OT: I need some more info on Washington DC (very, very long)

[kep]

Well, it's pretty much a done deal, and we will probably be moving all the way across the US in January. I have never been to the East Coast, but DH and I have always wanted to go. We are big history buffs and are really excited. I am just now starting to research places to live, and I'm needing some help from all you mamas again. :)

DH said he will be working in the White Flint area in DC. He also said his place of employment is northwest of downtown. I've downloaded several maps of the area and surrounding states, but I'm still little sketchy on my geography. The human resources dept. gave him a copy of the Washington Post Apartment Showcase magazine, which is as big as a phonebook, and I'm not even sure it provides any really useful info.

This will be my husband's first "real" job with his MS degree, and I am a stay@home mama. We have one car. We currently live in an apartment, and are planning to rent after we move as well. DH's job will entail traveling for several three month stints during the first two years of work. We would also like some time to save up money for a down-payment on a house, pay off student loans, etc. We will definately be looking for an apartment of something else as affordable as possible, while still being safe and clean. (Nothing too fancy. :) ) My child is 2 1/2, and I am planning to homeschool when the time comes, so near-by schools aren't too much of an issue for us.

We are currently living in a town of about 50,000 people, and we really like the size. I was kind of hoping there might be a similiar town over there, within a reasonable distance to DH's work. Am I just dreaming? I have heard great things about Annapolis. Actually, my DH's great-aunt and husband lived there for about 30 years before relocating to CA. The only thing they didn't like was the bridge (?) you have to cross to get into DC. They said if traffic's bad over the bridge, you can pretty much forget about getting to work on time. Can someone point me in the way of some smaller towns?

We only have one car, as I said above, so where ever we move to will have to be close enough to train line that I can drop DH off, or the town will have to be small enough that I can get around without a car. (Yikes!) There is parking available at DH's work, but it's expensive and there is a large waiting list. I am not really sure what any of our other options would be.

My husband's salery is a bit odd. He will start out making around $60,000 a year for the first year, then 62,000 the next year, then 70,000 during year three, and finally around 91,000 during the forth year. (or something close to that.) From what his future co-workers have said, it is really hard during the first two years of working at this certain place of employment, esp. on one salary. I am committed to being a SAHM though, and so I am needing some suggestions on places to live (Maryland or Virginia?), places to shop (both clothes, food, etc.), and anything else you girls would be willing to tell me.

I am also very very very very interested in joining the DC area playgroup when we get there. Can anyone point me in the right direction? And is there a MOMs Club in the area? How about a Curves? Thank you so much in advance for all the wonderful advice I know you all have!

Kelli
Mommy to my beautiful little boy, Luke (April 2003)

"Before you were conceived I wanted you. Before you were born I loved you.
Before you were here an hour I would die for you. This is the miracle of life."
Maureen Hawkins

[neeter]

Congratulations on moving to the DC area! From your post, it sounds like your DH's job will be in Rockville, MD (which is the White Flint area). This is a great location, and there are lots of family-friendly places to live nearby.

My recommendation is to look at the DC metro system map so you get an idea of where you are in relation to downtown DC (and the museums). White Flint has a metro stop on the red line.
The area's housing prices have been steadily rising, but I think its finally starting to slow down a bit. If you can find a place in Rockville, that would be ideal for your DH's commute. But Gaithersburg and Germantown are also areas that are in MD that may be a little bit more affordable and still offer a relatively easy commute (Shady Grove Metro).

http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/systemmap.cfm

Feel free to pm me if you want to chat more about the area! Congrats again and good luck!

[crayonblue]

Hi Kelli!

DH and I lived in Rockville and then moved to Germantown a year ago. We love the area. Busy and expensive but everything is here.

There are some very nice apartments across the street from the White Flint metro. I think they are quite expensive though. We lived in King Farm which is across the street from the Shady Grove metro stop and that would be a very easy commute for your husband. It's not too many stops up from White Flint. King Farm is HUGE and has everything from apartments to condos to townhouses and single family homes. Also, restaurants and a grocery store are within walking distance. (actually in the middle of King Farm) And, a great park in the middle for kids. The apartments are on the expensive side but the location is great. The best part is that your DH could walk to the metro (or take a free shuttle provided by King Farm). Also, King Farm has a playgroup (really nice moms) that you might like.

