Area Parks and Outdoor Spaces

wethmangroupadmin — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:41:03 +0000

One thing we frequently hear from people who move to the Washington, DC, metro area is that it’s so green. Yes, we recycle here and you’ll see lots of hybrids on the road, but what folks are actually referring to are all of the parks and outdoor areas that are scattered throughout the region.

Like to hike/bike/run/walk? We’ve got hundreds of miles of trails for you to explore and enjoy. Like to boat and/or fish? We’ve got several marinas and miles of waterways packed with honey holes. And if you just want a nice place to take the kiddos for an afternoon of outdoor fun, the area is packed with parks where you can let the little ones run around and work off some of that excess energy.

No matter what your preferred outdoor activity, you’ll find a place nearby where you can indulge in your favorite hobbies. Not sure where to start? Click here to get started: http://projects.washingtonpost.com/metro/communities/fairfax/sports-and-recreation/

Other big attractions in the area are the many national parks and historic places. You can get in some good outdoor time and learn something, as well. Click here to find a nearby park: http://www.nps.gov/findapark

There are lots of options, so get out there and enjoy all of the great outdoor spaces that are in your new backyard.

Where is “Northern Virginia”?

admin — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 16:23:44 +0000

If you’re relocating to “Northern Virginia” (often referred to locally as “NOVA”) you may be wondering where, exactly, that is. Of course generally, we know people are referring to the northern end of the state, but just how far south and west does it include?

It depends whom you ask. For real estate statistical purposes, the local association defines “Northern Virginia” as Alexandria City, Arlington County, Falls Church City, Fairfax City, and Fairfax County. These are also the counties covered by our local association Northern Virginia Association of Realtors (NVAR), and NVAR members have access to all the homes for sale in those jurisdictions.

But if you ask locals, many would also include Loudoun County to the West, Prince William County to the West and South, and sometimes Stafford County to the South as well as part of our metropolitan area. You can see a map of counties at Wikipedia here. To look at homes in these ‘outer’ counties, you need to work with a realtor who is a member of those local associations.

The Washington, DC, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) includes counties in VA, MD, and also includes the District of Columbia–a large swath! It is further divided into two divisions:

the Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV Metropolitan Division, comprising the majority of the metropolitan area, and
the Bethesda–Gaithersburg–Frederick, MD Metropolitan Division, consisting of Montgomery and Frederick counties.

Counties include:

MD: Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George’s
DC: District of Columbia
VA: Arlington, Clarke, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Warren Counties, PLUS the independent cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Manassas, and Manassas Park.
WV: (Yes, you read that right…our MSA stretches all the way to West Virginia) Jefferson County

Obviously the MSA is too large a tract to be looking at for your next home (and be careful drawing any conclusions from real estate statistics based on such a large area). Commuting times here are a big issue, so it’s critical to narrow your search based on where you’ll be working. Contact our team for help thinking through what some viable options are for you!

My Move to Washington, DC » “northern virginia”

Area Parks and Outdoor Spaces

Where is “Northern Virginia”?