Vienna or McLean, duh. Arlington good too, but might burst your budget.

Why would you want to pay more taxes to live in MD and have such a crappy university system?

I know there are a couple of pools (chesterbrook, tuckahoe).

downside is lack of walkability, but you'll typically get more house/land for your $$ than in N. Arlington (it's a relative statement though)

I'll throw this out there - the area of McLean in 22101 that borders Arlington (Franklin Park, the areas that feed Chesterbrook ES or Franklin Sherman ES - both are excellent schools) - there were a couple of recent threads about this.

there seems to be more inventory at 1m+ than in north arlington (or at least more than the areas that feed Taylor and Jamestown). trade-offs, sure. but still a very manageable commute into DC and to get to Tyson's is a piece of cake.

can't speak about the community from personal experience - lots of professionals with kids, seems friendly, lovely neighborhoods (especially love Franklin Park) with community events and the like.

Also a Pentagon commuter, like the PP, and I've really liked SW DC for some of the reasons you name - pleasant walks along the river, feels safe, really neighborly and little time in the car. If a town house or condo might work for you, you might keep your eye on that area. They're even building some spiffy new playground by the library this autumn/next spring, I think.

Does DH commute to downtown on transit or by car? If the latter, I'd look at the Bethesda neighborhoods closer to the river - Glen Echo, Mohican Hills, etc If you pop onto the American Legion bridge at the Clara Barton Pkwy entrance, then you can stay in that lane right across the bridge, get off on the GW Pkwy and head up to Tysons that way. If DH metros, perhaps think about Falls Church and proximity to one of those metro stations? If PP is right that Chain Bridge is a pain for a DC-VA commute (interesting news to me, because I'd idly thought that might work for my DC to the Pentagon commute, but perhaps not) thanI might skip the city. Otherwise, Palisades might be a good fit for you.

Potomac right by Clara Barton and Glen Echo perhaps.

Vienna, Falls Church, Cabin John, Glen Echo, Carderock Springs

I used to commute to Tysons from DC via Chain Bridge. It's not such a great commute since Chain Bridge is only one lane inbound in the afternoon (or was then). You could do it, but I was very close to Chain Bridge and it still took me at least 45 minutes, often much longer.

Glen Echo?

op here: yes, we are checking out Arlington. Any ideas too for DC neighborhoods?

yup, north arlington fits the bill (22207, 22205, 22213) - very easy commute to both downtown and tyson's

Arlington

Husband works downtown. Two kids, schools not an issue. Please suggest a more commutable place for us to live! I'm getting way sick of the Beltway. Right now we live in chevy chase. Budget around 1- 1.2 mil. Priorities: low crime, sidewalks, walkability, sense of community, nearby nature trails and playgrounds, less time in the car. Thanks in advance.