Tysons

Old Courthouse Road is the border separating the condos and commercial businesses that define Tysons Corner and the high-end suburban sprawl of Vienna. The Old Courthouse neighborhood is about as close to Tysons Corner Mall as folks can get while living in a suburban home and environment. Since it’s tied to Tysons, residents of Old Courthouse will also have access to major commuter roads like Leesburg Pike, Chain Bridge Road and the Capitol Beltway. “[It’s a] prime location in Vienna; a lot of people love being there because of the proximity to the malls and Mosaic,” says Sari Dajani, a Realtor with Weichert. The Mosaic District is a quick drive south in Merrifield and is another popular mixed-use development. Old Courthouse was developed after Tysons Corner opened its doors in 1968. Homes in the neighborhood date back to the ‘70s and ‘80s, but new-millennium builds are also available here. “It is one of the most expensive areas [in northern Virginia] as far as home pricing, just after North Arlington and Mclean,” says Dajani. Home values range from $750,000 to north of $2 million for a market of brick townhouses, Craftsmans, center-hall colonials and split-level homes. Townhouses usually run around the 800,000s and come with three bedrooms, while single-family homes aren’t generally less than 2,000 square feet, and the higher end of the price range has large-lawn mansions with five or more beds. Many residents of Old Courthouse are original owners and have lived in the neighborhood for 20 years. “I have helped clients trade up and then back down in size so they could stay in the area,” says McNamara. Residents can stop by Tysons Bagel Market, which serves coffee and fresh bagels with cream cheese for breakfast and Korean bulgogi beef for lunch. Tysons Corner Center Mall is the largest shopping center in the D.C. – Baltimore area and is less than a mile north of Old Courthouse. Tysons features over 300 retailers, including Macy’s and Nordstrom. Just across Leesburg Pike is Lei’d Hawaiian Poke, a fast-casual spot serving rice bowls with veggies, seaweed and raw fish. Folks from Old Courthouse often take the 3-mile drive south to the Mosaic District, anchored by a Target and a MOM’s Organic Market for groceries. The Mosaic District also hosts dining options like Sisters Thai and regional chains like Nando’s Peri Peri, Pupatella and Bartaco. Residents can walk dogs or take a brisk nature walk at Briarcliff Park. The park mainly features a connector trail from neighborhood streets through a dense but small forested area, also a common place to spot deer or red foxes. Wildwood Park is a few blocks west of Briarcliff, with paved walking paths through a creek. Kids can play on the playground at Tyson Woods Park, whose paths lead to the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, a major pedestrian walkway that cuts 45 miles through northern Virginia. The Old Courthouse area is under the jurisdiction of Fairfax County Public Schools. Students can attend Freedom Hill Elementary, which is rated a B-plus overall by Niche. There’s also Kilmer Middle School, with an A-rating, and George C. Marshall High, rated an A-minus. Freedom Hill is within the neighborhood, so kids can have a simple walking commute. Marshall High offers the International Baccalaureate diploma program and a STEM academy where students can take specialized courses and work toward various certifications and licenses. Old Courthouse residents are car-dependent when accessing shopping areas like Mosaic or Tysons. “It’s also a transportation hub, people here can jump onto 495 and I-66 that lead to D.C.,” Dajani notes. Locals are less than 15 miles from the nation’s capital. Folks can take Interstate 66 to hit downtown D.C. in around 30 minutes or the Capitol Beltway, also called I-495, to reach points of interest in Montgomery County, Maryland. Commuters can also reach the Greensboro and Tysons metro stations in less than 2 miles for Silver Line access through D.C., Maryland and Virginia, or the DMV for short.

