If you live in Springfield Oaks in Fairfax County you are lucky to have found a neighborhood where the developer left multiple pockets of green space and built a community clustered around courtyards to keep cut through traffic to a minimum.  Situated on 18 acres of wooded and gently rolling terrain 17 miles south of Washington DC this townhouse development is in a prime location for homeowners who commute to DC or any of the nearby military bases.

My clients Phil and Maria decided last year when his orders brought him to the area that Springfield Oaks was a great place to put down roots with their new son.  Phil had just returned from a tour of duty in Iraq and managed to arrive home just in time.  Their son was born just a few days later.  They were drawn to Springfield Oaks due to the great location, easy access to the metro, slug lines and shopping.  Important for those late night diaper runs!

Having owned a townhouse myself in Springfield Oaks I knew how well the association worked to keep the neighborhood up to date and they have just completed a brand new tot lot  which Phil and Maria look forward to using with their son.  The neighborhood is divided into two sections crossed by Alban Road.  Both the upper and lower sections of the neighborhood share services including twice a week trash pickup, community leaf cleaning and snow removal.

Every year the community sponsors events to bring the neighbors together including ice cream socials, Easter egg hunts and Halloween parties.  If you need a lesson on Oak tree species all you have to do is drive through the neighborhood and look at the street names including, Blue Oak, Chapman Oak and Pin Oak to realize how many types of Oak trees there are.

Of course the only down side of living in a neighborhood full of Oak trees are the annual fall of acorns.  But if that is all you can find wrong with a nice neighborhood of 382 townhouses a few blocks from Lorton Station, less than 5 miles to the main gate of Fort Belvoir or where you can catch a Fairfax Connector bus at one of the entrances to the neighborhood then I think it is okay.

If you are moving to Northern Virginia and would like to learn more about the area, give me a call.  As a native of the area I can give you a tour not only a new place to call home but other areas of interest for you and your family.

A few related post on Fairfax County Virginia
Welcome to Fairfax County
Back to Nature in Fairfax County
Helmets On-Kickstands Up-Lets Go for a Ride
Learning a New Language in Fairfax County Schools

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As an Associate Broker with RE/MAX Allegiance in Northern Virginia and native of the area I can assist you whether you are buying, selling or renting a home anywhere in Northern Virginia. For more information about the area or my services you can check VaRealEstateTalk or my Northern Virginia website.

Search all homes available in the Northern Virginia area.

Once just a rural farming community outside the nation's capital, today Fairfax County is recognized as a major business center in the Washington, D.C. area. The county attracts businesses from around the world due to its location and all that the county has to offer the business community, including a range of housing options, an abundance of recreational opportunities and proximity to Washington, D.C.

It isn't enough for Fairfax County to have a school system ranked in the Top 5 in the US, or having been named as one of the country's top digital counties, not even having the top median income in the country is enough, now the county has 4 of the best companies to work for in America to add to the list.

Fortune Magazine has ranked Booz Allen Hamilton, SRA International, Navy Federal Credit Union and MITRE in the top 100 companies in the country to work for.  Each of these companies is headquartered in Fairfax County.  As the top private sector job leader in the area Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) works hard to promote the advantages of Fairfax County to businesses from around the world.

The continued economic growth of Fairfax County helps fund the counties award-winning schools, county parks and infrastructure.  With easy access to international markets through Dulles International Airport the county continues to experience a balanced economy.  The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority has offices in San Francisco, Frankfurt Germany, London England, Seoul Korea and Tel Aviv to promote the area. 

Gerald Gordon, President and CEO of the FCEDA stated "Fairfax County has worked hard to be attractive to companies that value the talents and creativity of their employees and this year's FORTUNE list is a reflection of that commitment."

This announcement recognizing these leading Fairfax County businesses is just another reason to consider making Northern Virginia a place to call home. 

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As an Associate Broker with RE/MAX Allegiance in Northern Virginia and native of the area I can assist you whether you are buying, selling or renting a home anywhere in Northern Virginia. For more information about the area or my services you can check VaRealEstateTalk or my Northern Virginia website.

Search all homes available in the Northern Virginia area.

For those of you who like to get from Point A to Point B faster than your feet can take you then you might be ready to get your bike out of storage and pedal your way around Northern Virginia.  Though not as bike friendly for commuters as other cities, the recreational rider can cover a lot of territory with a variety of trials and places to stop along the way.

