Home town living

Northern Virginia is growing for a number of reasons.  Many have settled here to get away from the city and found that it has a home town feel that is just right.  The area has experienced a significant increase in residents that have families with children.  As a result, many builders have found a way to cater to this desire and spend as much time selling a lifestyle as they do a property.  When driving throughout the area it’s hard to miss all of the schools, shopping centers, grocery stores, and play grounds. Towns such as Leesburg have managed to keep their sense of history while welcoming the expanding county line.  They have had to make adjustments like every other town in the area to accommodate the amount of children that are constantly enrolling.  In Loudoun County alone, they expand by adding at least one or two schools a year.  The interesting thing is that despite the amount of children, families continue to have rave reviews about the class sizes and education that many across the United States would love to experience.  Loudoun has ranked among the top tier school systems in the country. To preserve the neighborhood feel, just about every subdivision has about a five to ten minute drive to the nearest shopping center that is filled with shops, restaurants, and gas stations.  Many small businesses have been able to survive despite the economy due to this concept.  Grocery stores have catered to the areas professionals by adding services like Express Lane and Peapod where they do your grocery shopping for you.  On the weekends, parking lots across the region are filled with Farmer’s Markets. It is possible to live in a great home town minutes away from the city.  In 2005, it was impossible to purchase a house without twenty bids being on the property within the hour of it being listed.   With the softening of the economy and housing market, this area has remained a top preference for those still looking to realize the American dream and raise a family.  Northern Virginia is a great testament to this fact and precisely why it will only continue to grow.

Lorton Town Center

The Lorton Town Center has retail shops and restaurants, retailers include:
Lorton VA real estate
Lorton real estate
  • Fusion Nails and Spa
  • Lorton Dry Cleaners
  • Verizon Wireless
  • Salon Red
  • InkStop
  • Curves for Women
  • Wachovia Bank
  • Lorton Station Medical Center
  • KC Pharmacy
  • FedEx Kinko's
Restaurant choices at the Towncenter include:
  • Pane e Vino
  • Daily Grind
  • Maya's Pastries
  • Subway
  • Fireside Grill
  • Corner Cuisine
  • Vocelli Pizza

Lorton Marketplace

Lorton Marketplace features retail shops, restaurants, and office space. Retailers include:
  • Shoppers Food and Pharmacy - best doughnuts in the area.  But get there early.
  • Virginia ABC Store - friendly employees who will always greet you with a smile.
  • Mattress Discounters
  • My Eye Doctor
  • Escape Salon and Day Spa
  • UPS Store
  • Lorton Marketplace Barber
  • Lorton Cleaners
  • Reflection Dental
  • C2 Education
  • Minnieland Daycare
  • Bank of America
Future plans for an Exxon Mobil gas station and a medical center are underway. The Marketplace also features a variety of restaurant and food service choices, which include:
  • Caribou Coffee
  • My Karma Indian Bistro
  • Quiznos - Great sandwiches and lunchtime deals.
  • Hong Kong Café
  • Tokyo One
  • Z-Pizza
  • Angie’s Creamery
  • Glory Days Grille

About Lorton Station

Lorton Station situated on 300 acres is located in Southern Fairfax County, Virginia. It is a new planned community that offers residents a blend of conveniences from shopping to dining and outdoor excursions. This development consists of 950 homes south of Washington, DC off Interstate 95, with Virginia Railway Express (VRE) commuter train station within the community. Visit http://www.lortonstation.info/amenities_main.asp for additional information regarding Lorton Station.

Amenities

100 Acre Stream Valley - Joseph Plaskett Park

In the North section of the community lies an existing 100-acre Stream Valley Park. In 1999 the park was dedicated to the founder of Lorton, Joseph Plaskett. This park consists of a wooded walking / biking trail that extends through both ends of the park and the Pohick River which winds its way through the community.

Community Pools

Two outdoor swimming pools, sundecks and bath facilities, located in the North and South sections of the community.

Community Recreation Center

Located at the North pool and is the location where committee and board meetings occur. The clubhouse was designed to resemble a train station and provides a warm, rich setting for small parties and gatherings. The rental fee is $350.