Around 13 miles from the nation’s capital, Pimmit Hills is an up-and-coming suburb that marries modern amenities with the growth potential of its housing developments. The Hills are one of the closest neighborhoods to Tysons Corner Center, a massive retail center known throughout the DMV, and conveniently placed between major highways for swift access to Arlington and Washington, D.C. The neighborhood was established in 1950 as a subdivision for veterans of World War II and the Korean War. The biggest draw for Pimmit Hills residents is living just minutes away from Tyson’s Corner Center. This sprawling shopping district is a few miles up the road on Leesburg Pike and is the largest mall in the D.C.-Baltimore area, with over 300 stores to search through, as well as dining options from fast-casual to upscale, and countless brand-name stores to satisfy most shopping needs. There’s also AMC Tysons Corner 16 to catch the latest hit movies on a rainy day. Tysons is one of the most accessible malls around, with free parking garages and a metro station along the Silver Line. The parks in Pimmit Hills are a big draw for those wanting to take advantage of its outdoor spaces. Residents can stroll along the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, two miles south of Pimmit Hills, allowing pedestrian access through much of northern Virginia. The Pimmit View Park loop offers visitors a half-mile walking and biking route, great for taking in stunning Virginia views where many of its spectacular scenes sit on display. Tysons Pimmit Park, while modest in size, features two basketball courts, while the nearby pavilion serves as a good picnic spot. “It’s a community of Cape Cods from the 50s with two-beds and one- bath, mostly under 1,000 square feet, and sitting on one-quarter and one-third acre-lots.” Brad Wisley, a real estate agent with Century 21 New Millenium, says, “People buy homes for the lots, tear down the older ones and build new ones with much bigger square footage.” Single-family homes in Pimmit Hills range from about $850,000 to $2 million, varying by age and square footage. New construction primarily uses Craftsman and Traditional styles, and there are more and more newly built Contemporary-style three-to-four-bed townhouses on the market as well. Local attractions like the 25,000-square-foot Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library, the Pimmit Hills Center and the colonial Pimmit Barn offer a variety of educational activities for residents of all ages. As summer cools off and kids head back to school, the Pimmit Hills Citizens Association throws one last block party called Pimmit Hills Day. Each winter, the neighborhood lights up with a lively holiday decorating contest perfect for walking around to admire with a warm mug of cider or cocoa. Residents can head to Idylwood Plaza on the south end of Pimmit Hills to get groceries at Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods Market or grab takeout from local chains like Taco Bamba or Ledo’s Pizza for Maryland-style pies. Fairfax County Public Schools serve the Pimmit Hills area. Nearby, George C. Marshall High School is rated an A-minus on Niche and hosts Central Farm Markets, a farmer’s market with locally sourced produce, meats, and cheeses to buy. There’s also Lemon Road Elementary and Longfellow Middle, both holding A-ratings on Niche. Living at the intersections of I-495, Leesburg Pike and Dulles Toll Road allow residents smooth access to Tysons Corner or D.C. in 13 miles. Wisley also notes that “with Pimmit Hills you also have the metro line close to home, which boosts the value of living there.” Pimmit Hills sits next to the West Falls Church Metro Station and the Washington and Old-Dominion bike trail for commuters looking to save on gas.