Back in the mid 90's my son and I cycled 300 miles through the Loire Valley in France for 6 days and you can get a bit spoiled by pedaling for a few hours taking in a Chateau or two and ending your evening at French café.   You won't get Chateau's in Northern Virginia but you can get national monuments, wonderful parks and a water views.  If you plan it right you can also get a nice evening in a Bed and Breakfast at the end of one of the trails as well.

For those of you who just want to take a short ride you might want to head over to Burke Lake Park and ride around the 4.7 mile dirt path.  It is an easy trail among the trees and there are plenty of places to stop along the way if you want to sit and take in the view. 

If you are a bit more ambitious and want to enjoy a view of the Potomac River and National Monuments in DC then consider heading to the Mount Vernon Trail which runs 18 miles (one way) from Mount Vernon to Teddy Roosevelt Island just across the River from DC.

Once you have explored Teddy Roosevelt Island you might want to use this as the starting point for your next ride.  When you are ready you can head out on the W&OD trail that runs run north to Whites Ferry in Loudoun County.  This 75 mile (one way) trip is all on paved paths that make up both the longest and skinniest park in Virginia.  Maintained by the Northern Virginia Park Authority the trail runs along the old rail tracks from the Washington and Old Dominion train system which was created in 1859.  Once you get to the end of the trail you might want to spend the night at the Norris House voted the best B&B in Loudoun County. 

Finally for those with true grit and gel seats there is the 184 mile Chesapeake and Ohio Canal path that starts in Washington DC and ends in Cumberland Maryland.  The towpath is rough made primarily of crushed stone and  this is not a trail to tackle if you aren't in shape.  You can take shorter trips along the trail if you just want to enjoy some of the local sites and I recommend that if your are just out for the day that you stop by and take a look at Glen Echo Park.

So park your car and enjoy a ride around Northern Virginia.  You can be as ambitious as you want to be and if you want to pretend you are in France then chill a bottle of nice bottle of Champagne before you go.

 ©2008. All Rights Reserved. Cindy Jones
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As an Associate Broker with RE/MAX Allegiance in Northern Virginia and native of the area I can assist you whether you are buying, selling or renting a home anywhere in Northern Virginia. For more information about the area or my services you can check VaRealEstateTalk or my Northern Virginia website.

Search all homes available in the Northern Virginia area.

When I was in elementary school in Fairfax County (back when dinosaurs roamed the earth) a decision was made to pull a few of us out of class and sit us in front of a TV to learn French.   The program only lasted for half a year but today the only French I even remotely know came from sitting in front of that TV.

Today in Fairfax County parents have the option of enrolling their elementary schools students in a half day language immersion program.  Unlike when I was in school or even when my kids were in Fairfax County Schools students are not taught just the language at their chosen school but are actually taught all of the regular academic subjects in a second language.   Currently the language immersion program is offered twelve different elementary schools throughout the county with a choice of four languages.

Research has proven that early exposure to a second language leads to a much better chance that the language will be retained and used later in life.  When I lived in Japan the neighborhood children where I lived used to stop by after school so that we could all practice our language skills.  It was an amusing sight to see, me trying to learn Japanese and the kids practicing English.  I guarantee that they now speak much better English due to their young age than I ever did Japanese. 

The programs offered in Fairfax County elementary schools today include German, Spanish, Japanese and French.  When a student finishes sixth grade they have the option to continue studying their chosen language in a more traditional format in intermediate and high school.   In addition to the partial immersion elementary school program the county also is offering a Two Way Kindergarten Immersion Program.  Different from the half day program this program features a 50/50 split of students sharing and learning new language skills.  Half of the students in the class are native Spanish speakers and half of the students are native English speakers.  Instruction and interaction is in both languages to develop bi-lingual skills in both groups of native speakers.

For more information on these Fairfax County School programs you can check out the Fairfax County School website.  It is up to each parent to decide whether these programs are right for their children.  It is just one of the reasons that Fairfax County Schools are always given high ratings and Virginia Schools have been rated # 5 in the nation.

Even when the weather is chilly there isn't any reason not to get outside and explore all of the great parks and recreation activities that you can find in Fairfax County, Virginia.

Though your week may include commuting on crowded interstates, metro rides or slug lines, the weekend gives you the perfect opportunity to take in the solitude of many of our areas parks.  Whether you are looking for one of the parks run by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, the National Park Service or the Department of the Interior you can find a park and outdoor activity to enjoy.

Three major parks on the Mason Neck Peninsula are a perfect example of both the variety of parks and the cooperation of nature conservation groups in Fairfax County.  The Mason Neck area traces its history back to 1608 when it was recording by John Smith that he meet with the native Dogue Indians and charted the local area.  When George Mason, author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights built his home in the area in 1755 the name was changed from Doeg Neck to Mason's Neck.

