Tysons East - McLean, VA

Once a rural crossroads at the intersection of Routes 7 and 123, Tysons Corner became an urban commercial area in the 1960s with construction of the mall, the Capital Beltway and Dulles Airport. In subsequent decades, Tysons continued to grow, becoming a major employment and retail center before transforming into a livable, modern city.

The areas surrounding Tysons include historical attractions such as Colonial Claude Moore Farm, Colvin Run Mill and the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center, which includes the space shuttle Discovery and other important aircrafts. Cultural attractions, such as Vienna's Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, the Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts and the McLean Community Center's Alden Theatre, are also nearby. Festivals in the area include the annual McLean Chocolate Festival in January and the Winter Walk of Lights holiday display at Meadowlark Gardens.

Tysons East contains just a couple of fast-service eateries, but plenty of restaurants can be found in surrounding neighborhoods. Coastal Flats, owned by a local restaurant group and one of the few restaurants in either mall that isn't a national chain, specializes in seafood and classic dishes. Start with the golden, crispy calamari, then sink your teeth into the lobster roll, salmon with cauliflower mash or shrimp and grits. Across Route 7 in Fairfax Square, the upscale Chef Geoff's combines excellent service with an eclectic menu that changes seasonally. Nibble on popcorn drizzled with white truffle oil and Parmesan while deciding between the seared duck breast or the pizza with sweet potato capicola, caramelized onions and fontina bechamel. If you want classic Italian fare, go to Da Domenico, a Tysons institution, for osso bucco, pappardelle with veal bolognese and ravioli with basil and mozzarella. Save room for the tiramisu to put a finishing touch on your meal.

Chain restaurants and bars like BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse, Flemings Steakhouse and Wine Bar, and Gordon Biersch Brewery dominate the nightlife in Tysons, but a few local spots stand out as well. Paddy Barry's Irish Pub and Restaurant has live music, trivia contests and other events, and Clydes, a local chain, features a large and lively bar area. Entyse Wine Bar and Lounge in the Ritz Carlton provides a more sophisticated bar scene, while the Iris Lounge gets more raucous with a DJ and dancing on Friday and Saturday nights.

If you want to see a movie, visit the 16-screen movie theater located in Tysons Corner Center. For live performances, the Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts, located just west of Tysons, hosts music, comedy and theater acts from around the country.

The successful redevelopment of Tysons relies heavily on getting people out of their cars. The first step in that direction occurred in 2014, with the opening of the Metro's Silver Line, which has four stations in the Tysons area, including McLean station in Tysons East. From the McLean station, passengers can get to Metro Center in D.C. in less than 30 minutes. Buses operated by Metrobus and the Fairfax Connector also transport residents to their destinations. Travelers also use the Uber ride-sharing service or call local cab companies for a pickup.

The comprehensive plan to make Tysons pedestrian-friendly and bicycle-friendly has not yet become a reality. Although some side streets have bike lanes, the main roads feature multiple lanes of heavy traffic, large intersections and few sidewalks, so walking and biking can be dangerous.

For those who live in Tysons, the Metro alleviates the need for a car. However, many residents still drive in from the suburbs to work. Route 123 serves as the main road in Tysons East, with Route 7, Interstate 495 and the Dulles Toll Road very close by. Tysons offers an abundance of parking, with nine parking spaces for every person who lives there, and most parking spots are free.

Scotts Run Nature Preserve, the only park in the immediate area, draws hikers to its multiple trails featuring various levels of difficulty. Explore rare plants, a waterfall, spring wildflowers and a hardwood forest as you follow the gentle winding paths or climb precipitously steep hills and cliffs. A free park operated by Fairfax County, Scotts Run includes two parking lots and some directional signs on the trails.

In nearby Vienna, Nottoway Park lets visitors play tennis, basketball, volleyball or work out on the fitness trail. The park also includes a wooded nature path and picnic areas as well as the Vienna Dog Park, a fenced area with a wood-chip surface, a water fountain and agility equipment. During the summer, the park holds Nottoway Nights, a series of free concerts in the park.

Sticker-shocked newcomers to the Washington D.C. area won't feel any relief in Tysons East. It costs about 8 percent more to live there than it does to live in D.C., and the cost of living in D.C. is about 46 percent higher than the national average. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Tysons East costs approximately $1,943 per month, and having a beer at a local bar costs about $6. Gas prices in the area are 9 percent higher than the national average. If you leave your car at home and take Metro, expect to pay $4.65 to go from the McLean station to Metro Center during rush hour.

Tysons East sits adjacent to Tysons Corner Center, the larger of the two malls in the area and home to more than 300 retailers. Across the street, Tysons Galleria houses more than 120 stores, including high-end shops like Prada and Louis Vuitton. Outside of the malls, Tysons provides even more shopping opportunities in numerous strip malls lining Route 7 that include everything from Walmart to Tiffany's.

Tysons may be synonymous with shopping, but in the competition between national retailers and unique locally owned shops, the winner here clearly goes to the big names. For independently owned boutique shops, residents of Tysons East follow Route 123 into McLean, where women can find classic wardrobe staples and trendy accessories at Smith's of Bermuda. Antique shoppers look to Thieves Market Antiques for Oriental rugs, knick-knacks, glassware, furniture and home accessories. Whether you need custom invitations or to find the perfect gift, The Preppy Pink Pony can help with stationery, gifts for a new baby, personalized bed and bath items, jewelry, purses and gifts for bridesmaids and groomsmen.

Grocery options are limited in Tysons, but residents in Tysons East enjoy easy access to a Safeway supermarket right in their neighborhood. Safeway stays open 24 hours and includes a pharmacy. Harris Teeter, a larger grocery store on the other side of Tysons Corner, carries a wider selection and includes hot and cold food bars that let you select items for a ready-made lunch or dinner. The Walmart Superstore on the western edge of Tysons also contains a full grocery store. For the closest farmers market, head to Lewinsville Park in McLean on Friday mornings from early May through late November.