Lorton VRE Station

Lorton Station has its very own Virginia Railway Express (VRE) train stop. This convenience makes Lorton Station a very desireable community. The station is minutes from any of the community's homes and offers direct access to Washington DC and Metrorail. For information regarding the VRE, please visit: http://www.vre.org/

Tot Lots

There are three tot lots within the community. Other local amenities include the nearby marinas on the Occoquan and Potomac rivers, several local and state parks, recreation facilities, museums, shopping malls, outlet centers, and fine arts and cultural foundations. This neighborhood is located in one of the nation’s top school districts (FCPS). For other inquiries regarding the community, please contact: Lorton Station Community Association 9050 Lorton Station Boulevard Lorton VA 22079 Tel: (703) 339-3824 Fax (703) 339-3825

For sale at Lorton Station

Pohick Bay Golf Course

Pohick Bay Golf Course is located at 10301 Gunston Road, Lorton, Virginia. The golf course is open during daylight hours, all year. The golf course can be contacted at 703-339-8585. They can also be visited at http://www.nvrpa.org/park/pohick_bay_golf_course/content/hours_and_directions This scenic course is located on the Mason Neck Peninsula in Lorton, Virginia. Local golf magazines repeatedly name Pohick Bay as one of the area’s most challenging courses. Maps of the course and additional information about each hole can be viewed at http://www.nvrpa.org/park/pohick_bay_golf_course/content/golf_course . Pohick Bay's Professional Golf Instructor Ferndando Martinez can help you whether you are a beginner or a skilled golfer. Let him help you take your game to the next level. Fernando has worked with men, women and children of all ages. Visit his page for more information http://www.nvrpa.org/park/pohick_bay_golf_course/content/professional_instruction Men’s, women’s and junior leagues are available as well as tournament packages. Tournament rates are applicable Monday through Friday for groups of 24 or more golfers and a maximum of 120 golfers for a tournament.

Tournament packages are as follows:

Basic Package $53 per person Includes: 18-hole greens fee 18-hole cart fee Range balls Course gift (logo ball, tee package, course coupon) Outdoor tent with table and chair setup Standard Package: $58 per person Includes: All items in basic package Longest drive and closest pin markers Personalized cart signs and scorecards Deluxe Package: $63 per person Includes: All items in standard package Post tournament scoring Morning coffee setup Basic Junior/Senior Package: $45 per person Includes: 18-hole greens fee 18-hole cart fee Range balls Course gift (logo ball, tee package, course coupon) Available only to recognized junior or senior golf groups Standard Junior/Senior Package: $50 per person Includes: All items in basic junior/senior package Longest drive and closest pin markers Personalized cart signs and scorecards Outdoor tent with table and chair setup Available only to recognized junior or senior golf groups Additional Services include the Pro Shop and a beverage cart service, The pro shop features a snack bar that offers sandwiches, grill items, breakfast muffins, hot and cold beverages, candy and chips as well as inside seating. The beverage cart is offered at no charge and carry beer, Gatorades, sodas, water and snacks. Golf memberships are also available at affordable rates and offer flexible options for all kinds of golfers plus three courses for the price of one! Member benefits can include advanced tee time reservations, unlimited range balls, discounts on pro shop merchandise and even discounted or free greens fees for your guests. All memberships are for twelve months from the date of purchase.

Time to get in shape, FIT3 debuts in Tysons Corner

If you are looking forward to Tysons Corner becoming a walk-able neighborhood, it may be time to get in shape. FIT3, billing itself as “America’s largest fitness, health and wellness superstore” opened its doors in October at the corner of Leesburg Pike and Spring Hill Rd., home to a former Circuit City. The 20,000 square foot store is the first in what the owners hope will become a nationwide chain. FIT3 is part sports specialty retailer and part fitness center. It sells top brand fitness equipment and accessories as well as specialty products for yoga, boxing and mixed martial arts. And why not get in a workout while you are shopping? Tucked between the racks of workout gear is a yoga studio (free classes daily), simulated running track and martial arts/boxing ring. They also sell vitamins, nutrition supplements and athletic footwear, featuring computerized, personalized sizing. It is a one-a-kind, one-stop-shop for fitness, exercise and nutrition that is big, bright and new. And while we can’t control the traffic on Leesburg Pike, we can tell you the parking at FIT3 is spacious and free.