For most of the 1800's and early into the 1900's the area was used for logging of the native hardwoods and much of the land was ripe for development due to its waterfront location.  The discovery of a pair of nesting bald eagles in 1965 put a halt to most of the planned development of the area and instead a committee was formed of local citizens to purchase some of the land that now makes up the Mason Neck State Park.  Eventually local, state and federal agencies stepped up with funds and over 2000 acres were set aside as both a Wildlife Refugee and State Park.

The park is a National Wildlife Refuge and when you stop by the visitors center you will learn more about the variety of birds, including the bald eagles that you will find througout the area.  The playground overlooking the water is a treat for children, there is a 3 mile bike path through the woods and plenty of trails to explore. 

Just down the road is Pohick Regional Park run by the Northern Virginia Park Authority.  This park is one of only three Northern Virginia public access points for the Potomac River.  If a power boats aren't your thing then you can rent a canoe, kayak or paddle boat and head down one of the quiet tributaries off of the river.  Pohick Park is a full service park with no only the boat launch facilities but also an 18 hole golf course, a miniature golf course, playground and numerous picnic areas. 

Pohick Park is one of the few local parks that has rustic cabins available for rent as well as campgrounds for tent campers.  As part of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority residents of the county can also buy annual pool passes which can be used at any of the other NVRPA pools in the summer as well.   The park shelters an abundance of wildlife, including bald eagles.  As you are wandering through the numerous paths in the park you can expect to see osprey, heron, deer, beavers and occasional a rare view of a river otters.

The last park on the Mason Neck Peninsula you may want to spend some time in is the Meadowood Recreation Center run by the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management.  The 800 acre site has numerous well marked trails for hikers to follow throughout the area.  Also on this site of a wild horse and burro rescue and adoption facility.  Based on the number of free range wild horses or burros that the Department of the Interior captures in any year some are brought to the Meadowood facility and are put up for adoption.  Adoption requires that families meet stringent requirements and one year after the wild horse has been adopted and certified by a veterinarian to have been well cared for you will receive official "title" to your horse.

This is quick tour of one set of parks that you can find in Fairfax County, Virginia.  If you are moving to Northern Virginia and would like to learn more about the area, give me a call.  As a native of the area I can give you a tour  not only a new place to call home but other areas of interest for you and your family.

All of these parks are off Gunston Road in Fairfax County.  To reach them take I95 S, exit 163 to Lorton. Left onto Lorton Rd at the end of exit ramp. Go under second overpass and turn right onto Lorton Market St.  Go about 1.5 mile to traffic light at RT. 1.  Go straight through light (road name changes to Gunston Rd) and you will see the various park directional signs on Gunston Road.

©2008. All Rights Reserved. Cindy Jones
Wild Burro Photo From BLM Adoption Site 
All others original photos by Cindy Jones

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As an Associate Broker with RE/MAX Allegiance in Northern Virginia and native of the area I can assist you whether you are buying, selling or renting a home anywhere in Northern Virginia. For more information about the area or my services you can check VaRealEstateTalk or my Northern Virginia website.

Search all homes available in the Northern Virginia area.

Fairfax County Relocation-Welcome to Fairfax County Virginia

 

Greentree Village is what you might expect to see in a community in Fairfax County, Virginia.  Located in West Springfield, the neighborhood seems typical of many in the area. Brick front townhouses backing to trees and grassy islands slow traffic down for the kids to be able to play safely.  Across the street from the neighborhood is one of the 380 parks maintained by the Fairfax County Park Authority.  A Fairfax County Connector bus stop is at the entrance to the neighborhood, within 15 minutes is the Springfield Metro, close by shopping and great schools put the neighborhood in a central location.  However the neighborhood also contains a little mystery as well.

Tucked behind the basketball court protected by a wrought iron fence are three gravestones from the 1800's.  One has the name Addison Keen and another one with the name Clarintine V.  Close by you can also see a broken headstone for W. Keen.  Unlike other historic graveyards in the area there are no markers to explain how these final resting places ended up in this location.

For those of us who grew up in the area the name Keen/Keene is easily recognized.  The main road running through Springfield is Keene Mill Road and directly behind Greentree Village runs Keene Road.  So what part of the history of the area did the Keen family bring to this particular area?  First of all there was a mill on the Pohick Stream that runs through the area and records show it was owned by William Keen.  An 1850 census of the area shows that William Keen was 35 years old, married and his occupation was miller.

