So, I wanted to talk about my experience with checking out Tysons as a potential place to live. You know, I’d heard a lot about it. It is the home of Virginia’s largest shopping mall, “Tyson’s Corner Shopping Center”, and it is only 10 miles west of downtown Washington, D.C. I mean, the location seemed pretty great, right?
First off, I started digging around online, reading some forums and stuff. I found a mixed bag of opinions. Some people were saying it’s a good location, affordable, you can find roommates, and it’s a good place to focus on work and save up some money. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
But then, I saw other folks complaining about the traffic in Tysons. They were saying it can be a real nightmare. That gave me a bit of pause, to be honest. I also read that they’re trying to make Tysons more walkable and bikeable, which is cool, but it’s still a work in progress.
Then someone suggested I look into Reston. They said it’s got an active town center, lots of trails for outdoor activities, and the metro is building a line out there, so commuting should be easy. I made a note to check that out too.
Eventually, I decided to go see Tysons for myself. I drove around, checked out the area, and tried to get a feel for the place. I also visited that huge mall, Tyson’s Corner Center. I saw a few apartments, but I didn’t find anything I was really crazy about. I feel it is like nothing else for over a decade.
Here’s the thing, though. Tysons’ best quality is its location. It’s close to 495, 66, and the Dulles Toll Road, plus Chain Bridge Road, which makes it super easy to get to DC. You can take the Metro, too, if you want. Plus, it’s close to Vienna, McLean, and Falls Church, which are all nice towns. Oh, and Great Falls National Park is nearby, which is awesome.
Honestly, after my little investigation, I’m still on the fence about Tysons. I need to do some more research, maybe visit a few more times, and definitely check out Reston before I make any decisions.
Here’s a quick rundown of what I found:
- Great location for commuting to DC.
- Close to major highways and public transportation.
- Near some nice towns and a national park.
- Safe.
Pros:
- Traffic can be bad.
- Still working on becoming more walkable and bikeable.
- Apartment options were not great.
Cons:
So, that’s my experience with checking out Tysons as a place to live. It’s not a bad place, but it’s not perfect either. I am going to keep looking and see what else is out there. I will share more of my house-hunting adventures soon!
