Are you in the market to buy a home in the D.C. Metro area, but are not sure where you should buy?  A great place to consider would be Arlington, VA.  Across the Potomac River from our Nation's Capital and surrounded by an urban environment, Arlington has tons of amenities to offer besides proximity to Washington, D.C. 

In 2005, the American Podiatric Medical Association ranked Arlington, VA first among most walkable cities in the United States... Check out "WALKArlington!"  In many areas of Arlington, the grocery stores, retail shops, and restaurants are within walking distance.  Additionally, with the help of the Metrorail system, you can walk to one of five Arlington Orange Line stations (Ballston, Virginia Square, Clarendon, Courthouse, and Rosslyn) or hop on a bus and commute all around the D.C. Metropolitan area for less than the cost of gas... Check out Arlington's "commuterpage.com!"

Arlington is also full of popular restaurants and nightlife.  Looking to eat some great steaks?  Ray's the Steaks is guaranteed to please your appetite.  It was voted "Best Steaks" by washingtonpost.com's Best Bet's 2006 Reader's Choice contest.  Don’t come to this restaurant if you are looking for a five star dining experience.  The walls have no decor and the tables look old and cheap, however, the steaks are phenomenal.  Ray's Hell Burger, also owned by Michael Landrum, was made famous last month when President Obama and Vice President Biden stopped in for a bite!  If you like Thai, Bangkok 54 is a great place to eat inexpensively.  Try Guapo's margaritas in Shirlington!  If you're looking for nightlife, Clarendon features many bars including Clarendon Grille, Mister Days, and Whitlows.  With an estimated 206,800 people living in the 26 square mile area of Arlington, there is never a dull moment.

Arlington is also considered to be one of the most highly educated areas in the country.  Statistics from 2006 showed that over 67% of adults age 25 and older had a bachelor’s degree or higher and about 34% had a graduate or professional degree.  In 2008, H-B Woodlawn, a local Arlington high school, was ranked 16th nationally by Newsweek Magazine.  In 2005, 2006, and 2007 H-B Woodlawn was ranked 5th, 13th, and 13th respectively.  If you have kid or pets, there are almost 200 public parks and playgrounds.  If you are a jogging or biking enthusiast, there are 86 miles of biking and jogging trails.  Do you enjoy the live arts and wining and dining?  There are 9 live state theaters and close to 600 restaurants.  Arlington has something for everyone.  To learn more about what Arlington has to offer, visit the official site of Arlington County Virginia at www.arlingtonva.us/.  We will write about the specific areas in future posts!