Happy Holidays Everyone!

When I started this blog back in February I couldn't have guessed how much fun I would be having! I have lots of great parks, indoor venues and restaurants already reviewed and coming soon.

I hope everyone has a great holiday season and a Happy New Year!

The Long Winter Months....

It was great having the warm weather stretch into November but alas the winters months are upon us. Since we won't be able to be outside checking out the parks I'll be checking out venues where we can have fun inside! Follow us while we travel around the DC Metro Area looking for fun things to do indoors. If you know of any great indoor venues that are great for kids and families please email me.

I hope you and your families have a great holiday season and a Happy New Year!

Ideas, Ideas.....

If you don't see a park on here that you have enjoyed with the family please email me or comment on the bottom of this blog entry. I'm always looking for new places to check out with the kids! The Northern Virginia area has a lot of different Regional and National park systems.

Enjoy!

Riverbend Park in Great Falls, VA!

Riverbend Park in Great Falls, VA located in Fairfax County lies just above Great Falls National Park. In fact you can walk from Riverbend Park all the way to Great Falls National Park via the Potomac National Heritage Trail along the Potomac River. Unlike Great Falls where you pay a park fee Riverbend is a free regional park and open from dawn till dusk with gates closing promptly at 8:30 p.m. Riverbend Park is located off of Georgetown Pike in Great Falls, Virginia. You follow Riverbend Road through magnificent neighborhoods filled with custom Estate homes and single family homes on large wooded lots. Regional Park signs will navigate you towards the park.

The Nature Center is a neat place for the kids to see local wildlife like snakes, skinks and frogs. For the adults and older kids there is historical information about the people that once inhabited the area before the settlers took over. The Nature Center has a small snack bar, ice cream and gift shop. Outside the nature center they have an observation deck with Adirondack chairs and tables to sit and watch the river. Public restrooms and water fountains are available just outside the nature center. A small frog pond is located below the nature center and at this time of year it allows visitors to check out the newly hatched tadpoles that will eventually turned into frogs.

 Once you have finished exploring the nature center you can head out on the trails. Riverbend park has 2.5 miles of Potomac Heritage Trail along the Potomac River which if you head south will take you directly into Great Falls Park. The trails are great for walkers/joggers but strollers and bikes would have a hard time getting through. More trails are available through the upland forests and a few are challenging. If you enjoy geo-caching this park has plenty hidden for you to find. A picnic area is also available right next to the river and offers grills to cook out. This upper portion of the Potomac River is a good place to drop in a kayak or canoe and a launching area is available.

The kids and I love this park! The trails offer plenty of shade and we always see lots of wildlife on our walks. Walking along the river is a great way to get away and is a very convienent location to Northern Virginian residents.

Next Stop....Lyndora Park in Ashburn, VA!

Reston North Park

Today we visited Reston North Park located in Reston, Virginia. This Fairfax County park is sometimes called the "Home Depot Park" because it is located behind the Home Depot on Reston Parkway.

The park has two levels of play equipment and both regular and toddler swings, the upper section is for the older kids and the lower section is for the little ones. Baseball and soccer fields are also part of the park.

There isn't a lot of shade over the equipment so during the summer months it can be warm. There are a few benches in the shade to escape the heat though. A porta potty is available in the parking lot as well. Overall this is one of the many Northern Virginia parks we will visit this year.

Check out my next hiking adventure in White Oak Canyon!

Ashburn Park aka "The Dinosaur Park"

The Ashburn Park located in Ashburn, VA is known as the Ashburn "Dinosaur" Park to many parents. This park is located in Loudoun County off of Partlow Road in the heart of Old Town Ashburn. It has four different sets of equipment for all different age groups with pictures of dinosaurs on them. The park has lots of shade on a hot day and a porta potty is located near the entrance to the park.

A pavillion is located in the middle of the park and is great place to have a picnic lunch. They added a new piece of equipment for the older kids and it has a great scavenger hunt game and rock wall. If you walk further into the park there is also a small creek and trails. The trail eventually leads to the W&OD Trial and backs to another community trail system.

Great park with lots of things for the kids to do. Ashburn Park is definitely in our Top Ten of parks in the Northern Virginia area!

Check out my next write up on the Luray Caverns....

Amalthea Ridge Homestead in Great Falls, VA!