Mason Neck State Park

The Mason Neck Conservation Committee was formed in 1965 after two bald eagle nests were spotted. The committee, concerned about impending development on the peninsula, recommended part of the area to be used as a site for a state park. In August 1967 the commonwealth began purchasing land parcels from The Nature Conservancy.
Mason Neck
Mason Neck
Mason Neck State Park is on a peninsula formed by Pohick Bay on the north, Belmont Bay on the south and the Potomac River on the east. The park attracts migrating and non-migrating species of birds, including tundra swans, herons, assorted species of duck and bald eagles. The park consists of several hundred acres of hardwood forests. Several wetland areas are also found at Mason Neck State Park. The park is in southern Fairfax County, about 20 miles from Washington, D.C. Access to the park is via U.S. 1. From northern Virginia the drive time is approximately 30 minutes from Washington, D.C., 45 minutes; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, three hours; Richmond, one and a half hours; Roanoke, four hours. Mason Neck is a day use park and has no overnight facilities. Mason Neck offers hiking, biking and self-guided trails. Four miles of unpaved hiking trails and three miles of paved multi-use trails wind through the park providing a glimpse of nature by the bay. Elevated walkways allow visitors to explore some of the marsh areas in the park. Ten bicycles are available for rent by the hour. Fresh and brackish water fishing are available, however, you must have a valid Virginia or Maryland fishing license. There are no facilities for boat launching via trailer. From April through October, kayaks and canoes are available for rent, an hour or all day, to explore Belmont Bay or Kane's Creek - a great way to see eagles. Other attractions the park offers include: hunting, festivals, workshops, a visitor center. The park's environmental education center has a gift shop with park-oriented merchandise and souvenirs. Educational programs include pond study, bird-watching, canoe trips, active volunteer program, night hikes, teacher workshops, hands-on experiential educational opportunities, and evening programs. Programs include: Your Backyard Classrooms program is a 40-activity curriculum guide for K-12 teachers Junior Rangers: Junior Rangers is a day-long program for children 7 to 10. It offers hands-on environmental education that covers stewardship and strong conservation, recreation and protection ethics. Several sessions with varying themes are held each summer. Contact the park for dates and fees. Wee Rangers: Wee Rangers is a two-hour program for children 4 to 6 with accompanying adults. It’s a fun, hands-on introduction to the natural world. Several sessions with varying themes are offered each summer. Contact the park for dates and fees. Accessibility include: Picnic area with handicapped accessible restroom facility; fully accessible playground; six handicap parking spaces; a fully accessible paved hiking trail. For more information about Mason Neck State Park,contact (703) 339-2385 or (703) 339-2380 (visitor center); email [email protected]

Lorton – VRE

Lorton Rail Station is located at 8990 Lorton Station Boulevard in Lorton, Virginia. It is currently only serviced by the Virginia Rail Express - Fredericksburg Line. This station is one mile north from the Amtrak Auto Train Lorton station. Amenities include: bike racks; free surface parking; local transit connections; newspaper racks, and a quiet Car. This platform is ADA accessible and serves the Fredericksburg Line only. VRE logo Ticket vending machines at this location only accept credit or debit cards, cash ticket purchases must be purchased at an off-site vendor location. Local connections with Amtrak, Arlington ART Bus, DASH, DC Circulator, Fairfax Connector, GRTC and Mark are available, just to name a few. Many bus connections are free with a valid VRE ticket. For more information on connection services contact the VRE offices at (703) 684-1001.

Lorton Real Estate For Sale

Mountain View Alternative High School

Mountain View Alternative High school is one of the great unique opportunities in northern Virginia, or more specifically, Fairfax County. Located in Centreville at 5775 Spindle Court Centreville, VA 20121, this school is tucked away from the rest of the extremely busy school. When in high school you can apply to go here, and I would say that it is well worth the effort. Mountain View is a completely unique learning experience. Where most high schools in the area have around three thousand students, Mountain View has a maximum of three hundred at a time. At base school any student needs at least for years to graduate, but at Mountain you can graduate in only two. Mountain View upholds the ideals of family, love, and respect. Mountain View obtains these goals of graduating early by making the classes smaller and more personal. Each student has plenty of one on one time with the teacher and can set their own pace. They have no age limit and offer evening classes as well for anyone who needs a leg up, or a late diploma. Mountain View is also surrounded by many good restaurants within walking distance. This is very good because there is an open campus lunch policy, at which time the students are free to go wherever they would like for a forty-five minute lunch break. In this way, and many other ways, Mountain View gives back to it's surrounding community.

Buffalo Wild Wings

Buffalo Wild Wings, a national sports bar chain, opened its newest restaurant in Crystal City in January. This new location is the fourth in the greater Washington DC area. Buffalo Wild Wings Buffalo Wild Wings offers a casual dining / sports bar atmosphere. Large high-definition televisions line the walls, broadcasting the day’s best sports matchups. During major or local sporting events, the restaurant attracts large and lively crowds. Unlike typical sports bars, the Food is moderately priced, with Buffalo Wings featured as the signature menu item. A wide selection of wing sauces is offered, and many different beers are available. Recommended for folks looking for a casual dining experience or a fun place to watch a game.