For D.C. residents like me, going to Virginia is just weird. Suddenly you’re surrounded by much-wider streets with names, brand-name superstores that you had all but forgot, and Metro station posts that have just one color band.
Maryland is equally strange. Past Bethesda and Silver Spring, I am immediately thrust into resplendent pastures of startlingly bright-green grass not demarcated by crisscrossing sidewalks. I feel lost out in the country, and I’m only a few miles from the D.C.-MD line.
It’s all very jarring and stands as testaments to extraordinarily different approaches to urban development (or lack thereof; good job, Maryland!). Thankfully, I’m not the only one who thinks this way. If you explore the D.C. blogosphere, you’ll find all sorts of delightful nasty-fests–the D.C. vs Arlington mudslings are always the best.
I submit to you the latest: The Guide to Traveling In Virginia For D.C. Residents. Also learn the difference between Farlington and Nearlington. Sorry, Shirlington or Fairlington is not included. I take exception with the second blogger’s decision to make Glebe Road the boundary between the two new cities. I think Nearlington should be anywhere that’s within a 15-minute walk from a Metro station, and Farlington be anything farther than that. Now that works for me.
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As someone who resided in Arlington for a very long time, I’m interested in your perspective. You failed to mention where you come from, unless you’re from D.C.? Going from Arlington to D.C. was an interesting contrast for me. D.C. was much “busier” for me and filled with interesting museums, restaurants, theaters, etc. Now, that appears to be changing.
Did you know that Arlington was part of D.C. during the early 19th century? It was retroceded back to Virginia although I don’t know why. Hence the Arlington is the southwest part of the diamond shape that D.C. has.
I just get confused whenever i cross from the MD or DC border in to Virginia. it drives me nuts. I pretty much get turned around without fail every time i drive into Virginia.
Oh me too, definitely. The minute I cross over, I’m lost.
I lived in VA for nearly a year before moving into the District in 2000. While VA has its charms (lots of trees, parks and some good shopping), it still reeks of suburban conformity.
If I had to choose between MD/VA, it’d be MD. I personally could never live in a state as conservative as VA.
However, I’d understand why some might choose VA over MD for VA’s attempts at urban development aren’t anywhere near as stodgy as MD’s.
But DC proper is really a terrific place to be. More and more families are moving into the city. There are more educational/cultural opportunities. There’s less traffic and everyone loves Metro. Top notch cuisine. Architecture. Museums. Nightlife. Theater. Captioned movies…
The list goes on.
Pros and cons of Arlington County (VA) and DC! I am currently reside in Arlington. I somewhat miss living in the bustling city life as compared to the burb living of Arlington, VA.
Pros of Arlington County is much better outdoor air quality as compared to the stale air and highest level of lead emission in DC.
NOVA residents and I get the cheapest electric rates as compared to DC and MD - hee hee! I only pay $7 to $12 dollars per month. I ever consume electricity pretty much.
I could waltz into the nearby department stores from Target (Yeech!) to Best Buy/Marshalls in minutes. No department stores with reasonable prices in DC. MD? Plz!!
I am kinda surprised that there are hidden sales tax in VA unlike in DC. I could buy anything under 1 dollar without any sale tax. In VA, I would pay 7 cents to 75 cents (dining tax or hot food fee)! I would not pay much in DC for dining or hot food tax).
I still have alot of adventures to explore in NOVA via parks and lakes and urban forests and excellent bike trails near my residence.
I could leave my bike without worrying about any theft. My bikes have been stolen several times in DC! Ever the bike tires and other features! I am speaking of the Northwest which I used to live in the Thomas/Logan Circle!
There is no perfect place in DC region unless someone lives in the countryside home with servants!
RLM
Any state that has an organization whose president claimed that they’ll have to pry his gun from his cold dead hands warrants statewide psychological examinations (NRA headquarters - Fairfax / Chantilly area).