Northern Virginia is filled with local homestead owners. My good friend Sarah is one of them! She lives in Great Falls, Virginia and owns and operates Amalthea Ridge Homestead. Growing up in Ohio she was always surrounded by farm culture. She is an awesome cook and very creative in the kitchen. Fresh eggs and milk on site were the goal last spring and her first purchase included chickens and turkeys.  Five months later eggs were laid, now she has plenty of eggs for cooking and baking. The ambitious person that she is she decided to purchase two female Alpine goats for the purpose of producing goat cheeses and yogurt. Her daughter Stella named the goats "Babe" and "Baby" (her favorite movie is Babe the pig hence the names). I didn't know this tidbit of information but apparently you need a female goat to have kids to start the milking process. After having both females bred 5 months later she has her first buck born on 4/6/2011 at 11:00 p.m. weighing in at 12 lbs. Meet "Penske"!

"Penske"

Proud Mama-"Babe"

If you ever run into Sarah you'll have to ask her how "Penske" got his name. I promise you it's a very funny story. In about two weeks she'll be able to start milking "Babe" for extra milk and start creating different types of goat cheeses and yogurts. In the future she hopes to start a Goat Share Program where people will purchase a share of the goat. In return they will receive fresh goat milk. The money paid will support the  feeding and maintaining of each goat.

UPDATE!!! Now Amalthea Ridge Homestead offers bath and beauty products made from goats milk including lotions and soaps! Check out their product you won't be disappointed!

Reston, Virginia

Reston is a planned community in Northern Virginia located in Fairfax County. This post war community enables residents to be within a half mile walk of the shops and eateries. Reston was developed to include five village centers and one town center. The Reston Town Center is a great place to grab a bite to eat, check out the local arts and shop. This area is convenient to live in if you're a young professional, active adult or even a family with children.

Reston is comfortably located near the Dulles Toll Road and Fairfax County Parkway. Reston is in the heart of the Dulles Technology Corridor with many employers located in Reston. Washington Dulles International Airport is also within 10 minutes of Reston. The Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project is currently being constructed and projected to be completed in 2013. The project will eventually be a convenient way to travel east  to D.C. and west to Dulles Airport. For the active individual the W& OD Trail runs directly through Reston.

My friends and family that live in Reston are always commenting how beautiful the artificial lakes and wooded areas are. Reston has four lakes; Lake Anne, Lake Thoreau, Lake Newport, and Lake Audubon. Lake front homes line the shores and many walking paths are throughout each lake area. Lake Anne Plaza is a neat place  to grab a bite to eat, check out local thrift shops or just sit outside on a nice day by the water. The Reston community also has no shortage of athletic fields and community pools. If you are looking for a condo, townhome or single-family home consider Reston, VA.

South Riding, Virginia

South Riding is a planned community located in Loudoun County, Virgina. Nestled between Chantilly, VA and Aldie, VA, South Riding offers the complete package. Located off Route 50 and Route 28, residents can easily access the Dulles, Reston, and Tyson's Corner Technology Corridor.

South Riding is a great place for young professionals, active individuals and families with children. The community offers single family homes, townhomes and condos. Three shopping centers allow residents to run errands while staying close to home. A network of fitness trails offer residents a safe place to walk, jog, and ride bikes. South Riding offers several community pools and clubhouses available to all residents. If you enjoy golf, South Riding includes it's own golf course, South Riding Golf Club. Families with children will have access to great schools from the pre-school level all the way up to high school. Tot lots and parks are located throughout the community and within walking distance of most homes.

South Riding is a beautiful community with many amenities. The location near government and private employers makes it a very sought after place to settle down. Let me show you what South Riding has to offer!

Attention Travelers.....

We are lucky to have three major airports in our area, Dulles International Airport, Baltimore Washington International Airport, and Reagan National Airport.

Located in Chantilly, VA you'll find Dulles International Airport. You can spot the airplanes landing and taking off as you travel Route 28 in Fairfax County. Route 28 can be easily accessed from Route 66, the Dulles Toll Road, Route 50 or Route 7. There is plenty of parking if you plan to leave your car and no shortage of cabs or shuttles going to and from the airport. The Dulles Corridor Metro Rail project is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in 2014.

Located across the Potomac River from the Nation's Capital in Arlington, VA you'll find Reagan National Airport. This airport is connected to the Metro Rail System which exits at two terminals of the airport. Amtrak can also be used to access this airport via shuttles from two rail stations, one is in Alexandria, VA and the other is Union Station in D.C.

Baltimore Washington International Airport is located in Baltimore, MD. BWI is easily accessible from Northern Virginia via Baltimore Washington Parkway and Route 95. Amtrak, MARC and Metro light rail also service the airport. With this airport being less than 45 minutes from Northern Virginia it's another option for air travel.


With access to these three airports from Northern Virginia, it makes traveling very convenient. Northern Virginia and the suburbs of D.C. are optimal locations for living.

Safe travels.....

