Herndon, Va definitely has a small town feel like you describe. There's a town green with Friday night outdoor concerts that are packed with families. Within the old town area there's a library, W&OD bike/walk trail, homecoming parade that closes down the streets, easter egg hunt on town green. Also restaurants, community center, golf course, and parks within walking distance of the old town area. Come this weekend for the Herndon festival that will close the streets.

It cracks me up that people in VA think of Vienna as having a small town feel. It is mainly Route 123 and strip malls. Nice strip malls, mind you but...?

The problem with Old Town is the Alex public schools aren't the best. If private school is an option, I'd definitely consider Old Town (or upper Northwest DC) though.

PP here -

I totally forgot about Vienna, VA! That would be my #2 pick - check out Church Street there. .

PP's are right - not much small town flavor here.

The closest thing I can think of would be in either:
- Old Town Alexandria, VA (top pick by far!!!!)
- Del Ray, VA (so-so. . .) - near Alexandria
- Takoma Park, MD (by their mainstreet area whatever its called)
- Maybe parts of Capitol Hill like a PP said.

Anonymous wrote:Sorry to tell you, but as a fellow NE transplant, you wont find that type of town around here. The suburbs are all sprawl, not cute little villages like in NE. Sad but true.

+1 Washington is a great place, but there's really nothing similar to what you are coming from.

Signed,

Northeast transplant

Anonymous wrote:Thanks to everyone for their opinions! I really do appreciate them. It is hard to make the move from such a great town but I think we will have a few long weekends to the area and explore to see if we can come close to what we have here. Thanks again and let me know if any other place comes to mind.

I would recommend Chevy Chase, D.C., in the area surrounding Broad Branch Market, or the town of Chevy Chase, MD. I'm also a transplant from Boston and miss it terribly. Nothing here even comes close.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also note that traffic in the area is awful, and real estate is pricy. Arlington and Bethesda houses start in the $600-$800k range. If you have a large housing budget, you'll obviously have a lot more options.

Both of those are true in Boston too though. Expensive houses and terrible traffic.

Housing stock is nicer, houses have character and charm. You get built-ins, window seats, foyers, lots of pre-war details. And you have more options for your money, in good school districts, located in towns with character and charm.

RE traffic: In the Worst Traffic Areas list for 2011, MoCo, MD is #4; DC #7; and Boston #12.

Anonymous wrote:We made a similar move from Boston last year and, to be honest, I with we'd stayed up there. Not that dc doesn't have great things to offer, but it lacks the charm and pace that I grew to love in Boston.

I agree. There is no "there" here in DC. It is pretty generic. No sense of place, no deep sense of roots.

OP, stay where you are. I envy you.

Anonymous wrote:Sorry to tell you, but as a fellow NE transplant, you wont find that type of town around here. The suburbs are all sprawl, not cute little villages like in NE. Sad but true.

I agree. I'm from the Boston area and miss the towns so, so much.

There are no towns here. Not in the way you and I know towns.

I think people are recommending Capitol Hill for its sense of community/small town feel and its proximity to the Navy Yard.

Former New Englander here too (25 yrs. here now) ... agree w/ many of the observations though I'll also note that we have twice decided not to move back to Boston because of the congestion, the cost, the winters, etc. (we've lived in Arlington 22207 for 25 yrs), I have an easy commute to ~12th & Penn. with a carpool partner.

So it can go both ways ...

Thanks to everyone for their opinions! I really do appreciate them. It is hard to make the move from such a great town but I think we will have a few long weekends to the area and explore to see if we can come close to what we have here. Thanks again and let me know if any other place comes to mind.

Anonymous wrote:I am a New England transplant as well. While my adopted home does lack some of the initimacy..I really like it here. My neighborhood has a pool, a mom's group, a garden club, a Halloween Parade and picnics. My kid's bus stop is like an extended family. It is an older neighborhood with big trees. We walk to pizza and ice cream. We are near the metro so you don't have to drive down town (though a down town commute is not quick). Good luck!

Where is it that you live now?

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't make the move if I were you. I know the Boston area as well as the DC area. Agree that if you must do it, Capitol Hill is the best you can do, or perhaps Takoma Park or Silver Spring.

If you do make the move, reserve judgement for at least a year, 2 years would be better. It really takes that long to build your community and gain the trust of others through your actions and integrity.

Are people recommending Capitol Hill because of its proximity to Navy Yard or because they think it is like a New England town? We don't know specifically where OP lives now, but from what she describes it doesn't sound at all like Capitol Hill to me. It sounds small and quaint and sort of like where I grew up in NH. While Capitol Hill has its perks, it sounds more urban to me than what the OP might be looking for.