New to the Area?
This is an update on an old article I put together for people who are brand new to Northern Virginia. Because of the many employment opportunities and because of the pleasant nature of the city of
Alexandria, Alexandria often and consistently rates as one of the nation's best cities. If you're brand new to the area, it's hard to know where to start when looking for a home or residence. There are TOO MANY CHOICES.
Before you can find your house you have to find your neighborhood. Before you find your neighborhood you have to find your way around the city. For this reason, a quick description of the components of Alexandria is helpful.
Old Town
Old Town (sometimes called Olde Town, Old Towne or Olde Towne) is the heart of Alexandria. As the name implies, Old Town is the oldest part of the city. Alexandria was a port in colonial times owing to its location along the Potomac. These days Old Town is found just inside the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and then north toward Reagan National Airport. Old Town is served by the
King St. Metro and the King St. trolley. With over 100 restaurants, shops, boutiques, coffee shops, ice cream houses and more, Old Town has both a small
town, upscale and touristy feel. For most folks there is a bit of prestige attached to an Old Town address. There are two high rises near the waterfront at the
Alexandria House and
Port Royal. Old Town Alexandria has many townhouses, row houses and a smaller number single family homes. Click
Old Town
to search listings of properties in Old Town Alexandria.
Del Ray
Although its history doesn't stretch to the colonial days,
Del Ray is another relatively old neighborhood. Del Ray was founded in 1894 as a "streetcar suburb" to Washington, DC. Most of Del Ray was built from the 1890's to the 1950's and retains that small town charm despite being so close to the center of the universe. Quaint streets with brick or stone homes are found on streets that branch off from Del Ray's arteries.
At the heart of Del Ray is the main street: Mount Vernon Avenue. This where you'll find a hometown mix of shops, restaurants and hardware stores. Braddock Road metro serves Del Ray and condos such as
Colecroft Station are available here.
Click
Del Ray for a map of Del Ray and for listings of properties for sale in Del Ray. Or, click
Del Ray for listings for sale in the Del Ray subdivision of Alexandria.
Arlandria
As the name implies,
Arlandria at the border of Alexandria City and Arlington County. Arlandia is just north of Del Ray at terminus of Mount Vernon Avenue. Some residents also call this neighborhood Chirilagua. Arlandia has many small shops and restaurants. Click
Arlandria for a map of the general area and to search properties listed for sale in Arlandria.
Eisenhower Valley
The Eisenhower Valley describes the area found along Eisenhower
Avenue. At the western end of Eisenhower Avenue one will find
warehouses and businesses such as FedEx and UPS who appreciate easy
access to the Interstate. Click
Eisenhower West to search property at the west end of Eisenhower, near the Van Dorn Metro station.
On the east end, where Eisenhower Avenue approaches Old Town, you'll
find the United States Patent & Trade Office and the high-end high-rise neighborhood of the
Carlyle District. The USPTO is a complex of five buildings that accommodate more than 7,000 federal employees. Residents of the Carlyle District have easy access to the Hoffman Town Center at the
Eisenhower Metro. The Carlyle District is an intriguing place to live because it's so close to the charm and amenities of
Old Town, but is new and modern. Click
Eisenhower East to find properties listed for sale here.
West End
Like the Eisenhower Valley, the
West End of Alexandria is a mixed bag. Condos and high rises abound in "Condo Canyon"
near Landmark and Lincolnia. But development from the 1950's and 1960's is also found tucked on side streets and around unexpected corners. The homes around and near Seminary Road are regarded by many as stately and highly desirable. Another interesting neighborhood in the West End is Cameron Station. Cameron Station is a newer development of townhouses and condos, but the stylings and architecture imitate the best of Old Town. Cameron Station is relatively close to both Landmark Mall and Old Town.
The West End is well connected to Washington DC
via I-395. The West End is the newest and largest part of the city. The West End has a diverse selection of restaurants and shops as well as Landmark Mall and several fine hotels.
Fort Ward Park and Museum is found in the
West End of Alexandria. Click
West End for a glance at what's for sale and to see a map of the West End.
Properties in
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About the Author --- Will Nesbitt is the principal broker of Condo Alexandria and Nesbitt Realty.
Will specializes in condos, townhouses and single family residences in
Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Crystal City, and Kingstowne.
Will resides in Belle Haven Estates just outside Alexandria VA in
Fairfax County. |
Across Eads St. relatively close to the Crystal City Metro is the neighborhood of Aurora Highlands.
Aurora Highlands is in Arlington County and dates back to the days when Arlington County was a sleepy rural suburb of Washington DC. One of the most interesting assets of Aurora Highlands is the row of shops and restaurants along 23rd St. in Crystal City.
On a lazy summer afternoon a sidewalk cafe in Aurora Highlands is a nice place to take a bite to eat and enjoy a cool drink.
For more information or to set up an appointment call Julie at (703)765-0300.
One of the great things about life in Alexandria VA is the proximity to two public marinas: one at Belle Haven and the other at Potowmack Landing north of Old Town. I have always wanted to sail, and yesterday Julie surprised me by signing us up for a social sail with the Sailing Club of Washington.
The Sailing Club of Washington is a group of over 400 people that includes a mixture of folks who have never sailed but want to learn and old salts who've been sailing for years along with those who simply enjoy socializing with other sailing enthusiasts. The Sailing Club of Washington (SCOW) is a 501(c)(7) organization (a social club) that was originally chartered on July 12, 1966 "to provide the membership thereof with the opportunity and instrumentalities to become expert in the art of sailing for their individual and mutual education, benefit and enjoyment."
This boat used to be a club boat, but it's owned by a member who still shares it with the club. The Sailing Club has six boats:
We were excited as we prepared to board the vessel. It was a short walk along the dock and then we boarded.
National Airport is visible behind us. The winds were light and steady, perfect for beginners.
There were several other vessels nearby, most were sailors but there were a few flat-bottom fishermen out as well.
After we were underway, the skipper let me man the tiller! What fun! I had to make sure that we caught the right wind, without hitting posts or other boats.
Julie snapped a couple of pictures of me having a blast.
Eventually the sun started to set and it was time to head back to port.
What a great club! I can't endorse this activity enough. The fees are reasonable, the company was pleasant. And I really like sailing.
We'll be back another day.
If you're looking for a home near the marina, you might consider some of the following communities:
Hidden Oaks Nature Center is located at 7701 Royce St. in 
The trail follows the edge of the Potomac and is relatively quiet even though it's just off the George Washington Parkway.
The day was not so gloomy as these pictures turned out and it was very pleasant just off the trail.
There was a bird here and I tried hard to get him on camera, but he was much too quick. He would dive and then surface with a fish in his beak. We saw him eat at least six fish. I was amazed by how much one little bird could eat.
Foxy came with us and she trotted into the water to bark at ducks but didn't have the courage to take a swim.