Relocation

In the Northern Virginia area you can most likely throw a rock and hit someone who has relocated to the area either for job opportunities, military or family. My small circle of friends have come from all over including Florida, California, New York, West Virginia and Ohio.  Very few of our friends are actually from Virginia with a small exception of my husband.

In cases where people are moving for job opportunities some companies will offer relocation packages. Some packages will recommend a realty firm to help you purchase or rent your new home.

A few of my close friends have shared their stories of relocating with me. One of my good friends said next time she would choose their own Realtor instead of going with the realty firm offered in a relocation package. She felt the Realtor with her package didn't offer enough time for her and kept steering her towards neighborhoods she felt were out of her price range. When time became an issue the Realtor went on vacation and left her unqualified nephew (who had no car) to show them properties. In the end she found her own home without the help of the Realtor or her nephew. The Realtor still received her commission but it was undeserved.

Another friend found her Realtor in her relocation package perfect. She loved her Realtor because she was well versed in the area and understood their needs. Once they disclosed their wish list she made a point of showing properties meeting their needs and discarded listings that did not. My friend felt the process was a success because they found a home in a reasonable amount of time and it met all their needs including price.

In Northern Virginia  there are many established and newer communities. You can live close to the city in Arlington, out west in Leesburg or anywhere in between. If you find yourself relocating to a new county or even a new state make sure you locate a Realtor that understands your needs. True North Realty, LLC is well versed in Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Faquier and Prince William County. Let us help you find your new home!

Kamber Petty 571-299-8307 or kamber.a.petty@gmail.com

Home Owner Associations....Love them or Leave them

In the Northern Virginia area you'll find that most planned communities have Home Owner Associations. It may be a house, condo or townhouse but everyone is subject to rules and regulations. Home Owner Association covenants and restrictions are designed to protect property values by maintaining appearance and order in a community. HOAs have their pros and cons and you might not always agree with some of the restrictions.

HOA pros:
   

• All Owners are kept to the same maintenance standards. Every year and sometimes twice a year committees are sent out to inspect common areas and homes for damage and in need of repair items. 
• By enforcing rules and regulations the HOA helps maintain or improve property values.
• Many communities have shared pools, playgrounds, tennis courts, walking trails and clubhouses that are maintained with the dues that are paid.
• Dues often include community snow removal and trash pick up. 
• Disputes between neighbors often can be mediated by the HOA 
• HOAs arrange neighborhood events or parties. 

HOA cons:

• Poorly managed Home Owner Associations can be a turn off. Most Board Members are homeowners in the community with day jobs and they don't have the time needed to support an HOA.
• If a budget is not maintained appropriately it can lead to due increases or "lump sum" payments needed for budget shortfalls.
• Certain restrictions might detract new buyers from purchasing a home in your neighborhood if they feel the regulations are too restricting. For example no renters, no home businesses or only dogs under 50 lbs.
• Dues might deter people from buying into the community. This fee is looked at as another cost to owning a home in the community.
• HOA can put a lien on your home if you fall into arrears and can't pay. Fines can be levied on repairs that are not fulfilled.

With the downward financial market the HOA fees are usually the first bill not to be paid. HOAs are forced to put a lien on the property and sometimes foreclose on properties if fees are not paid. In my community of Countryside they were offering a one time reprieve from past due fees.

Tips:

If you are looking to own or rent in a community that has a Home Owner Association, ask to look at the rules, regulations and bylaws before you sign a contract or renter's agreement. This way you understand what is being asked of you by the Home Owners Association. Also if you look at the budget and financial statements you might understand how well the Association is run and if this is the community for you.

Frying Pan Park & Temple Hall Farm

In rural Leesburg, VA located in Loudoun County you'll find Temple Hall Farm. Temple Hall is a 286-acre working farm. It's a great place to the bring the family to see the animals and see all the sites of a working farm. It has plenty of picnic tables to bring a lunch and includes a small playground for the littler children. Every year from September to the beginning of November Temple Hall has a giant Corn Maze and pumpkin patch. You can also check out the Babbling Brook Trail which takes you over a creek and through the woods.

More pics to come when the weather gets nicer!

About Me

As a Mom and a Realtor I find that I'm always looking for the next best thing. It may be a new playground for the kids to meet new friends or finding someone their first home. Let's face it being a mom and purchasing a new home have their similarities. These are two of the biggest decisions you'll ever make. 

The Northern Virginia area is a melting pot. People relocate to the area from all over the world. As a transplant myself I understand how hard it can be to meet new people and find your way around the area. Follow me while I explore what this area has to offer. Hopefully the information I share on this blog will help you find the next best thing....