Question: What are the 5 things Arlingtonians can be most thankful for?
Okay, I cheated. Nobody actually asked the question, but it’s the time of year to step away from our insanely busy lives (statistically, we’re THE BUSIEST), take inventory of all we’re thankful for, and appreciate our family, friends, and selves. I thought it’d be fun to come up with my own top 5 list of things Arlingtonians can be thankful for and would love to hear your top 5. I’m dishing non-existent awards for 1) most creative 2) most sarcastic and 3) most comments generated.
#5 Walkability: Arlington is a model for urban planning with walkable communities all over including Shirlington, Crystal City, Columbia Pike, Rosslyn-Ballston, Cherrydale, and North Arlington.
#4 (Reagan) National Airport: If you live in Arlington, you’re within a 15 minute drive and most are within 5-10 minutes. I’ve gone door-to-gate in under 25 minutes and give thanks every time they add a new Southwest route!
#3 Diverse (and delicious) Food: With so many people from so many parts of the world, there are few cuisines you can’t find within a short drive. Our world-famous El Chilango taco truck ranks #58 in Yelp’s Top 100 places to eat in the entire country! If you haven’t fully enjoyed Arlington’s culinary diversity, spend some time over the holidays at Thai Square (Thai), Pho 75 (Vietnamese), Mele Bistro (Italian/Mediterranean), Bob & Edith’s (Diner), Rays the Steaks (Steak), and the brand new Secret Chopsticks (Chinese tasting menu) and let me know what you think.
#2 Access: The nation’s capital in a few minutes, vineyards and the Bay in under an hour, the Appalachian Mountains in 90 minutes, and numerous beaches in in under 3 hours. Fun evenings, relaxing getaways, and great vacations are at our doorstep.
#1 Strong Housing Market (c’mon, it’s a Real Estate column, I had to): Relative to most of the country, we fared well during the recession, bounced back quickly, and have seen strong growth since due to our reliable, well-paying employers anchored by the Pentagon and large public consultancies.
What are your top 5 things to be thankful for this year in Arlington?