For much of Virginia's history, a crossroads called Peach Grove served as a commercial roadway for goods and people heading from Leesburg toward the nation's capital. For decades, the Peach Grove Post Office and a general store were the only thing standing at this intersection. From the 1950s onward, there would be an explosion of retail development along the crossroads, now named Leesburg Pike and Chain Bridge Road. Streets were lined with high-end luxury stores, big-box brands and unique restaurants that reflect northern Virginia's diverse tastes and cultures. What was once Peach Grove is now Tysons Corner Center and is both the largest mall in the D.C. – Baltimore area and the regional standard for a mixed-use development. Tysons Corner Center draws visitors from all over the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area, also known as the DMV. The main mall has over 300 stores and restaurants spread across three floors. There's also an AMC movie theatre and food court on the top floor, a regular hangout spot for high school students or families on the weekends. The mall is anchored by Macy's, Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's and features everything from an Apple store to a Pacsun. North of Chain Bridge Road is Tysons Galleria or Tysons II. While construction finished on Tysons Corner in the late 1960s, Tysons Galleria opened its doors in the late 1980s and is distinguished for its luxury retail options. Shops at the Galleria include Dolce & Gabbana, Saks 5th Avenue and Louis Vuitton, to name a few. Tysons Corner Center features restaurants like Seasons 52, serving surf-and-turf specials and cocktails, and fast casual diners in the food court like Marhaba, serving gyros and halal meats. At the same time, Tysons Galleria hosts P.F. Chang's, Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse and Agora, an intricate Mediterranean small-plate restaurant. "The market here is good but not great because most of the new buildings that are going up are rentals," says Johnny Benson, a Realtor with Long & Foster Real Estate. "There are stores on the first few floors and then apartments above." Tysons Corner's real estate market is defined by its high-rise condos, usually connected to or within walking distance of retail and dining options. Single-family homes are hard to come by, and though Tysons isn't technically a city, it has the feel of a metropolitan district walking around its compact, grid-patterned streets, where most locals have cars in underground parking garages. A slim majority of Tysons Corner residents are renters rather than owners. Home values in Tysons Corner range from $350,000 to almost $2 million for one-to-three-bedroom condos, usually depending on the age and amenities offered by the complex. Most condos are high-rises and can offer balconies and 24-hour concierge desks, with fitness centers and yoga rooms available to residents of complexes like The Verse. Older brick townhouses are also closer to the Greensboro metro station to the west. Raglan Road Park is a small preserve west of Leesburg Pike. It features a churning creek called Old Courthouse Stream Branch and Vesper Trail, which snakes through the trees. Hikers can sometimes see white-tailed deer crossing their path here. The mall also has a new outdoor space called "The Plaza," which hosts annual events. It's a great spot to get takeout from the mall and eat it outdoors. The Plaza is a bridge between the Tysons metro station and the mall. Black Friday is Tysons Corner's official holiday. Almost all the mall's stores have discount deals, and parking lots are usually packed the second the doors open. Lines stretch outside department stores, and foot traffic is bumper-to-bumper. Residents here will find living within walking distance of the mall a luxury if searching for a good deal the day after Thanksgiving. Cirque Du Soleil is a modern circus show performing dazzling stunts under its striped tent, usually placed on Galleria Drive on select dates throughout the year. Tysons Corner Center becomes a winter wonderland during the holidays, complete with a Santa's Workshop for kids to take photos on Santa's lap and a Christmas tree lighting at The Plaza. Tysons Corner falls under the Fairfax County Public School district. Students can attend Spring Hill Elementary and Longfellow Middle School, both with overall A-ratings on Niche. There's also McLean High School, rated an A-plus and ranked by Niche as the No. 2 best college prep high school in Virginia. McLean's College and Career Center hosts over 100 college admission visits annually and offers test prep for exams like the SAT, ACT, and ASVAB. Tysons Corner is conveniently bordered on all sides by major northern Virginia roadways, forming a triangle around the development. With Chain Bridge Road to the north, Leesburg Pike to the west and the Capitol Beltway to the east, drivers can quickly hop on the highway to reach Arlington or D.C. within 15 miles or about 30 minutes, depending on traffic. There's also great rail access to the Greensboro, McLean and Tysons metro stations, which are less than a mile from the neighborhood and offer Silver Line access through the greater D.C. area.

