Moving to D.C.

I live in Chantilly. We just moved here in January from CA. We are LOVING it! Except for the tornado's, but I've heard it's just a fluke thing this year (hopefully). Chantilly is in Fairfax county and the schools are AMAZING! My daughter will be going into 1st grade next year and I am so happy with her school and teachers. We are only about 30 minutes from the DC mall area and only about 15 minutes to the closest metro station. We are also only around 10 minutes from Dulles airport. There is a ton to do around here and I just love it here so much! We are renting a 3 bedroom town home and only pay $1450 which is a steal for this area. It's a very nice townhome too. Laminate wood floor, nice kitchen, fireplace, very clean. It's not as "fancy" as some other townhomes in near by places, but it's nice and big enough and a great neighborhood. Let me know if you have any more questions about the area! I'd love to help!!

I agree to look for someplace in the suburbs near a Metro station. Even if you can't Metro, he should be able to and he will not want to be on the 495 parking lot. Even though the red line can be crowded, at least it generally moves. You may also want to set it up that he drops off and you pick up. If you go in at 645, then you'll be home sooner and most daycares will be open til 6.

I live in Springfield (West Springfield, Kings Park) and it is very nice there. Lots of families, great schools, very quiet and safe neighborhood and the prices for houses aren't too high. It's about 10 minutes away from Franconia-Springfield Metro Station, which would be very good for your husband. Three minutes away from 495 which would be good for you as on your commute you'd go against traffic at least in the morning. Let me know if you need more information and good luck to you!

A friend of mine used to live in the Mt Vernon area and it was really close to Ft. Belvoir, if I recall correctly we drove right past one of the gates. There is a Metro Stop ( Huntington) and a good Connector bus service in the area but you will need a car, that's just the way it is round here.

I am in Spotsylvania, way too far south for you.
I would try to stay north of Woodbridge. Woodbridge is just south west of Belvoir. So you wouldn't have too bad a commute. HUbby's would be a bear though.
95 is horrendous. THere is no way around that.
ONe of the moms on here lives in Occoquan, that might be a good option too.
We are way south and it takes my hubby sometimes 2 hours to get to the Pentagon. It is much faster if he picks up riders, called slugs, from the slug lot. THen he can get on the HOV lanes. For hubby there might be a Metro stop near Walter Reed.

Well, I suggest somewhere off the Route 95 corridor. The traffic is a mess, but that's probably your best option. Walter Reed will be moving to Ft. Belvoir eventually, so you might get lucky and both be in the same general area. Arlington... Springfield... or Southern Prince William County might work.
Good luck!
LBC

I lived in Manassas VA sometime ago, and it was a great area. I am not sure how far it is from Belvoir, also Alexandria and fairfax are great towns as well. You might want to look into Tyson's corner also. Good luck!

I will assume you are both AD Military - THANK YOU for your service!!!

There are some nice homes in Springfield and Alexandria....my Son's Godparents live in Springfield and he works in Bolling AFB...he used to work at Belvoir....

Like any place there are good places and bad places....I live in Reston, VA and can tell you a ton about NOVA but not where the best locations in Springfield or Alexandria....

Ft Belvoir does NOT a metro stop...sucks...as it would get a TON of ridership...it's off Route 1....

WRAMC is in NW DC - polar opposites, in my opinion....he would be able to take the metro (Red line) to Takoma Park and take the bus - it's the most efficient way to travel..

google greatschools.net so you can see what schools are like there.....

You will also have a HUGE culture shock moving from Hawaii to DC...it's been 35 years since I've lived there - Hwy 1 was a 4 lane "hwy" when I lived there and there was NO BRIDGE to Ford Island! (what a trip for me!) any way - we don't get the 2PM rain every...lots of humidity in the summer...and snow and ice in the winter. Beaches here are nothing like Wikiki or Barbers Point.....water is DEFINITELY colder than in Hawaii too.

Any way - back to your problem - I would recommend since you do not have access to Public Transportation (there is a bus but it's complicated from what I understand) that you live in Springfield or Alexandria...closer to a metro stop for your husband so he can commute via the Metro (orange line, change at red and take the bus from the Takoma Metro) and have a hassle free commute versus trying to drive in the rat race known as the beltway...

let me know if you'd like me to talk with my son's Godparents and I can find out more 411 for you!!