Ballston, Virginia
Looking for a Home? Find it Here.
Ballston, named after the Ball Family, whose family burial ground can be found on Washington Boulevard (look for its historical marker), is a neighborhood in Arlington, VA, situated across the Potomac River from DC and along the Orange and Silver Lines of the area’s Metro system. It’s relatively close to I-66, the only Interstate Highway running west from Washington, D.C. into Northern Virginia, which makes traveling to the state’s rural counties, Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains a breeze. The Ballston Corridor, as this area is sometimes called, is ideal for those looking for a relatively easy commute into the city. It has a city feel without being in the actual city, and it offers a little bit of everything. It’s an ideal setting for apartment and condo dwellers, but head a few blocks north or south and you encounter the single-family homes and townhouses a plenty, creating a more suburban feel.
Top photo courtesy of QIC Global Real Estate
Driven by Innovation
It’s the Washington metro region’s hub of innovation, research, learning, technology and science. With the federal Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Office of Naval Research, and research facilities for several major universities, Ballston is an epicenter for research and discovery.
You’ll find more than 50 restaurants in a five-block radius, from destination restaurants to great pubs and a multitude of quick and tasty selections for midday meals in this bustling, walkable neighborhood. In Ballston, you’ll experience a place filled with style, food, cool shops and inspiring people. Recreation in Ballston includes the Arlington Arts Center, Regal Cinema Ballston Stadium 12 and MedStar Capitals Iceplex, where you can watch the Washington Capitals practice or get out on the ice during open skate!
In Ballston, 75 percent of the population is under 45 so it’s no surprise that Ballston is hip, smart and sophisticated.
One of the biggest benefits about living in Ballston is access to the Metro. Being directly on the Metro line makes Ballston a convenient place to get around and creates a very pedestrian-friendly community. Just about everything you can think of is within a reasonable walking distance from the Metro station, plus or minus a block or two. The blocks are lined with shopping options, restaurants serving any and all kinds of cuisine, popular bars, and its share of corporate offices.
Ballston is also a great neighborhood for families and the health-conscious resident. Families with small kids will find many outdoor play areas and open spaces where they can run and play. And there are many well-maintained, safe trails accessible via the Metro that are perfect for running, biking, or strolling with little ones. For four-legged family members, there are also quite a few nearby off leash dog parks. Public recreational options include the outdoor track and public pool at the Washington-Lee Aquatic Center, and there are many private fitness gyms to choose from as well.
Living in the suburbs and still finding a vibrant city a few blocks away is what Ballston is all about. Safety ranks high here and families are welcome!
A View of Ballston
Here’s Where Urban Chill Begins
Ballston Quarter is a new, urban destination where the area’s best chefs, entertainment options, events, shopping, and more come together in the heart of Arlington. A true city center for Northern Virginia, Ballston Quarter is designed with the community in mind.
The aroma of globally inspired dishes. The sound of beer glasses, of laughter and conversation. The taste of authentic street tacos, flavorful noodle bowls, artisan ice cream, and other adventurous eats. Ballston Quarter is a vibrant place to engage your senses in a truly unique culinary experience. Set around an indoor/outdoor plaza, this eatery is the largest in the area.
Looking for something to do? No problem! With a little imagination and some help from the businesses at Ballston Quarter, you are the hero who has minutes to escape the Pharaoh’s tomb. The rockstar cook who can braise with the best of ‘em. The kid explorer of wooden forts. The karaoke master who makes Sweet Caroline even sweeter. The movie buff who gets instantly transported. The fit fanatic who is strong in body and mind. The list of engaging entertainment options are endless.
From blow outs to the bank, lash extensions to local snacks, Ballston Quarter has everything you need to keep your style game strong and your day-to-day life on point.
Photo courtesy of Ballston Quarter
Places to Explore in Ballston
Bon Air Park features elaborate formal gardens featuring roses and ornamental trees. Master Gardeners of Arlington maintain sun and shade gardens to use as teaching tools for local gardeners. This expansive 24-acre park also includes playgrounds, picnic areas with charcoal grills and a path.
The Arlington Planetarium is open for public multimedia programs on weekends throughout the school year. Show times are: Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30PM and Sunday matinees at 1:30 and 3:00PM. Additionally, Stars Tonight, a live sky show under the dome, highlighting the celestial sights of the coming month is offered the first Monday of each month at 7:30 PM.
Mosaic Park is the first park in Arlington to have a playground that features a climbing wall, which is sure to be a hit with the young and old alike. This exciting feature takes climbers up and across four dynamic panels rising more than nine feet.
Kettler Capitals Iceplex: Located atop the Ballston Common Mall Parking Garage, this state-of-the-art facility is the official home of the NHL Washington Capitals. Kettler offers public skating year-round as well as private and group skating lessons. And the public can watch the area’s professional hockey team practice free of charge.
Every Thursday from April through October, local vendors set up on Welburn Square across from the Ballston Metro Station to sell fresh fruit, seasonal vegetables, and other goods. It’s a wonderful event during which residents meet up with friends, get some fresh air while they support the local farming industry.
Ballston Quarterfest is a yearly outdoor event, held in the spring, that attracts more than 50,000 people from all over the region and turns the local streets into a family-friendly, fun dining and shopping festival. Not only does it highlight the local food scene but it gives back to the community as well by donating its profits to the Arlington Food Assistance Center.
Fun Fact For Your Next Trivia Night
The highest ice rink above street-level in the United States, MedStar Capitals Iceplex, atop Ballston Quarter, is the practice arena of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League.
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