for a first time visitor----thanks

The main difference is geography.

Chevy Chase is a swanky just-barely-suburb of DC to the north with lots of expensive shopping, restaurants and some nightlife. Right on the Red line metro, it's about 20 minutes from downtown and the Mall.

Alexandria is a swanky just-barely-suburb of DC to the south with lots of expensive shopping, restaurants and some nightlife. Right on the Yellow/Blue line metro, it's about 10 minutes from downtown and the Mall.

I'd stay in Alexandria because MARYLAND SUCKS. (sorry little regional prejudice)

At least we have limits on development, less gridlock, and most importantly, road signs that actually help you get where you want to go! Not to mention fewer people carrying concealed weapons to work, school, church, or the local park.

That said, Alexandria is a more disirable location for a visitor/tourist. More history, on the Potomac River, etc(though I'm not sure about the location of the Embassy Suites).

[This message has been edited by dhacker (edited 11-21-2000).]

Hey, dhacker, I was just in Silver Spring for lunch today. All I can say is that the best thing about it was leaving

Love,
Someone who works in the heart of old town alexandria

Don't forget your map and your bullet-proof vest. And I do hope that your state figures out a way to provide enough water to the overdeveloped countryside without taking it from Maryland's river

In all fairness, the Alexandria(King St.) to the Mall trip is longer than 10 min.-- it's closer to 20.

Now thinking about 13 year olds..... ... one evening I was in downtown Alexandria and there was a park/square with about a dozen kids skateboarding. Granted, that's not something you find mentioned in guidebooks, and it doesn't exactly qualify as a tourist draw but it may give your son an option for going and hanging out around kids his age. I have the same VA bias, so I can't say I know Chevy Chase and the surrounding area as well.

Also speaking honestly about safety, MD tends to have more spillover from DC in general. Now, Friendship Heights is pretty nice, don't misunderstand me, but the river is more of a barrier. In Arlington where I live, I have yet to see a homeless person, and I only live 10 min. by bus from the Pentagon (=closer to DC than Alexandria). Alexandria after dark strikes me as being a little on the creepy side, and Crystal City is just plain empty, but maybe because there's more open space between buildings, it feels safer.

Bear in mind these are my impressions at like 10-11pm. I imagine you may not be out that late.....

FWIW, when I recently relocated, and I looked at areas in DC, MD, and VA, I chose Arlington VA.

[This message has been edited by Viajero Joven (edited 11-22-2000).]

The Embassy Suites in Chevy Chase is in a beautiful mall and has direct metro access in the building. There's also a Cheesecake Factory on the premises.

And, while you're in Chevy Chase, don't forget the mall with movies connected via underground, or the zillions of other shopping and food opportunities. Plus a couple of neat neighborhoods to walk through. Friendship Heights is very safe and the public transportation is as well.

A former employer put me up at the Embassy Suites during a snowstorm a few years back, it was quite nice.