Just 3 miles northwest of Tysons Corner, Wolf Trap, although known for its performing arts venue, should be known for much more. From 1960s ranches and split-level homes to massive new-traditional and modern estates, its real estate scene has something for almost every buyer. Families thrive here as this safe neighborhood boasts schools in the highly regarded Fairfax County Public Schools and a laundry list of impressive parks. But one can’t talk about Wolf Trap without talking about its National Park for the Performing Arts. When the days grow longer and the sun shines brighter, this rural hideaway comes to life with song, dance and summer fun. Crowds draw from all over the Capital Beltway to catch shows here. The park includes two main venues: the Filene Center and The Barns. The Filene Center is the park’s flagship attraction. The theater stands tall and holds just over 7,000 occupants. The Barns are an assemblage of 18th-century sheds that have been refurbished and refined with all the amenities necessary to produce the proper show. Residents gather here to experience local and national acts. Homebuyers looking in the Wolftrap market will find a wide variety of styles. Ranches, split-level and bi-level homes built in the 1960s sell for between $800,000 and $1.2 million. Larger Colonial homes built between 1970 and 1990 are also very common. These homes can go for between $900,000 all the way up to $1.5 million. New traditional and modern estates are becoming more popular in the area. These homes, which usually sit on large lots of land and feature 6,000-plus square feet of space, go for between $1.5 million and $5.9 million. Many of these estates include tree-lined streets and circular driveways. “Homes here stay on the market for about 7 days,” Laura Schwartz, a Realtor with McEnearney Associates who has been selling real estate in the area for 16 years says. “They sell very quickly.” There is no shortage of impressive schools in the area. For public schools, residents send their children to the highly regarded Fairfax County Public Schools. For Pre-K through 6th grade, students may attend Westbriar Elementary School before heading to Kilmer Middle School, both of which earned an A grade from Niche. For high school, students head to either McLean High School or Langley High School, both of which earned an A-plus grade from Niche. Those two high schools were named two of the top four public high schools in the state of Virginia by Niche. Green space is not spared in Wolftrap. Residents enjoy heading over to Foxstone Park, whether they want to take their kids to the playground or want to take advantage of the trails. Right next to the neighborhood to the west is Lake Fairfax Park, a 476-acre outdoor enthusiasts' dream. Visitors bring their children to enjoy the Water Mine family water park and the campgrounds, which surround a 20-acre lake. The park also includes a skate park, several hiking and biking trails and athletic fields. At Hunter Mill Swim & Racquet Club, athletes and outdoorsy types can schedule tennis lessons, join the competitive swim team, or just swing by for social events like Bingo by the Pool. Angelica Run Farm extends resources for equestrians. Advanced riders can join The Pony Pool, a mini-lease program allowing riders to reserve horses for a series of lessons. Wolf Trap sits within a stone’s throw of Reston, Vienna, McLean and Tysons. For this reason, many locals find themselves shopping at Tysons Corner Center and Tysons Galleria. Tysons Corner Center is a three-story mall that features any store one could think of and an AMC movie theater. Tysons Galleria features more upscale and luxurious shopping with anything from Gucci and Chanel to Louis Vuitton. Popular restaurants for locals include Bear Branch Tavern, a modern American cuisine restaurant known for its Raw Bar Tuesdays. Others enjoy grabbing lunch at The Sandwich Shop, which offers both hot and cold sandwiches along with salads. For groceries, Wolf Trap residents stop by Giant Food or Whole Foods Market, just south of the neighborhood. Many residents head to Tysons Corner or Washington D.C. for work. Tysons Corner is a 3-mile drive, while the nation’s capital is a 17-mile drive. Some commuters choose to use the Metrorail, which can be taken from the Spring Hill station into Washington D.C. The Metrobus system can also be used get around Wolf Trap and into Reston and Vienna. Dulles International Airport is a 12-mile drive, while the nearest hospital, Reston Hospital Center, is 10 miles away. “Vienna has a very large Halloween Parade, town festival called Viva Vienna over Memorial Day weekend, Oktoberfest and summer events called Chillin' on Church,” Schwartz says. Residents also enjoy Meadowlark Botanical Gardens during the holiday season. The garden trail transforms into the Winter Walk of Lights, a half-mile stroll of nature-themed décor. Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts covers all of the community’s creative bases. From May through September, the park presents a line-up of musicals, operas, comedy shows and jazz concerts. The property is home to two state-of-the-art amphitheaters: the Filene Center and The Barns. The park also caters to younger audiences by bringing puppet shows and storytelling to its Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods. Locals looking to avoid the crowds can enjoy the park during the offseason from October through April. Friends of Wolf Trap holds tours on the first Sunday of the month. During this hike around the park, visitors can experience the natural terrain and flowing creeks while learning about topics like biodiversity, forest succession and native fauna.