Up near the very tip of Virginia, tucked into the northeastern corner, you’ll find Reston. Reston is a well-planned suburban community that boasts a thriving town center, rich in amenities and job opportunities. Ranked within the top ten best places to live in the United States back in 2012, Reston is a wonderful place to live and a fun place to visit.
Reston was founded in the 1960s, so it isn’t the oldest city in this area of the country by any stretch of the imagination. With many modern designs and a vision to create an ideal place to live, the founder of Reston was a wealthy landowner that developed this area with money from selling Carnegie Hall. The preservation of open spaces, natural areas, and parks was important in the development of Reston.
Known to be an international example of planned communities, Reston has received much attention from around the world, including being featured in scholarly journals and being visited by famous people. Different sections of the community of Reston take on various personalities, as each has a unique style. For example, one of the early community developments was inspired by the architecture of the Italian port city of Portofino. This area is known as Lake Anne Plaza, and the lakeside environment is beautiful and pristine.
With a close proximity to Washington D.C., many folks that live in Reston work in Washington D.C., and find the commute to be very easy. The quieter, suburban community life of Reston is attractive to many who would rather settle outside of the hustle and bustle of Washington D.C. One of the largest issues that residents of Reston face is the lack of mass transit. Traffic can be a problem during certain times of day, especially between Reston and Washington D.C.
Residents of Reston love that there are so many community events throughout the year. A few local favorites include a seasonal Farmers Market, the Greater Reston Arts Center Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival, and the Reston Festival. Other holiday parades and celebrations are family friendly events that bring many visitors from surrounding communities as well. Local parks and recreational facilities are sprinkled throughout Reston, creating great areas for families looking to enjoy the great outdoors.
Families enjoy a high quality education system in Reston, with schools from within the Fairfax County Public School District. Several private schools also serve the area, and most students at the high school level attend South Lakes High School in Reston. For students looking for some extra help or additional resources in achieving their educational goals, local Reston tutors can be of service.