For Ryan Chevalier, Arlington, Va., has everything a mid-sized city should have: Good transportation, a credible nightlife and easy access to the bigger city next door.
“It is very accessible, with the right combination of great restaurants and a lot of commuting options like you would expect in a big city, but without that same level of intimidation that people might feel in a more densely populated area,” said the former Coast Guard lieutenant commander, now an acquisition and product support consultant with consulting firm LMI, one of Military Times’ Best for Vets: Employers 2016.
With a population of about 229,000, Arlington lies adjacent to Washington, D.C., and while it is technically designated a county, is very much its own city, starting with its rich gastronomical offerings.
“I love the food scene,” Chevalier said. “There are always new places opening, and there are also places that have been around forever, places I never stopped craving the last time I moved away.”
Chevalier and his wife Larissa met in Arlington a decade ago.
“We very much knew we wanted to come back to this area, because we had found it such a dynamic place to live, being very near D.C. but with a good combination of urban and suburban appeal,” he said.
“I like not having to get into the car to get a cup of coffee and a newspaper on a Sunday morning,” Chevalier said. He appreciates the lively arts scene and the always-unexpected nature of urban life.
“I like to feel that on any given weekend, there is always something interesting and unusual going on. There will be an arts festival going on or a cultural festival we didn’t know about. You never get bored around here.”
