I am so glad you are moving to Great Falls! Your family is going to love it. Not only is it a peaceful, tree-covered place, but it also has such a great and spirited community!
There are so many nice things to do with your family: programs at our new library and visits to the playground next door, excursions to Riverbend and Great Falls National Parks, ice cream at Thelma’s, kids’ music at Sierra’s, concerts on the Village Green, not to mention the wonderful community festivals.
There couldn’t be a better selection of preschools and schools in the area: almost too many to choose from.
Great Falls offers plenty of options for excursions without the kids, too, with so many wonderful restaurants right here in Great Falls and other attractions within a short drive, like Wolf Trap Park for the Performing Arts, Tysons Corner Mall, and Reston Town Center.
Great Falls neighborhoods are a bit spread out, so the best way to get into the swing of things is to join one of the community groups. Newcomers of Great Falls is a great place to start.
I first got involved with Newcomers when I was looking for a play group for my toddler, and to my surprise, I found so much more!
Newcomers has been so welcoming and fun with monthly luncheons, numerous activity groups (truly something for everyone) and the social and philanthropic events. I’ve lead an activity group and recently took a job on the board. I’ve even gotten my husband involved with our regular wine-tasting group. Most of all, it has been great to make new friends in the community and to have an instant network of resources to get leads on babysitters, doctors, etc.
Great Falls is wonderful, but you don’t feel truly connected to the community until you get involved!
Nene Spivy, who moved to Great Falls in December 1999, is the mother of two preschoolers. She is a member of Great Falls Newcomers and the Junior League of Northern Virginia and serves on the board of Discovery Creek Children’s Museum of Washington, D.C.
Her husband Arthur is executive director of program management for America Online in Dulles.