Life in the DMV—the metro area comprising D.C. and the surrounding Maryland and Virginia counties—is unique, unlike anywhere else in the country. Even if you’ve lived in other state capital cities, there are some things bound to surprise you. Here are four things that you might find interesting about your new potential home in the nation’s capital.
1. The mall isn’t just the mall
When you live in the D.C. area, there’s no shortage of great shopping—and there are several great malls to choose from. Tysons Galleria is full of high-end designers, plus a whole second building filled with more mainstream stores. Potomac Mills in Woodbridge, Virginia, has hundreds of outlets for a fun day of perusing. Silver Spring, Maryland, has numerous plazas and malls to shop in. When you live in the area. however, chances are good no one is talking about any of the notable shopping centers, but rather the National Mall.
This expansive area is filled with green space and many of the notable monuments you’ve read about in history books. Around the National Mall, you’ll find street vendors, festivals, and numerous museums as well. The mall in D.C. is the center of the city and our nation’s history.
2. You may have heard about the traffic
Despite an impressive public transportation system that includes both bus and an expansive rail, the traffic in the D.C. area is as renowned as the city itself. The city is constantly adding to its public transportation system, with recent rail additions reaching into Loudoun County, Virginia.
Within the past 15 years, it has also added optional toll express lanes to the outer loop to offer drivers an option to bypass the notorious 495 traffic. Even with the modifications to improve local transportation, there’s a high volume of commuters, and both morning and evening rush hour last far more than an hour. Prepare for stop-and-go moments throughout the area, and make sure to build in extra time to get from point A to point B.
3. There is so much beauty
The idea of living near the nation’s capital undoubtedly brings visions of national monuments and the White House, but many people don’t realize just how lovely the whole metro area is. From the foothills and wine country in Virginia to the waterfront parks, Maryland shores, and preserved historical battlefields, the area has so much beauty to enjoy and explore.
4. The excitement of being in the center of it all
One of the coolest parts of living in the area is that your local news is the whole nation’s news. So many of the national headlines and plots of primetime TV shows even originate just around the corner from you. It’s an exciting place to be. Living in the area, you’ll undoubtedly have to acclimate to the occasional road closing and convoy, and you’ll even get used to seeing the Blackhawks and presidential motorcade. When you live in the DMV, it’s all part of daily life.
