Northern VA Real Estate and Community Info

General Area

Known as NoVA for short, the region was open countryside not that many years ago, a place of bygone plantation life and fated cavalry charges. The thriving present lives side by side with the vanished past.

The counties closest to the nation's capital– Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William–are urban in flavor in areas adjacent to the city, quite rural to the west and south. An additional 10 or more counties are also considered a part of NoVA, juxtaposing horse farms with research parks, new construction with historic homes.

Major activities

The quality of residents' lives stems from a dedication to preserving the past while embracing the future. This entire area was one of the major theaters of battle during the American Civil War. It is no surprise that towns and cities such as Manassas, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Spotsylvania are popular tourist destinations even as they adapt to life in the 21st century.

History buffs will spend many happy hours exploring the treasures housed in the myriad museums in Northern Virginia. From the Revolutionary War-era in Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum in Alexandria to the ever-growing National Air and Space Museum near Dulles Airport, boredom is never an issue.

Those with shopping on their minds will find that NoVA is home to a number of malls, ranging in size from the Tysons Corner Center in the east to the Apple Blossom Mall in Winchester to the west. Small strip shopping centers are snuggled into every neighborhood, while quaint shops sparkle in Occoquan and the old-town districts of Fairfax and Manassas.

When it is time for lunch or dinner, Northern Virginia offers something for everyone. From Portuguese cooking at Carmelo's in Manassas to the wonderful duck at the Peking Gourmet Inn in Falls Church, a meal is never just a meal, but food for the soul.

College and Universities

Higher education has always been emphasized in the region, and NoVA today offers several different options. George Mason, George Washington and Marymount universities dot DC's Virginia suburbs, while the University of Mary Washington stills stands watch from the heights overlooking downtown Fredericksburg to the south.

More specialized training and education are available at the Institute for the Psychological Sciences in Arlington, while Northern Virginia Community College offers classes at its campuses in Alexandria, Annandale, Loudoun, Manassas, Woodbridge, Arlington and Reston.

Cultural Events

Cultural events in the region are too numerous to list separately, but many would consider the Wolf Trap National Center for the Performing Arts to be the jewel in the crown among them. The Riverside Center Dinner Theater in Fredericksburg always draws crowds, and nearly every major population center offers a community theater where residents can hone their stagecraft.

Northern Virginians love celebrating life. This is one reason why there is always something going on at any time of the year. Think of anything, and there is likely to be a festival celebrating it in Fairfax, Alexandria,Winchester and elsewhere. Apple blossoms, jazz, wine, food and the Civil War are all fair game for festival goers looking for a good time.

Residents are not limited by events held in their own towns and can enjoy all the cultural amenities of the Kennedy Center and other venues within the District of Columbia. Share a limo or hop the Metro and enjoy opera, ballet and art galleries only a few miles away.

More Options

Getting around in Northern Virginia can be a bit challenging, but continuous transportation improvements help alleviate or avoid some of the bustle. New bypasses lead traffic away from congested downtown areas. Several public transportation modes shuttle residents from their homes to work, school and play via an interconnected web of buses, van pools, ride sharing and Metro, VRE and Amtrak trains. Many employers also provide telecommuting opportunities to their workers during inclement weather.

School districts within the NoVA region tend to be very high quality, and their proximity to the nation's capital provides an unimaginable array of enrichment opportunities. Most offer several extracurricular sports, along with social and service clubs and groups.

Public libraries are found in most towns, but they are a world beyond those of the past. Enforced silence has been replaced by a bubbling energy released through afterschool and community programming. Book signing, writers' groups, pre-school story hours and afterschool activities are only a few of their offerings.

Northern Virginians treasure their greenspaces, and an impromptu picnic or pickup ball game could be as close as the park across the street. The Leesburg area offers horseback riding, while sailing is an option along the Potomac River's lower reaches. Golf, tennis and other racquet sports, the martial arts and yoga are only a few of the many options available to residents.

Real Estate Options

Prospective homeowners can choose nearly any type of dwelling imaginable. The entire region has a sizable number of historic homes located in both old-town neighbors and among rolling green hills. If comfort and convenience are paramount, a newly built condominium close to a Metro stop makes a wise choice. Families with active children might find a traditional single-family home on a residential lot more to their liking. Of course, there are many more options available, and finding the perfect new home begins by contacting Gerri Ross.