Extremely random fact about these tours. First, they are super fun. But second, if the person taking the tour is a federal employee (or potentially federal contractor) with a security clearance, you MUST report these tours to your security team as “international travel”. Depending on your agency rules, you may need to get approval ahead of time. It’s a random thing that people don’t necessarily think about, but when you go inside you are, technically, leaving the United States.
I don’t want to derail, but I think this question aligns with the topic. If not, feel free to delete.
If one is a retiree (single or married) wanting to move to a walkable/public transportation-able location in the Falls Church area, do the same recommendations hold true as for someone in their 20s?
H and I enjoyed the Arlington area where S lived when we visited. It’s pretty walkable and has nice transit access. Sorry, we never visited Falls Church area so no idea about there.
I’m not trying to be nit-picky, but just in case someone really cares about living near the ocean, Annapolis is on the Chesapeake Bay, and not the ocean. I’m guessing it’s 2ish hours from the ocean (depending on traffic of course).
I think it depends on what the retiree is looking for. If retirees want to live without a car, then any of the places being discussed near metro work. But if you don’t have to worry about getting into DC multiple times a week, there are many other places that could work. Reston VA comes to mind. They have lakes and lots of walking paths, and metro does run out there, but I don’t know that it’s a “happening place” for young singles, and it would take longer to get into DC from there.
It really depends on where you want to get from Falls Church. In true Falls Church City (the tiny 2 sq mile part) you can easily walk most anywhere. There is a small library, a park, some cute independent restaurants, and recently a Harris Teeter and Whole Foods. But getting from the cute small town part to the metro stations isn’t really walkable. They are maybe a 2-3 mile drive, but not a good walk. But there are cute houses on streets with old growth trees, an old school theater that has been converted into a place for bands (things like the 80’s tribute band The Legwarmers are big, we’ve also seen Tom Petty and Led Zepplin tribute bands there). It feels very “Our Town”. But it’s super tiny and houses don’t come up often in this little enclave and when they do, they are pricey.
Brookings is close to DuPont Circle. You may want to live in DC instead of Virginia. Living close to a metro station, especially a walkable 20 minute distance, will greatly increase real estate costs. Driving is a nightmare here and should be avoided. Plus your cars will be dented constantly.
If you like bicycling or ebiking there are several bike routes into DC from Virginia—check out the Mount Vernon trail. Many people bike to and from work.
I have one single retired woman friend and two retired couples who moved to Ballston and love it. My thirtysomething daughter and her husband have lived in Ballston for a few years and bought a condo there last year. The do not need a car; she works two blocks from her employer and he commutes to Fairfax County via metro; both mostly work at home.
Ballston to Courthouse are very walkable, or a short metro ride apart. The residents are pretty young…even my thirtysomethings sometime feel old!
They love Arlington; DH and I live in Alexandria, and this is just right for both of us.
As I mentioned my S is right by Dupont Circle (he can see Brookings from his balcony). He pays $2400 a month for a tiny studio (440 sq ft), a 1bd would be closer to $3000. Most places are condos with high service charges so the costs to buy are quite low ($350K for a studio, maybe $600K for a 2bd). But purchase prices have been fairly static for a long time, unlike the suburbs, and aren’t likely to increase much.
I feel the need to pipe in.
I raised my family is South Arlington - a car (or bus) ride from a Metro station in a lovely suburban neighborhood of modest homes.
Once the kids launched and hubby passed away, I felt I was echoing alone in my house and moved.
Now I am in a ‘lock and leave’ building in a Courthouse neighborhood condo within walking distance to 2 Orange/Silver line Metro stops. I love that my car is in a secure parking garage and out of the elements when I travel (no garage at our house) and I don’t worry about a break in or tree falling on my home when I’m away.
I walk to lots (when it’s not so $*@%^ hot out) - Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, library, banking, dining, movies, farmer’s market, or just along local trails. And I take advantage of my senior discount Metro card to go to museums and events in DC ( Library of Congress, Moth story slams, etc.).
Yes, there are lots of young folks in this area, but many ‘Boomers’ are here as well.
I can echo this. I know a decent number of older folks in the Clarendon/Courthouse area. It’s an interesting mix - because it’s got so many apartments and condos, you don’t see as high a percentage of people with young kids as you do four or five blocks off the main roads and into where there are more houses with lots, and there are a lot of 20 somethings. But it’s also become a really desirable retirement place, particularly for people who want a walking lifestyle but maybe want to live somewhere without stairs.
My mom is thinking about moving to Courthouse when she sells her house rather than look for an active adults type community, because she feels she can get all of that from the neighborhood AND have the great metro access.
And also yes, there are some great places to live in S. Arlington too. When we first got married we lived in a great townhome/condo community called Fairlington. The price was right, the neighborhood had great parks and community pools and grassy areas and big old growth trees. It was a short bus ride to the metro and from our place we could walk to a great bread store, pizza place, ice cream and more. It was lovely. We ended up moving only because the place we had was really too small for two kids once they got past toddler size and were squished sharing a small room, but for anyone reading this in the future looking for a starter home community, I can’t recommend it enough.
Ballston880 was a nice condo in the area. It had secure front desk and fairly nice-sized rooms. My S rented a condo in that building for nearly a decade.