Is there a safe walking townish place in NOVA that is reasonable cost? (Reston: houses)

[arabellava]

Hi- considering moving further out to buy more house.. we live in Vienna now- our parents want to move close to us- we want to live in a great falls/oakton like house (large wooded back yard)- though husband doesn't mind golf comunity. I believe the commute would be to Herndon for work. My parents (when we thought we might stay here in Vienna) wanted to get a house off of Main street so they could walk for their little errands (mostly like drugstore, supermarket).. Is there any place in NoVA that could potentially fit both of our scenarios? with *good* schools? safe?

[claremarie]

It's hard to get a large wooded backyard within walking distance of stores without spending a lot of money. In most parts of northern Virginia, you can get one but not the other. So Falls Church has the shops, but not (for the most part) the large wooded back yards. Great Falls has the wooded backyards, but, unless you find something in the community adjacent to the shopping center, your parents will not be able to handle their errands on foot.
There are several neighborhhods in McLean that would fit the bill, but the houses are expensive, and you will certainly NOT get more house than you have now in Vienna.
Have you considered the City of Fairfax?

[arabellava]

Sorry- I meant that we would live in the house with the private/woodsy great falls/oakton backyard like- and my parents would live in the same town but close to walking part.. we don't have to be next door- but hopefully within 10 minute drive.

thank you again!

[normie]

Reston sounds like the closest fit. It isn't exactly a "main street" community but it is a close knit community, and the stores are clustered together, within walking distance. Reston prides itself on having miles and miles of walking trails that were created so people could easily walk to the shopping areas. The area around Lake Anne Plaza has the a particularly strong community feeling, neighbors doing things together, that sort of thing.

There is a lot of info on Reston online, I would suggest googling it.

Vienna sort of of fits your description, and is still a reasonable commute to Herndon. Downtown Leesburg could work, but is a long drive. There are other communities (such as Front Royal) that come close to your description, but the commute would be terrible.

[arabellava]

Thank you- Reston is nice and has a lot of what we are looking for but the schools are not attractive- (SLH etc.)..