Arlandria - Alexandria, VA

The city of Alexandria has a rich and contentious history. Pre-Civil War, it was one of the largest slave trading ports in the world. It has moved hands from Virginia to Washington, D.C, back to Virginia, and then a Union-occupied territory after Virginia seceded 1861.

The northern neighborhood of Arlandria has a vibrant history as well. A great deal of Hispanic, Thai and Vietnamese immigrants settled here, followed by an influx of Salvadorian immigrants in the 1980s. This earned Arlandria the nickname "Chirilagua," after the city on the Pacific coast of El Salvador.

In 2000, the city set forth a plan to revitalize the neighborhood, which has been very successful. Today, the Birchmere serves as the neighborhood's main attraction for outsiders. It's reputation extends far beyond the neighborhood, city and even country boundaries. It has hosted some of the biggest names in music such as Dave Matthews and Emmylou Harris.

Along the park's western edge, Mount Vernon Avenue serves as the neighborhood's restaurant hotspot. The best of those restaurants? RT's Restaurant. RT does New Orleans proud with Cajun classics such as Jack Daniel's shrimp, gumbo, jumbalaya and crawfish etouffe. The restaurant brings a casual and relaxed feel to neighborhood dining.

Also not to be missed and conveniently located just down the street from RT's is the Peruvian restaurant, Huascaran. Authentic Peruvian dishes such as patita con mani highlight the menu along with more American fare such as pupusas, sandwiches and soups.

While most almost all of the Alexandria bars are in or near Old Town to the south of Arlandria, The Birchmere is the pride and joy of this neighborhood. This barnlike music venue maintains a small and intimate feel that really takes the live music experience to another level. The seating is first come first serve so get there early. The box office starts selling tickets at 5 p.m. on show nights and the music starts at 7:30 p.m.

Biking and walking are both very comfortable modes of transportation in Arlandria. The streets are safe and have seen and influx of restored bike lanes. The proximity of most commercial needs being located on Mount Vernon Avenue make walking easy as well.

Public transportation options are widely available. The D.C.-based metro buses stretch down into the neighborhood with the 10A, B, E and R buses all going northbound into different areas of Arlington from the corner of Mount Vernon Avenue and Russell Road. These buses charge $1.75 per ride.

Within Alexandria, the DASH bus system also services the Arlandria neighborhood with stops along West Glebe Road. One-way rides cost $1.60, but monthly passes can be bought for $40. SmarTrip cards can be used on both of these systems and provide the most convenience for frequent riders.

Cabs are not widely available in the neighborhood, but the immensely popular Uber cabs operate all throughout Northern Virginia and the greater D.C. area.

For drivers, the neighborhood offers supreme access to Highway 1 and Interstate 395, with West Glebe Road connecting with both. Free public parking also makes driving an attractive option.

Four Mile Run Park is undoubtedly the highlight of the neighborhood. Stretching nearly 50 acres along the Four Mile Run River, the park has it all: Athletic fields, basketball courts, biking/jogging/walking trails, bird and river watching, fishing, a playground, picnic benches and grassy sitting areas. One of the bike trails, in fact, connects the city to its neighbors; the path heads into Arlington to the west and Washington, D.C. to the north. The fields are used by local schools as well as community youth and adult sports leagues.

The park is well-used by neighborhood residents as it's very kid and dog-friendly and remains free to everyone. The park represents a truly connected community, one that takes care of the park and neighborhood.

Every year, neighborhood residents volunteer to participate in the Ocean Conservancy’s Annual International Coastal Cleanup. Coordinated by Clean Virginia Waterways, this project focuses on Four Mole Run Park and community members show up in bunches every year to pitch in.

The average monthly rent of $1,359 for a one-bedroom apartment in this neighborhood comes in slightly less than the Alexandria average of $1,440. This small 6 percent savings is also represented in neighborhood gas prices. Those, too, are about 6 percent less than national average.

While neighborhood residents enjoy small savings in that regard, other common expenses such as restaurant meals remain high. A nice meal will run around $15 with a beer going for $5.

Old Town serves as the city's center and can be reached within 20 minutes on a DASH bus for $1.60.

On the other side of Highway 1, the neighborhood's eastern boundary, the Potomac Yard Center offers ample shopping for neighborhood residents. Chain retailers such as Pier 1 Imports, Old Navy, Best Buy, Target and TJ Maxx cater this mall towards those looking for the best deals in town.

Head north on Jefferson Davis Highway to visit Crystal Boutique on Crystal Drive, a local boutique that specializes in both business and casual attire for women of all ages. Head south on Highway 1 to stop into or head a little west to Le Village Marche in The Village at Shirlington for home goods and decor with French flair.

The popular MOM's Organic Market on Mount Vernon represents the health-conscious neighborhood, as does the neighboring Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market. The market has become a huge neighborhood attraction and makes it a point to feature local artisans who sell everything from handmade soaps to fair trade crafts and wearable art. The market opens every Sunday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. from April until November in Four Mile Run Park.