Cameron Station

Old-fashioned town center designs come head-to-head with modern living in Cameron Station, a booming piece of West End Alexandria with a caring community and endless entertainment. “It’s a true community,” says Troy Patterson, local real estate agent for TTR Sotheby’s International Realty. “Even when I was there just as a realtor, people stopped to talk to me and were sad to see my client go. The owner who did sell plans to come back because of how much she loved living there. Units don’t come up often because when people get there, they stay.”

With one foot in the past and another firmly in the present, Colonial Revival designs and brick sidewalks bring the look of the 18th and 19th centuries to the modern world. Towering town houses and condominiums line narrow streets with brick facades and stone walls, filling the spaces in between with leafy trees and bright pocket parks. Some single-family homes stand in the neighborhood for added privacy, and top-floor units sport spectacular views of the parks and old-timey streets below. Prices in Cameron Station range from $500,000 for a two-bedroom condo to upwards of $1 million for a park-side property with a view or an elegant single-family home.

You might be downwind from all the offerings of Alexandria and the nation’s capital, but if you’re looking for fun, you can find it just by walking through your door in Cameron Station. Step out for some fresh air at Ben Brenman Park, the area’s premiere green space, where you can walk along the glass-like waters of the lake, take an exhilarating nature hike through the area’s dense woods or let the dog off leash for some exercise. Spice up your workout routine at Sportrock Climbing Center, where you can tackle more than 18,000 square feet of climbing walls or take advantage of their full gym and yoga studio. Bring the whole family in on the fun around town by taking your next party to the Get Air Trampoline Park, where you can bounce around the whole room, or bring the kids to the indoor playground at Scramble.

Cameron Station is the centerpiece of a thriving business district, putting you right in the middle of easy-to-reach shopping spots and aromas emerging from cafes and local restaurants. Specialty grocers like Mediterranean Bakery and LA Mart are just a short walk away, and the Shoppes of Foxchase sit right around the corner with mainstays Harris Teeter and ALDI. Come to Ben Brenman Park on Sundays and shop at the West End Farmers’ Market for the area’s freshest produce and craft goods you won’t find anywhere else. The food scene around the neighborhood makes it hard to ever want to cook at home with so many options right outside your door. Join your neighbors at the Cameron Café for the quaint coffeehouse experience and cheerful atmosphere. Taste the fused flavors of India and China at Indochen, an informal spot with inventive savory creations. City Kitchen brings the gastropub vibes to town with its industrial décor, rotating craft beers and a menu inspired by American cities.

Students in the area enroll in the Alexandria City Public Schools system. The neighborhood’s youngest attend Samuel W. Tucker Elementary right in the heart of the area. Niche gives it a C-plus. The next steps require a short commute to Francis Hammond Middle School three miles away, and Niche gives it a C. Alexandria City High School also sits about three miles away. Niche ranks it No. 6 in their list of standout high schools in the DC area, offering numerous AP classes and sports programs, including a football team that helped inspire the film “Remember the Titans.”

“You have a really amazing cross-section of people in terms of age and economics – diversity is a huge aspect of the community,” Patterson says. “The big draw is the proximity to DC. It's easy for professionals to get to the city. Shuttles take you to and from the metro, so you can get to work pretty quickly no matter where you need to go.”

Written By

Alex Falls

Photography Contributed By

Anna Cheng

Video By

Nathan Allen