Arlington, VA Area Guide | Carmen Fontecilla Group

Welcome to Arlington

Thriving urban community across the Potomac from DC

Arlington is a thriving urban community with views across the Potomac River to Washington, DC, and it is the second-largest principal city of the Washington Metropolitan Area. It features many diverse neighborhoods with lots of options for shopping, dining, entertainment, and employment. In addition, Arlington is home to the Pentagon, Reagan National Airport, Arlington National Ceremony, numerous university campuses, and Amazon’s new HQ2 headquarters.

Arlington’s diverse housing options include luxurious condominiums in high-rise towers to grand homes in private gated communities. Other housing options include contemporary townhouses and spacious single-family homes in a wide array of styles.

What to Love

Home to numerous federal agencies and large companies
Diverse shopping, dining, and entertainment options
Wide range of housing options

Local Lifestyle

Arlington is a large and diverse community with much to offer. Located directly across the Potomac River from DC, Arlington is closely linked to the nation’s political capital. More than a dozen federal agencies are headquartered in Arlington. The Department of Defense is one of the largest local employers, and the sprawling and iconic Pentagon has been recognized as the largest office building in the world. Along with Amazon’s long-planned HQ2, Arlington’s booming business sector offers employment opportunities with many major financial firms and international corporations. Arlington has much to offer, from scenic outdoor recreation spaces and instantly recognizable landmarks to trendy shopping and dining.

Dining, Entertainment & Shopping

Ballston Quarter Mall is one of Arlington’s top destinations for dining, shopping, entertainment, and services. Ballston Quarter Market is a giant 25,000-square-foot food hall with vendors offering authentic cuisine from around the world. Other highlights of the eclectic Ballston dining scene include authentic Russian and Uzbek dishes at Rus Uz, Sichuan hotpot and small Chinese plates at Mala Tang, sophisticated Spanish cooking at family-run SER, mouthwatering Peruvian rotisserie chicken at El Pollo Rico, European-inspired entrees, and wine flights at Grand Cru Wine Bar & Bistro, and traditional German pub grub paired with 16 draft beer taps at Bronson Bierhall.

The Village at Shirlington offers impeccable shopping and dining in an attractive open-air space. Join the Shirlington Sip & Stroll to enjoy drinks from numerous establishments as you explore this inviting commercial area.

Things to Do

Theodore Roosevelt Island is a beautiful forested island spanning 88 acres in the Potomac River between Arlington and Washington DC. This once-neglected island became a national park named in honor of Theodore Roosevelt in the 1930s following a plan laid out by famed landscaping architect Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. Hiking trails run through the island’s gorgeous scenery and provide lots of opportunities for birdwatching. Roosevelt Island is the terminus of the 18-mile Mount Vernon Trail. This mixed-use hiking and biking trail runs along the Virginia banks of the Potomac River all the way south to President George Washington’s historic Mount Vernon Estate. Arlington National Cemetery is a major national landmark that has served as the final resting place of those who’ve fought in every American conflict since the Civil War. Others interred at Arlington National Cemetery include President John f Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy and Senators Robert F. Kennedy and Edward “Ted” Kennedy. Arlington offers lots of lush natural scenery with hiking trails ascending to points with incredible views across the Potomac to DC. A recreational drive along the 25-mile George Washington Memorial Parkway also offers lots of great DC views. Another way to take in the nation’s capital is to head to the View of DC Observation Deck in Rosslyn, which boasts 360-degree panorama views of DC’s most famous landmarks.