Gaithersburg or Germantown are both nice and are less expensive than Rockville. I think your DH would waste too much time trying to take the metro if you lived in Gaithersburg or Germantown and I am not sure he would even need to. My guess is it would take him between 30-45 minutes to drive to work (depending on traffic and what time of day he would need to get to the White Flint area). Just noticed that you have one car- not too sure you would want to drop him off everyday from somewhere in Gaithersburg or Germantown. Although, you could drop him off at the metro if you had to. I think it might take him just as long to get to work via metro as driving from further out than Rockville. Sorry this is jumbled and random- my daughter is distracting me!

I am not sure about MOMS club but I do go to MOPS in Gaithersburg. I love it!

There is both a Costco and Sam's in Gaithersburg and there are some less expensive grocery stores (like Food Lion and Shopper's). There is also a Trader Joe's in Gaithersburg that has good prices. Germantown has a new children's consignment shop callled Emma's Closet that has good deals. Rockville has some great shopping too- Buy Buy Baby, a good mall, Whole Foods (also one in Gaithersburg), etc.

If you end up around here, please email me! I am also a SAHM and have an almost 2 year old daughter. My recommendation would be to look at King Farm. It has a lot and would be an easy commute. The White Flint area apartments would be even more convenient but more expensive and without many of the nice things for SAHMs.

[kristine_elen]

I adore Takoma Park. It's pretty pricey, though, and parts of it are sketchy. There is a metro stop there. The places that are nice are just wonderful.

[HIU8]

congrats on the move to DC. I have lived here my entire life and I love it. I live now in the Rockville/Olney area. White Flint is a mall in Rockville/Kensington (depends on who you are talking to). The entire area is very expensive and it is crowded. Traffic is really kinda ridiculous. But I think it is still the best place to live. Your husband will be working in Maryland where the best places to look will be near metro stations for apartments. You need to look at places on the red line. There are some really nice places near the white flint and grovesnor metro stations. The further out you go (germantown and further north) the cheaper it gets, but not that much cheaper. DH and I lived in a really nice high rise before DS called The Promenade. It had a ride on bus that went directly to the Bethesda metro and Medical center stations. We owned, but i think rent there went from around $1200 to $2500 depending on the size of apartment you rented. It was great--indoor and outdoor pool, little grocery store, dry cleaners, gym, party room.

You can also look in silver spring/wheaton. Those metro stops would be forst glen and wheaton. There are some places around there, but I'm not familiar with them because we live on the other side of the red line.

There are some nice apartments at Parkside (near the grovesnor metro). There are also nice places at the Rockville metro.

I'm not familiar with any playgroups yet, but I'm sure there are many through churches and synagauges around. Also, there is a Curves right next to Tuesday Morning in Rockville (behind Congressional Plaza). I believe it is on Congressional Lane.

IMO working in MD and living in VA is a bad idea. Rush hour traffic is really bad. It can sometimes take hours to go across the American Legion Bridge (that is the bridge your DH would cross every day). My DH works in Annandale and it can take 45 minutes to 2.5 hours to get home (depending on the traffic and weather).

HTH. You can PM me if you would like more information.

Heather
DS11/27/04

[kep]

Thank you so much everyone for your quick replies! The info was very helpful. I'll keep watching this thread in case anyone has anything else to add. :)

Kelli

[babystuffbuff]

Kelli,

We live in Annapolis, and although I really, really love it here, my DH does work here (and so do I). It is a super place to live, but I can't imagine driving to and from D.C. every day. It's pretty far, and your DH would have to take I-495 up around D.C. to get to work, and traffic on the Innerloop is horrendous. :(

I hate to discourage anyone from Annapolis, especially since it has the smaller-town feel you're looking for, but I think you would be better off trying something in/around Rockville. JMHO.

Congrats on the move -- this is a great area to live in!

Sarah

Kelli,

Like others have mentioned, White Flint is in Maryland. The Rockville/Bethesda area, to be exact. There's a nice mall there, with a Dave & Buster's. And a Buy Buy Baby in Rockville, which is nice. Other than that though, the Maryland people are going to have to help you, since I'm in Northern Virginia myself and only go into Maryland occasionally. I can help answer questions about the Northern VA area if you have any about it, though.

-Melissa

Taran, November 20, 2003
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Elowen, August 20, 2005
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