This is where history takes a mystery turn.  In 1855 William Keene was convicted of murdering another local man by the name of Hall.  Now local history disagrees as to whether William Keen was legally convicted of the murder but he was sentenced to death by hang.  Over the following years additional information came forward that perhaps there had been jury tampering which led to his conviction.  In 1858 his death sentence was commuted to 10 years in prison by the governor of Virginia.  However it is unknown what actually happened to him.  Prison records were lost when parts of Richmond was burned during the Civil War.  It is not known whether William Keen died in prison, was released or walked out along with all of the other prisoners in 1867.

Whatever the story it makes living in one of the 124 townhouses in Greentree Village just a bit more intriguing.  So as you are wandering through your neighborhood in Fairfax County take a closer look around.  There is an amazing amount of history tucked in very unusual places. 

More posts on Faifax County Historic Places.

©2008. All Rights Reserved. Cindy Jones
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As an Associate Broker with RE/MAX Allegiance in Northern Virginia and native of the area I can assist you whether you are buying, selling or renting a home anywhere in Northern Virginia. For more information about the area or my services you can check VaRealEstateTalk or my Northern Virginia website.

Search all homes available in the Northern Virginia area.

Move to Fairfax County, right outside of the Nations Capital and you will find yourself right in the middle of it all.  With our rich history dating back to the 1600's, our top notch school system, world-class shopping and access to the monuments and museums in DC you can always find something to do.

With Fairfax County's recognition in 2007 as one of the nation's top digital communities, recent ranking in the top 5 school systems in the US and Forbes naming the county #1 nation in median income it is no wonder that the residents are proud to call the area home. 

With all of the history you can find throughout the county you can spend plenty of weekends exploring historic mansions, churches and towns.  If the great outdoors is more your speed then you need over a year to hit every one of the 380 parks on 20,000 acres operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority. 

World class entertainment hits Fairfax County every summer at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts the only performing arts park operated by the National Park Service.  With its great lawn a picnic and a concert are a fantastic way to spend an evening.  George Mason University Center for the Performing Arts and Little Theater of Alexandria are among just a few of the other local county venues.  It goes without saying that just across the "border" in DC you will find the Kennedy Center and other theaters featuring touring productions of Broadway plays.

Neighborhoods and housing choices in Fairfax County are varied.  You can find just about anything you are looking for.  Whether it is a newer planned community,  historic communites or a mid-century modern neighborhoods it is all available.  With pubic transportation such as the Metro, VRE, our unique "slug" lines or the beltway, almost any location you choose will give you a variety of ways to get to where you are going.

So if a move to Fairfax County is in your future give me a call.  As a native of the area I'll be glad to show you around and help you find the best new home for your needs.

©2008. All Rights Reserved. Cindy Jones
Kennedy Center Photo from IStock Photo
All others original photos by Cindy Jones

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

As an Associate Broker with RE/MAX Allegiance in Northern Virginia and native of the area I can assist you whether you are buying, selling or renting a home anywhere in Northern Virginia. For more information about the area or my services you can check VaRealEstateTalk or my Northern Virginia website.

Search all homes available in the Northern Virginia area.

Since Quantico Marine Corps Base first opened its doors in 1917 it has taken on the role of not only being the “Crossroads of the Marine Corps” but also the “Frontline of Innovation” for the Marines. As you drive through the gates of Quantico you can’t help but realize how many important enlisted and officers of the Marine Corps have also passed through those gates and under the Welcome to Quantico Sign.

Drive past the Marine Corps University complex where officers attend both OCS and advanced training at among others the War College or enlisted marines attend leadership training at the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy and you can see the emphasis that the Marine Corps places on training and education. Wander throughout the base and you will see the blend of old and new as the base continues to prepare for the movement of new military and civilian jobs as part of BRAC. Enjoy a stop along the way to take in the Potomac River views and if you are a golfer make a reservation for a round or two.

Quantico MCB contains the only town in the US (Quantico Town) actually contained within a military base. Though the town is small it does contain homes, a marina, plenty of restaurants, shops and VRE station. Marine Corps life and history are evident just outside the gates of Quantico as well. The National Museum of the Marine Corps, is located minutes from the gate. If you are looking for a little more adventure without as much Semper Fi then take some time and enjoy Prince William Forest Park at the same time.

Once you are done with your tour of the area stop by the Globe and Laurel Restaurant. The place is usually packed with fellow Marines, both young and old. With the planned widening of Route 1 the current restaurant may have to make a move but rest assured you will still feel like you are part of the family no matter where they go. If you need help with finding housing while you are stationed at Quantico give me a call. Marines stationed at Quantico have plenty of choices. Both Prince William County and Stafford County provide a wide variety of neighborhoods that Marines like to call home.

