| Author | Message | ||
     Teddagreek |
My Wife got an offer for a Major Job in DC near Bolling AFB.. I can start over where ever with what I do.. The thing is we are DC Clueless, My wife lived there as a girl when her dad was stationed at the pentagon.. We know the landmarks but that's about it.. First thing first where is best place to live outside DC with good riding roads  *Seriously though, we are pretty sure we don't want to live in DC, We'd probably rent for a while until we got the lay of the land.. Any insight on areas outside DC would be really appreciated... Thanks Ted... | ||
| Blublak |
To start with.. ROADS... North / West VA Western MD These have the best twisted roads in the area. Then there are a lot of cool little runs on the Eastern portions of both states. Eastern is flatter and straighter, western is hilly and twisted. You DO NOT want to live in DC.. Costs will kill you. Then comes the commute. Bolling is in SW DC - So depending on where and what her job is going to be it may not be very conducive to living nearby. You will have to ask yourselves (herself?) "How much of a commute can you stand?". Places on the Eastern side of DC (MD) will give some shorter commutes however the closer to the city you are the higher the costs. Also, a lot of the older areas, closer to the city are unable to do much to improve the existing roads and traffic can be pretty bad (I think we're in the top 5 National standings for the worst traffic - INSIDE the beltway [8 lane death strip that surrounds the city] the big roads feeding the city, 95, 270, 66, 50 can also turn into parking lots pretty quickly and it's not going to improve anytime soon.) There are some Mass transit options as well, but it will have to depend on the where and what she's doing to determine if that's an option Contact me off line for a little more on that. I mentioned costs - Think along these lines.. Washington DC = $$$$$($) DC Suburb-right outside the city (MD/VA) = $$$$$($)/$$$$$ DC Suburb- farther out (MD/VA) = $$$$/$$$ County (or two) out (MD/VA) = $$$/$$ West Virginia / PA = $$/$$ (but going up in some areas steadily) There are some areas in both states of course that you probably wont be able to afford. Using the same scale thing - $$$$$$($$) and I'm not exaggerating. Now, we have winter up here. If you've done time at Quantico then you know, if not prepare for it. Normally not a lot of snow, however a 1/4 inch can close the city. Mostly wet, cold and nasty. Summer can get very hot and sticky, but that's OK, we have GREAT roads to ride and up in the hills to the west of the city or out at the shore, it's always cooler. Not sure what else I can say for now except drop me a note and I'll try and help with any questions you have. (No, I'm not a real estate guy - nor do I play one on TV.. however, I didn't sleep at a Holiday Inn Express so there's always that).. Lastly, the wife and I will be down your way (Depending on where in FL you are) later this month and I'm sure we could find a few hours to sit down and chat if you guys would like. | ||
| B00stzx3 |
What are you looking for besides good riding roads? If you like small town/rural, check out Damascus and Poolesville (where I live). Good schools, safe, but rednecky (nothing wrong with that though!). Suburban areas close to D.C., Bethesda, Kensington, Chevy Chase, Rockville, all of these are VERY expesnive. Theres also Germantown, Gaithersburg, Montgomery Village. You gotta watch out where you move in those places though, they have some sketchy areas and some of the schools (Gaithersburg high, Seneca Valley) aren't that great. I only know Maryland though, theres also Northern Virginia, which like Montgomery County is very expensive. Frederick county is cheaper, more rural and is basically surrounded by cool back/country roads. Farther from D.C. than Montgomery and Northern VA but cheaper and less gang/ghetto elements. Also a lot more rednecky than Montgomery or Northern VA. | ||
| Hooper |
Welcome to the area...sounds to me like you want to live in the more easterly/southerly MD suburbs, or in VA just across and south of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. It really depends on how much of a commute you want - the traffic around here can really break your spirit. Bolling is in Southeast DC (I think that's what Blublak meant), which means you have a lot of options. There are pockets of NE, SW, and SE DC that might work for you and are affordable to rent in, depending on the demographic of neighbors that you're looking for, and the type of neighborhood (more urban and tightly-packed). The challenge is to know which neighborhood is "safe" and which isn't. Living in DC has it's benefits - the closeness to the city's sights and amenities can really make your new life very interesting. Depending on what kind of life you're looking for, DC could be really interesting. Capitol Hill can be pricey (and few garages for motorcycles), but what an incredible place to live. There is plenty of rentals in MD east of Bolling, but the neighborhoods are also kind of difficult to figure out. You might get on Route 210 and head south to find the places you're more comfortable in. Prince George's County is having problems with crime and school quality, but you'll find very affordable housing. The other side of the Potomac in VA down Route 1 will provide other options. I live in Silver Spring, in Montgomery County, close to the I-495 Beltway, which is great because it's close to DC and all the things I like about it. Unfortunately, I work out near Dulles Airport - that's a long commute. I don't recommend it, but I'm guessing you know a bit about traffic. Try to come out and do a lot of driving to see the various neighborhoods, or find out where your wife's coworkers live. From where I live, I usually head north and zig-zag around the farms and country roads of northern and western Maryland, crossing into PA now and then. Southern Maryland is also very interesting, especially over by Chesapeake Bay. VA riding is outstanding...it's easy to get lost on some of the little roads out there, and if you're lucky, you'll probably bump into a winery. It's tough to recommend a place that will absolutely be right for you - gotta' decide what kind of commute, what kind of place you want, neighborhood, neighbors, yard, etc., then drive around and look at them. Good luck! | ||
| Black |
Check out Arlington VA. It is not that far from Bolling. DC is very expensive. The nice areas are really nice, but rock star expensive. Maryland is also nice. A long commute can really wear on you. The DC metropolitan area has a GREAT subway system. However, all the outlying areas normally link in to "Slug Lines". These are parking lots where you will join a car pool so as to allow the driver to get to work and home again by using the HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes...usually requiring two or three passengers per car, or a motorcycle. This is one of the few places in the country where a huge amount of people who don't know each other, ride to work with strangers each day. This is actually a testament to the kind of folks who live here, normally pretty honorable hard-working people. That said, people drive like lunatics here any time they can. Virginia is short several hundred Highway Patrol personnel. It will cost you $300,or so bucks to register a car in DC, but $30 or so for Virginia. I think Maryland is in line with Virginia. Call and inquire, but I think my number is still accurate. All told, this is a pretty nice place to live. There is also a lot to do here. | ||
| Buell2001b |
dont forget to consider traffic, I-95 is the worst. you need to consider what is best for work travel. on the weekend youi can always ride to western MD or WV or western VA. also eastern MD has some good roads. you will find people that post rides and oyu cna join any ride. |
