i got an internship around DC this summer at Raytheon and all these suburbs of DC are pretty much the same distance away. Anyone know anything about these areas?

3/13/2007 3:00:38 PM

I lived in Reston. It's similar to Cary. It has a really nice system of bike/running trails throughout the town (tunnels under major roads). The W&OD runs through it, the Reston Town Center is nice, about 5 minutes from Dulles.

Don't have any experience with Chantilly, and Fairfax other than the fact that George Mason is there and it's the county seat I don't know much about it either. They are all within 20 minutes of each other, with probably Fairfax being the closest to DC, then Reston and Chantilly last.

3/13/2007 4:11:45 PM

Reston is probably nicer

Chantilly's not bad

fairfax has the worse traffic

3/13/2007 4:12:56 PM

Reston is right next to Great Falls national park too. I guess the things I'm listing are only perks if you're an outdoors type. But yeah, Reston is probably the nicest of the 3. They are all going to be expensive.

3/13/2007 4:15:26 PM

Reston is nice, but Fairfax is the closest to a metrorail station (Vienna). Fairfax Connector buses can take you from Reston down the Dulles Toll Road, using the HOV/bus lanes. Chantilly is a longer commute to DC, and further from most of the nightlife, etc. but is all in all a decent area. On the plus side, commuter traffic is better during the summer (but still not good). Consider what makes the most sense for your commute, and that traffic is bad all directions around Tysons Corner and outside of that better for reverse-commutes.

3/13/2007 4:42:22 PM

Fairfax City is decent, and parts of it are walkable.

Reston was a planned community that's exploded in the past 10 years (extremely similar to Cary, but with taller buildings and higher density). Reston Town Center is very similar, but more developed, than the new North Hills in-fill development here in Raleigh.

Chantilly is awesome if you want to raise a family...but it's far as hell from everything else so it was awful when I was in high school and paying for my own gas...lived there for 6 years.

Of the 3, I'd pick Fairfax City or Reston. You're still far from all the DC nightlife, but each has a few good bars, movie theaters, and shopping.

3/13/2007 10:47:41 PM

Reston is no where near the metro and Fairfax is a gridlock

never been in Chantilly.

Nova sucks so good luck.

3/14/2007 8:36:04 AM

i was in fairfax over break. driving around friday afternoon sucked because of traffic. the downtown was nice. was able to take the metro to DC without any transfers. that took about 40 minutes i'd say. i don't have any experience with the other two but i did enjoy fairfax overall. i'd probably ride my bike everywhere if i lived there, but i mostly do that in raleigh too .

3/14/2007 8:45:31 AM

Fairfax has really exploded, especially towards the Fair Lakes area, not near downtown Fairfax City. With the building and expansion of Fairfax Corner and very similar shopping centers have exploded the growth in that area. But then again I'm biased since I live there most of my life.

3/14/2007 9:20:35 AM

^ when my aunt moved their about 15 years ago it was considered the small cute town next to DC.

shits outa control now.

3/14/2007 10:52:36 AM

Raytheon sucks

3/14/2007 11:16:14 AM