Ashburn Village - Ashburn, VA

The area known as Ashburn was originally called Farmwell; it was named after a mansion and plantation owned by George Lee III. A section of the plantation was sold in 1841 and named renamed Ashburn Farm.

To learn more about the local history of the area, head to the Loudoun Museum, which hosts exhibits and gives tours of old houses depicting how people lived during Ashburn's early days. The neighborhood association hosts many events here throughout the year, including a fireworks display on the lake every July, the Fiesta 5K/10K Fun Run and summer movie nights.

The area just outside of Ashburn Village has tons of great restaurants with a wide variety of choices, including Italian, Chinese and tried-and-true American favorites. For New York style pizza and pasta, head to Rubino’s Pizza on Ashbrook Commons Plaza. This restaurant serves a wide array of tasty Italian dishes, including lasagna and chicken Parmesan. Pizza lovers simply must try the margherita pizza covered with mozzarella, chicken and fresh tomatoes.

Carolina Brothers Pit BBQ cooks up BBQ and other Southern favorites. The must-tries here include the baby-back ribs and pulled-pork sandwich. Choose from comforting sides such as baked beans, mac ‘n’ cheese and cornbread to complete your meal.

If you like Thai Food, be sure to try Bangrak Thai Cuisine on Yukon Drive, which features traditional Thai dishes, including ginger sea bass and cashew nut chicken. Order the beef drunken noodles here, as it's a favorite among locals.

For a fun night out, visit Bar Louie, and enjoy the fantastic outdoor zone with friends or listen to some tunes. The bar has a special for $5 burgers every Tuesday night if you want to pair food with drink. To wet your whistle with whiskey, hop over to Finnegan’s Bar & Grill. This pub offers Irish menu favorites and keeps a stock of Guinness and fine Irish whiskeys at the ready. It also plays Irish music and sports Irish decor, so you get an authentic Irish experience.

Walking and biking within the neighborhood are generally safe activities. However, some streets outside the area's perimeters get very busy during peak hours, making it unsafe to cycle or walk to run errands outside the neighborhood.

To get around here using the city’s public transportation, you can take the Metro bus, but you have to board two separate buses to get all the way into downtown D.C. Uber operates here, letting you use your smartphone application to catch a ride to anywhere in D.C. for a flat rate. Taxis also serve this area, but you won't be able to hail one, so phone ahead for a pickup.

Interstate 66 runs through town, and Highway 267 runs into the Interstate 495 loop around downtown, making life easy on commuters. Parking in town is a fairly easy feat in most places; however, it can be tricky to find parking in the downtown area. If you can’t find metered parking near where you need to be, park in one of several hourly-rate garages that exist throughout the area.

The Ashburn Village Sports Pavilion is one of the most popular local spots for all types of recreational activities. Take a swim in one of the pools here, relax in the sauna or get a workout at the full gym. Alternatively, play a game of H.O.R.S.E on a basketball court, or work on your tennis serve. This comprehensive facility also has several walking and biking trails.

Trailside Park also sits near the neighborhood and houses batting cages, soccer fields and biking/walking trails. Bring your dog with you to this park – it has an open area that can be used to walk your pooch, have a picnic or just drink in the fresh air.

The cost of living in Ashburn Village sits about 5 percent below that of downtown, but it is still around 37 percent higher than the national average. The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment is about $1,300 in this neighborhood and about $1,850 in downtown D.C.

A ride by bus into downtown costs less than $4, and gas prices sit about 2 percent lower than in the city and about 4 percent above the national average. You can expect to pay between $5 and $7 for a pint of beer at a local bar.

Within the neighborhood area, the Ashburn Village Center is one of the best shopping centers in town. The center holds over 50 shops, restaurants and other essential retail establishments, including auto stores, grocery stores and hair salons.

Ashburn also houses many unique specialty and boutique-style shops, including Zazu and Danielly's Boutique. Zazu sells all kinds of eclectic little gifts and knickknacks. Find homemade jewelry, clothing, keychains and cards here, and don't hesitate to ask the staff to gift wrap your special purchase. Danielly's Boutique features everything from little trinkets and gifts to bridesmaid and wedding dresses for your big day - if nuptials are in your immediate future, head to Danielly's to outfit your bridal party.

The grocery markets here are a diverse group of stores. This area has many popular ethnic groceries, including Mahi Bazaar and Lotte Plaza Market. Mahi Bazaar carries Indian groceries and meats, while the Lotte Plaza Market hosts a collection of small Asian supermarkets that carry fresh produce, seafood and household items. Ashburn Village also has popular chain stores, including several Harris Teeter and Giant locations.

If you like to support local growers, visit the Loudoun Valley HomeGrown Markets Cooperative. Open Saturday mornings from May through October, this venue only sells goods produced within 125 miles of Leesburg, which is roughly 8 miles from the village.