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There can be a lot of concern that you’ll miss out on some perks if you leave Washington D.C. proper and move out to the suburbs. When it comes to Arlington, Virginia, that couldn't be less true. Here are a few reasons why Arlington is arguably one of the best suburbs in the D.C. area. 

Accessibility

Photo by MJW15 / CC BY-SA

Arlington remains one of the most accessible suburbs in D.C. The drive isn’t too brutal (if you hit the bridges at the right time) and the Metro makes stops in many of Arlington’s neighborhoods, including Rosslyn, Courthouse, and the area around the National Cemetery. In addition, WMATA’s MetroBus and Circulators both have routes that cross the water into the suburb.

While you can easily get around if your home is near a Metro station or bus stop, it isn’t a necessity these days. In the event that you need a car and don’t want to invest in one of your own, services like Uber, Lyft, or ZipCar are super accessible in this suburb.

Dining

Courtesy of Ambar

Arlington’s tourism site offers a nice list of niche restaurants that foodies will enjoy. Restaurants in the area feature a range of cuisines, from Balkan at Ambar to a unique mix of French, African, and Middle Eastern at Kora. Even if you don’t live here, it’s worth a trip to check out some of the unique offerings. 

Recreation

Arlington is well-equipped with a bounty of parks, trails, and other areas where you can get in touch with nature. Upton Hill Regional Park is a great family destination complete with a mini-golf course. Potomac Overlook is a hiker’s dream, with miles of trails waiting to be explored.

If you aren’t up for walking around all day, the George Washington Memorial Parkway is the most gorgeous road to drive along in the D.C. area. If you’re looking for a real treat, take a nice long drive down it in the autumn as the leaves are turning.

History

Arlington is obviously packed to the brim with history, found in historic landmarks and memorials around the area. The Arlington House, Robert E. Lee memorial is a place where individuals can reflect on his efforts to promote peace after the war, while also remembering a dark period of American history. The Marine Corps War Memorial showcases a stunning rendition of the flag raising at Iwo Jima. And lastly, but certainly not ever the least, the Arlington National Cemetery, where countless American veterans have been laid to rest, is one of the most hauntingly beautiful and somber places in the DMV area.

Schools

Nottingham Elementary / Photo by US Department of Agriculture / CC BY

According to a fact sheet from the Arlington Public School System, this suburb is doing its best to improve student outcomes. The sheet notes that 95 percent of the system’s students earn high school credits in middle school, 79 percent of graduating seniors complete at least one AP or IB course, and 68 percent of graduates earn an advanced diploma. Graduation rates were impressive in 2016, which saw 92.9 percent of students graduate on time. Dropout rates have dropped significantly — by 52 percent, the fact sheet says — since 2009.

Entertainment

Courtesy of Rosslyn, VA

Believe it or not, Arlington has a healthy entertainment scene for those interested in taking in some live music. Galaxy Hut hosts indie bands a few nights of the week, as does Whitlow’s on Wilson. Arlington also hosts two music festivals a year: The Columbia Pike Blues Festival in June and the Rosslyn Jazz Festival in September.

Arlington also hosts a slew of free outdoor concerts in the summer. According to Arlington’s tourism site, you can find these concerts at the Air Force Memorial, Lubber Run Amphitheater, Pentagon Row, Rosslyn’s Central Place, the Netherlands Carillon, and the Marine Corps Memorial.