Anyone from DC/close parts of Virginia?

[Katika]

Hey everyone!

Long story incredibly short, my family may be moving from the comfort of the Midwest to the DC area very soon and I know NOTHING about the east coast.

We already know that we do not want to live in DC, and are able/willing to commute an hour or less to get there, and have been primarily looking around Virginia.  We are *hoping* (fingers crossed BIG time) to be able to find a small farm so we can keep all of our horses and chickens (and cats and dogs... but they're indoors) in the family and not have to debate whether or not I stay behind with the family or we have to make the terrible decision of rehoming.  We want to do everything in our power to keep the entire family together.

Pretty much, I'm needing help knowing what major cities are in the hour-or-less range of DC so I have an idea of where to start researching housing, horse boarding, building codes, livestock restrictions and the like.  Any help is GREATLY appreciated <3

[ponycake]

I'm sure others can help you more. But I have two friends who live in Front Royal, VA (farmy, spaceous) and one commutes to DC, Mapquest tells me it's an hour and twenty minutes.

There's a beautiful little river under a tiny bridge we played in there and tubed in. I like the area a lot.

Edit: Oh, well one lives there anyway. I looked up my other friend who works in DC and he's in Alexandria which Mapquest says is 17-20 minutes. I've never been there.

[Ivaness]

I've lived in Alexandria and Sterling, VA. Both are awesome areas! My sister still lives in Sterling, so I go visit her every few months. She's roughly 2.5 hours from me and I'm in PA.

Early welcome to this area!

[Elisto]

There's Upper Marlboro in Maryland if you're looking for somewhat rural but still near DC.

[flyawayraven]

I believe Winchester, VA may also work for you. I have a friend from college who lives near there and their family has a horse farm. Frederick, Maryland is also a possibility but might be too far for you. It used to be rural and still mostly is but it is turning into suburbs very quickly.

The DC traffic is some of the worst in the country so be warned! The good news is that there are tons of commuter options such as the metro, Amtrak, and loads more so you can avoid having to sit in traffic. Also it's a terrible city to drive in. >_>

[Katika]

Thank you everyone for your insight so far   It'd be a move for my husband's job (I'm currently unemployed/writing novels/dreaming of teaching riding lessons from home) and traffic typically doesn't bother him.  As sad as it sounds, I really doubt I'd make it into the busy parts all that often. 

[kaoskat]

Gosh, I have no advice or help but I wish you luck! I hope you'll be pleasantly surprised and happy with the move at the end of things!

[kawaiicaroline]

I live in leesburg, I believe it's about 45 minutes maybe an hour from D.C.. But there are areas around me with farms, like lucketts that you could look into... Sorry I'm not more helpful D:

[Ivaness]

I live in leesburg, I believe it's about 45 minutes maybe an hour from D.C.. But there are areas around me with farms, like lucketts that you could look into... Sorry I'm not more helpful D:

I drive through there going to Sterling! Luckett is adorable!

[PinkRosedust]

I live in leesburg, I believe it's about 45 minutes maybe an hour from D.C.. But there are areas around me with farms, like lucketts that you could look into... Sorry I'm not more helpful D:

I was going to suggest looking into the Leesburg area as well. It's got a lot of rural left in it but still has many stores and nearby towns. It probably is like an hour from DC, though fair warning - during rush hour (which is more like 2 or 3 hours) that hour could double or worse.

Another area you could look into is Manassas (also check out Clifton), which would be slightly closer to DC, but if you're okay being slightly further away from the city you can look a little more west than that, like around Warrenton.

[Shadoweon]

I live in Northern Virginia, Prince William County to be specific. I'm right near Manassas,VA.

[nessy_86]

I live in Waldorf, MD. It's about a 30-45 minute drive outside of DC and you get to avoid most of the terribly congested roads (anything that ends in 95, the 66, etc.). There's quite a bit of rural area over here-- I'm not sure if any farms are for sale or anything but I would think it would be worth a look. There are also more rural areas father south of me (St. Mary's county and so forth). You also get to avoid some taxes that you are required to pay in Virginia (vehicle tax comes to mind). I lived in Arlington for a year and that's all I could take. It's too crowded and people are everywhere. I'm from the Midwest originally (rural Minnesota to be exact) so I know the adjustment is a bit crazy! Also homes are less expensive the farther out you get from DC

Good luck with your move and feel free to message me if you would like 

[flyawayraven]

The problem with St. Mary's is it is extremely isolated. The area is absolutely beautiful but it is a major nuisance getting in and out of. It's around a two hour drive to DC and many of the roads are very simple two lane highways.

[nessy_86]

The problem with St. Mary's is it is extremely isolated. The area is absolutely beautiful but it is a major nuisance getting in and out of. It's around a two hour drive to DC and many of the roads are very simple two lane highways.

It all depends on where in St. Mary's county someone lives. If you are in the Northern part of St. Marys and come through Waldorf it's not a two hour drive. Charles County (the county I live) has plenty of open areas outside of Waldorf. I just suggested St. Marys as the poster was requesting a farmlike area.

[rosierjay]

i've visited the areas quite a bit, but never lived there.
though i do recommend audio books for long commutes. makes any traffic more bearable.