Herndon, VA

Once a collection of dairy farms, Herndon changed when the railroad arrived in 1857. The railroad station became the center of town, and businesses opened around it. The railroad also brought vacationers from D.C. to the Virginia countryside. Eventually, roads and motorized vehicles eclipsed the railroad's importance, and it ceased operation in 1968. Herndon grew with the construction of new roads and Dulles Airport, and later, with the increase in technology companies in the area.

Learn more about Herndon's history at the Herndon Depot Museum, the converted 1850s train station that serves as a museum and visitors center. Herndon also sits close to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center, home of the space shuttle Discovery and other historically significant aircraft.

Herndon's Town Green hosts free concerts and special events, including the Annual Herndon Festival, which features four days of entertainment, carnival rides, fireworks, food and arts and crafts.

With more than 100 restaurants located in Herndon, you can always find something to satisfy your hunger. Stone's Cove KitBar uses one long communal bar for seating. It surrounds the kitchen and lets diners watch all the action. The menu focuses on small plates meant for sharing. Try the lobster cones — lobster salad served in black sesame cones — the portobello, gruyere and arugula flatbread or the devil's kiss pasta with spicy cream sauce.

The elegant Russia House Restaurant serves French, Russian and Continental cuisine, such as Russian dumplings in sour cream sauce, beef stroganoff and duck breast in sour cherry sauce. Try the chocolate mousse for dessert, and explore the extensive vodka menu with house-infused flavors.

For south-of-the-border food that breaks from the ordinary, head to Guapo's Restaurant, featuring Tex-Mex and Latin American-inspired dishes. Place an order for rotisserie chicken and fried yucca at the counter, and the friendly staff brings it to your table. Alternatively, try the pork tamale or the tacos de carne asada for tender seasoned meat served with corn tortillas. Add the Guapo's sauce for a flavor kick.

For a small suburban town, Herndon has quite a few places to go for a night out. Ned Devine's Irish Pub and Sports Bar features 45 TVs to watch your favorite team, an outside patio bar, live music and trivia contests. Herndon residents like to hang out at local dive Jimmy's Old Town Tavern in the historic downtown area. Closer to Reston, Carpool features a large beer selection, pool tables, a giant Jenga game, Foosball, shuffle board, dart boards and more to entertain you and your friends. For a different vibe, try the Ice House Cafe and Oyster Bar to hear live jazz performances every Friday and Saturday night, or go to Vapor Cafe, a hookah bar.

During the summer months, attend free music performances by local and regional acts at Friday Night Live on the Town Green in downtown Herndon.

The two main arteries in town are Herndon Parkway, which circles the town, and Elden Street, which runs east to west through the middle of town. Herndon residents enjoy easy access to the Dulles Toll Road, the Fairfax County Parkway and Route 7. From there, they can connect to Interstate 495 (the Capital Beltway), Routes 66, 50 and 28.

You need a car to do errands in Herndon, except for in a few blocks in the walkable downtown historic district. Biking on the main streets of Herndon can be dangerous since they move fast and traffic tends to be heavy. However, the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, a paved 45-mile multi-use trail that extends from Rosslyn to Purcellville runs through Herndon, allowing bikers to safely connect to other communities.

Residents without a car can take advantage of Uber ride-sharing service or call a local taxi company for a pickup. The Fairfax Connector and Metrobus provide bus service to Herndon and connect riders to spots within the town or to the Wiehle-Reston East station to catch a silver line Metro train. It takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes to get from Herndon to the Metro Center station in D.C. through a combination of the bus and subway and less than 30 minutes to get to Tysons Corner.

Herndon contains 11 free public parks, which means that every residence lies within a mile or less of a park. All Herndon parks have free parking except Spring Street Park, which has no on-site parking. Owners can bring their leashed dogs to any of the parks, but Chandon Park includes a fully fenced off-leash dog park, which features lots of shade and provides waste bags.

Most Herndon parks include sports fields, play areas and picnic facilities, and several include tennis courts and walking trails. Bready Park, next to the community center, includes both outdoor tennis courts and an indoor tennis facility for instruction and competitive programs, and Trailside Park features a volleyball court as well as a skatepark. Runnymede Park allows for a quieter experience. Visitors walk along Sugarland Run Stream or explore wildlife in this nature-centered park.

Living in Herndon costs a little less than living in D.C. — 6 percent less — making it less expensive than many of the neighboring Virginia communities in this high-cost area. Rent on a one-bedroom apartment in Herndon averages $1,391, and you can expect to pay about $6 for a beer at a local pub.

Gas prices sit about 9 percent higher than the national average, and public transportation from Herndon to Metro Center in D.C. costs $8.25 during peak times and $7.15 off-peak. To get from Herndon to Tysons Corner costs $4.65 during peak times and $3.60 off-peak. If using a paper fare card instead of a SmarTrip card, you pay $1 more.

Herndon features a variety of stores to meet residents' needs, from large national chain retailers to small local vendors. The Cinnamon Tree has been outfitting budding ballerinas in the Herndon area for many years. Knowledgeable, personalized service keeps customers coming back for all their dance, fitness and gymnastics apparel as well as dance shoes and accessories.

In historic Herndon above Jimmy's Old Town Tavern, sits Roaches in the Attic, an antique store with 1,500 square feet of treasures. Owners Pam and Doug Roach carry antique glass, furniture, lamps, books, porcelain and other fine collectibles. For custom-designed jewelry or jewelry repair, head to Aspen Jewelry Designs for excellent customer service and to browse the selection of unique pieces created completely on site.

When you want to shop at a mall, Dulles Town Center Mall lies approximately 7 miles from Herndon. This two-level enclosed mall includes 185 retailers, such as Lord & Taylor, Nordstrom, Banana Republic and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Residents in Herndon have a variety of grocery stores to choose from, including a Safeway on Elden Street, a Giant in the Elden Street Marketplace, a Shoppers Food Warehouse on Centreville Road and a Harris Teeter in Woodland Park Crossing. They also have Fresh World, an international grocery store in the Dulles Park Shopping Center, which carries items not offered at typical food markets in the area, such as dragonfruit, live Chesapeake Bay crabs and west Indian pumpkin. MOM’s Organic Market takes care of its customers with more than just organic foods. Enjoy free coffee or water while you shop, buy bulk spices and explore a wide variety of vegan products.

The Herndon Farmers Market takes place on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. between May 1 and November 13 in the historic district by the train caboose. An master gardener plant clinic on site answers your plant questions.