When I started this blog post of Things You Should Know Before Moving to Northern Virginia, I had to force myself to stop at thirteen “things”. Over the years I have heard myself saying these things over and over to clients relocating here, so I thought that I should put down my observations for the world to read.
The list is really not in any particular order of importance, but know there are a lot of fun things to do here that will keep you busy 365 days a year.
And if there is something that you feel needs adding, then please speak up by leaving a comment and I will add a little more. A number of my clients met me here, so read through and then meet me.
1.So what is “Northern Virginia”? Northern Virginia includes Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William Counties. The City of Alexandria, City of Falls Church, City of Fairfax, Manassas City, Manassas Park, Town of Clifton, Town of Vienna and Town of Herndon are included. Some significant areas are Ballston, McLean, Reston, Tysons Corner, Occoquan and yes, The Pentagon.
2.Traffic is a common topic of discussion. “Rush hours” consume about eight hours of every day, which is to be expected in an area with two million people. Some highways have HOV restrictions meaning you need 2+ people in the car. There is a toll road from the Beltway (495) out to Leesburg (Route 267) and a pay-per-mile highway under construction within 495.Read more at Virginia Megaprojects (no joke). But know that there are many options including the George Washington Parkway along the Potomac River.
3.Education is a high priority. The Public School systems in Northern Virginia are recognized nationally for achievement and graduation rate. There are many private schools with excellent reputations too. There are four-year Universities like George Mason and Marymount, the Northern Virginia center for UVA and Virginia Tech in Falls Church, and programs at Northern Virginia Community College. It is also easy to reach other institutions in DC like Georgetown University or in Maryland, the University of Maryland. Overall, the area has a high percentage of residents with college and advanced degrees.
4. We demand a lot from our sport teams. The Washington Redskins play in Maryland, but their football training facility is in Ashburn, VA. The Washington Capitals play in D.C. at the Verizon Center (aka the Phone Booth) but practice at their hockey facility in Ballston. The Washington Wizards are our NBA team, and our MLS soccer team is D.C. United which plays at RFK Stadium in D.C. The newest team is the Washington Nationals MLB baseball team which plays in D.C.
5. Politics. It’s an easy photo-op for the White House, so expected to bump into a motorcade (or Congressman).
6. Northern Virginia’s population is very diverse. Since D.C. is an international destination, many immigrants have selected to move here thanks to a robust job market, excellent universities, the World Bank and easy access to flights “back home”. Virtually every nationality is represented. Other benefits of this immigration are the multitude of authentic restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries, and cultural events.
7.There is plenty of U. S. history to see. You can start along the Potomac River at Mt. Vernon in Alexandria to the Manassas National Battlefields. Did I mention that Northern Virginia is across the Potomac River from Washington, DC? There is also a Smithsonian Air and Space Museum next to Dulles Airport.
8.We have two major airports. Dulles International Airport offers direct flights around the world by virtually every international airline, and is a major United Airlines domestic hub. Reagan National Airport offers domestic flights and is the most accessible to D.C.
9.Public transportation systems continue to expand. The Metrorail System sends the Orange Line through Arlington out to Vienna, and the Yellow and Blue Lines to Reagan National Airport then to Alexandria and Springfield. Metro Bus, DASH, ART, Fairfax Connector and CUE Bus run through the counties. The “Silver Line” to Reston through Tysons Corner is under construction in 2012 with a late 2013 finish date. Virginia Rail Express (VRE) is an option from Fredericksburg or Manassas. Amtrak makes a stops in Alexandria and the AutoTrain in Lorton. (Union Station in DC is where the Northeast Corridor service begins).
10. We love being outdoors. The climate is excellent for people who like to garden or landscape, and for bike riders, runners and hikers. The W&OD bike trail runs for 45 miles from Arlington to Leesburg along an old rail line turned path which is heavily used by runners, bikers and walkers. Great Falls National Park in Virginia and C&O Canal National Park offer hiking along the Potomac River. There are also sports teams for any sport and age group imaginable. Wolftrap National Park for the Performing Arts in Vienna is a perfect outdoor venue to see theater, concerts or the symphony.
11. Northern Virginia is famous for shopping. It may not seem exciting to everyone, but we have plenty of grocery stores including Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Wegman’s, but there are plenty of weekend farmers’ markets, and roadside markets like Cox Farms. Tyson’s Corner is a regional super-shopping district with everything from L.L. Bean, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. There is simply too much to mention. There are excellent restaurants and hotels.
12. We experience all four seasons of the year. Winter usually features a cold snap when temperatures can be in the teens. There may be a foot of snow, total, for the season. There are many days when ice covers the roads (a traffic nightmare), and there may be a 20+” snowstorm every few years (2010 was an exception with three). Spring starts in March (cherry blossoms) and runs through June (70°’s and 80°’s). Summer begins July 1 and it can be hot (90°+) and very humid through mid-September. Fall begins in October with brilliant displays from our tall Oak and Maple trees.
13. Northern Virginia isn’t just Federal Government workers. Yes, there are plenty of Feds, but the economy is much more diversified than once was as many corporations have based themselves here thanks to a Virginia’s favorable business climate. hospitals, accounting firms, telecommunications, technology, Internet, hospitality, automotive, association industry, retail, real estate, defense and government contractors and many more.
Did I miss anything?
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About Doug Francis
A few years ago I noticed that real estate sites seem to show the same MLS listings, so I decided to create a distinct real estate blog to share my local insight - if you already live here or are relocating. There are topics based on recent client experiences, buying custom homes, and more learned over the past twenty years. Take a few minutes and read a blog post or two to see if my approach matches your goals. I am a real estate agent with RE/MAX, have lived in Oakton and McLean, and live in Vienna Virginia. My goal is to provide you with intel into today's market, candor, practical advice, ideas to get you moving, some humor, geeky stats, the best coffee shop, some video, and a cool way to search for homes. Helping you understanding the process of making an offer, the sales contract and more will come when we meet. Yes, I live here. It is easy to reach me: 
Doug,
I really like this post. You have inspired me to possibly write a similar one for my sites.
Looks like you could go on for a long time but capped it at 13. I will have the same problem, so maybe I will make each point a mini post of it’s own.
Good work!