of nowhere. There’s often better shopping and dining options than DC. DC doesn’t even have a high end shopping district with a large department store.

I grew up in a flyover country city and my friends from growing up live in prettier homes in better more walkable neighborhood, more restaurants and just as many things to do. One main downside is they are far from the beach but it’s not like a rehobeth is anything to write home about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC suburbs absolutely suck. This place is basically like Ohio or Indiana but if the residents were 10,000% more pretentious and arrogant and full of themselves. And that 10,000% figure isn't an even an exaggeration. People will live in bland-as-f*ck Virginia and pretend they're the center of the universe.

This right here. OP, you’re making a huge mistake. I could maybe understand if you HAVE to move here for jobs and choose a neighborhood in the city. There are truly some beautiful city neighborhood with interesting architecture and walkable.

But the DC suburbs?! They are so unattractive and nothing remotely unique about really any of them. They look like somewhere in Ohio but so much more expensive. I can’t imagine choosing to live in Arlington over a place like Bronxville or New Canaan. You’re going to be constantly comparing Arlington to whatever you know in NY and you’ll hate it. You’ll also be nowhere close to a decent beach or good skiing.

You’ve been warned!!

Please don’t insult Ohio. At least there, people don’t drive like they want you dead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please only share positive things. I need a morale boost! I’m gonna miss stepping out of my apartment and walking to my favorite coffee shops, restaurants, playgrounds, etc. I don’t mind driving but getting the kids in and out of car seats vs. taking them places in a stroller seems like a hassle. I know I’ll get used to it but would love to hear why you love living in this area!

Why oh why would you move to the suburbs? The best part of DC is DC itself -- much better for families than NYC btw. Plenty of housing options in NW, and very affordable to someone coming from NY!

This. We moved from NYC to NW DC and the move was NBD. We could still walk places and the surrounding neighborhoods were aesthetically pleasing. I truly can’t imagine moving to the burbs though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC suburbs absolutely suck. This place is basically like Ohio or Indiana but if the residents were 10,000% more pretentious and arrogant and full of themselves. And that 10,000% figure isn't an even an exaggeration. People will live in bland-as-f*ck Virginia and pretend they're the center of the universe.

This right here. OP, you’re making a huge mistake. I could maybe understand if you HAVE to move here for jobs and choose a neighborhood in the city. There are truly some beautiful city neighborhood with interesting architecture and walkable.

But the DC suburbs?! They are so unattractive and nothing remotely unique about really any of them. They look like somewhere in Ohio but so much more expensive. I can’t imagine choosing to live in Arlington over a place like Bronxville or New Canaan. You’re going to be constantly comparing Arlington to whatever you know in NY and you’ll hate it. You’ll also be nowhere close to a decent beach or good skiing.

You’ve been warned!!

Please don’t insult Ohio. At least there, people don’t drive like they want you dead.

FWIW I’d choose Ohio over Arlington. At least a decent house wouldn’t be 2 million and I’d probably be closer to better restaurants and shopping.

[Anonymous]

I used to live in NYC and now I am in DC suburbs.
I miss NYC but here I like
-washer and dryer in my apartment
-much more space (my walk in closet is about the size if my bedroom in Manhattan, no kidding!)
-more families and children
-no rats near the garbage
-garbage disposal in the sink
-lots of parks very close to home
-good schools and diversity comparable to my old neighborhood (I am in MC)
-some authentic restaurants
-can finally drive my own car freely
-weather slightly better
-people more relaxed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to live in NYC and now I am in DC suburbs.
I miss NYC but here I like
-washer and dryer in my apartment
-much more space (my walk in closet is about the size if my bedroom in Manhattan, no kidding!)
-more families and children
-no rats near the garbage
-garbage disposal in the sink
-lots of parks very close to home
-good schools and diversity comparable to my old neighborhood (I am in MC)
-some authentic restaurants
-can finally drive my own car freely
-weather slightly better
-people more relaxed

About the rats, they’re a little stealthy here, but I assure you DC rats are alive and well.