Braemar

Live music and walkable parks, all without leaving the neighborhood—that’s Braemar, Virginia. This planned community in Bristow offers convenient suburban living with multiple music venues, community activities and easily accessible shopping and dining.

Braemar consists of nearly 3,000 homes located close to Interstate 66 in Bristow, Virginia, and was recognized as the 2012 Large Community of the Year by the Community Associations Institute. This planned community was built between 1996 and 2008 and is managed by the Braemar Community Association. “The community offers many different styles of homes,” says Daliya Funes, Braemar Community Association’s Covenants Administrator. “From duplexes to single-family homes to condos, there’s something for everyone here.” Gridded streets ending in cul-de-sacs and well-maintained sidewalks lead residents home in Braemar. Houses here include colonials with three to five bedrooms and two to four bathrooms. Most houses have attached garages and some have fenced yards. Single-family houses here tend to sell for $600,000 to $800,000, and town houses range in price from $400,000 to $500,000.

Students in Braemar attend schools in the Prince William County Public Schools district, rated the 7th best school district in the Washington DC metropolitan area by Niche. A student may attend Cedar Point Elementary School, E. H. Marsteller Middle School and Brentsville District High School, rated B minus by Niche. The BDHS Tigers are known for their exceptional graduation rate of 96.6%, with 86% of graduates going on to higher education.

When the school and workday ends, there’s plenty of outdoor space in Braemar for locals to get active. Nearby Clareybrook Park offers basketball courts, walking trails, a playground and a covered area with picnic tables. Additionally, Braemar Nature Trail on the north side of the neighborhood provides locals with ample hiking trails, perfect for taking the dog for a walk. Plus, live music venue Jiffy Lube Live is under a mile away and seats 10,000 people, with 15,000 more in lawn seating. Go see your favorite musician without having to travel to the big city! In the winter, locals head to LaserTag2You for a spirited game of laser tag or take kickboxing classes at 9Round Kickboxing Fitness.

In addition to nearby entertainment, the Braemar Community Association hosts regular events for residents. “People love living here especially because of all the events hosted for the community,” says Funes. “We host pottery and painting classes, candle-making classes, fundraisers for local community organizations and holiday parties. We’ve got this year’s Halloween Trunk or Treat coming up, and in November is our annual Turkey Trot. There’s never a lack of activities in this community!”

Getting groceries and running errands is as convenient as can be, with Harris Teeter, CVS, multiple banks and plenty of restaurants located at the nearby Bristow Center Shopping Mall. There’s even an Urgent Care and an orthodontist in the open-air mall, so locals can take care of their health without leaving their neighborhood. When you’re hungry, grab a slice at Tony’s New York Pizza, or treat yourself to a jelly donut at Duck Donuts next door. Locals enjoy The Black Sheep for a dinner out, with specials including cauliflower steak, braised short ribs and baked lobster mac & cheese. After dinner, head to Farm Brew LIVE, the live music bar next to The Black Sheep offering craft beer and live local music. There’s even the 2 Silos food truck, ready for a post-concert late-night snack!

Between the concert venues, parks, shopping and community events, locals have their choice of activities in Braemar.

Written By

Caitlyn Tierney

Photography Contributed By

Joseph Furio

Video By

Anthony Pesa