Military Relocation

More information about local neighborhoods, places to visit and other nearby Virginia military installations.

©2008. All Rights Reserved. Cindy Jones
All original photos taken January 2008.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

As an Associate Broker with RE/MAX Allegiance in Northern Virginia and native of the area I can assist you whether you are buying, selling or renting a home anywhere in Northern Virginia. For more information about the area or my services you can check VaRealEstateTalk or my Northern Virginia website.

Search all homes available in the Northern Virginia area.

Tucked away in the Fairfax County on Toll House Road in Annandale sits Wakefield Chapel built in 1899 by Oliver Besley, a local sawmill owner on land he donated to build a church.  The original deed for Wakefield Chapel drawn up by Oliver Besley stated that the church was only to be used for Methodist services two Sundays a month and the rest of the time it was to by any other denominations on other days.

The chapel is actually named for the first methodist minister who led services there Elhanan Wakefield.  Wakefield had a significant part of history in Fairfax County during the civil war.  He was responsible for burning down another church in “The Annandale Church” (not Wakefield Chapel) in 1864 under General Mosby and was so seriously wounded at the battle near Tom’s Brook VA that he was almost buried alive.  Two men who were preparing his grave noticed that he was still breathing and his wounds were so serious that when he was sufficiently recovered he was released from the service.
 
Wakefield returned to Annandale and began the work of rebuilding the church he had been ordered to burn down.  He would use his skills as a carpenter to earn a living and with his interest in religion he would eventually become the first Sunday School Superintendent of the Annandale Church and be ordained as a Methodist minister.  When the Besley’s bought the property to build their church just down the road from the Annandale Church, Wakefield would become one of the founders of the church and occasionally serve as the minister. 

Surprising during all this time he was still suffering from the wounds he received in the 1864 battle and in 1903 it was discovered that he still had two rifle shots in his shoulder.  Wakefield stayed in Fairfax County until his death in 1920.

Wakefield Chapel is owned by the Fairfax County Park Authority and is available to rent for weddings.  It is a just another small piece of history that you will find tucked away in Fairfax County.

©2008.  All rights reserved.  Cindy Jones
All original photos taken January 2008

Military Relocation, Military Relocation Virginia, Quantico

Within minutes to the gates of Quantico in Stafford County VA is the gated community of Aquia Harbour. Built in the early 1970’s the neighborhood original attracted weekend boaters and those wanting a retreat from the city. Then with the widening of the major highways, the addition of the VRE as a commuting option and the growth of Northern Virginia, Aquia Harbour became a full time community.

With 2000 acres, including 400 acres of protected wetland, you have a hard time realizing that you are only 45 miles south of DC and 15 miles north of Historic Fredericksburg. The Aquia Harbour neighborhood is different from many others in the area due to the fact that the homes do not fall in the standard tract home category. With a variety of builders and styles each of the areas in the community are unique and for residents who have been there since the beginning, tell a long history about each builder who came and went.

 If you are a boater then the Marina and Yacht Club are the first place you want to check out. There is a 150-slip Marina with dredged waterways offering 5 feet of depth leading to the Potomac River. Want to play golf? There is a nine whole course with alternate tees to create a “back nine” for you to play. There are two community swimming pools, nine park areas with a variety of activities and if that wasn’t enough there is a 20 stall stable with indoor and outdoor riding arenas.

Homes in Aquia Harbor range in size and price depending on location and age of the property. With over 2300 homes finding what you want shouldn’t be a problem. As of January 2008 there are 73 active listings ranging in price from $241,500 to $749,000. There are currently three properties listed as foreclosures within the community.

So if you are looking for an affordable neighborhood in Stafford County with loads of commuting options to Quantico, Pentagon, or Fort Belvoir, consider Aquia Harbour. If your orders bring you to Northern Virginia this year give me a call. I've been through the best and worst of military moves and know how stressful it can be.

If buying is not in your plans. Don’t worry I am happy to help youfind a place to rent in any of this or other Northern Virginia neighborhoods as well.

 ©2008. All Rights Reserved. Cindy Jones

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As an Associate Broker with RE/MAX Allegiance in Northern Virginia and native of the area I can assist you whether you are buying, selling or renting a home anywhere in Northern Virginia. For more information about the area or my services you can check VaRealEstateTalk or my Northern Virginia website.

Search all homes available in the Northern Virginia area.