The National Aquarium in Baltimore: Every Ocean Under One Roof

As sister cities, Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD have a healthy rivalry. The two towns, just 40 miles apart, argue about football teams, baseball stadiums and harbor areas. There is one aspect, though, where Baltimore undoubtedly surpasses DC and every other city in the nation: The National Aquarium.

The National Aquarium in Baltimore, located in the Inner Harbor, is considered one of the foremost aquariums in the world. It is also the perfect excuse to head north for a day. And that’s exactly what 1.5 million people did last year; making it one of the most popular attractions in the area.

It’s one of the largest aquariums worldwide,  housing over 16,000 specimens from nearly 700 species. The aquarium contains animals from every continent. That means visitors can see a slice of life from every segment of the world.

When you go, be sure to save some time and purchase tickets online. Tickets to the aquarium are a bit expensive ($24.95 for adults, 19.95 for kids), but are definitely worth it.

The best time to beat the crowds is by visiting on weekdays or early in the morning on weekends. The aquarium opens at nine on Saturday and Sunday, so it’s easy to arrive before the rush.  Parking is available at the Inner Harbor Garage/Landmark Parking, which is just a block and a half away. Print off this coupon for a discount at the garage.

Before entering, visitors will first notice the beautiful exterior of the National Aquarium. It’s perched right on the water’s edge, and the massive, angular glass walls reflect both the sun and the water from the Inner Harbor.

The aquarium itself is split into three separate parts. The two areas visitors must see are the Pier 3 Pavilion and the Pier 4 Pavilion. Most exhibits are in the Pier 3 Pavilion, and that’s where your journey will begin.

On the ground level sits the “Wings in Water Exhibit,” where a number of different stingrays push lazily through the water. They flap their massive “wings” to gently propel themselves around. Occasionally, you can also catch a glimpse of the aquarium’s giant sea turtle, Calypso, who shares the tank with the rays.

The second floor of Pier 3 is dedicated to the aquarium’s home state, with the exhibit “Maryland: Mountains to Sea.” The exhibit mimics the path water takes from snow melting in the Allegheny Mountains, flowing all the way down to the Atlantic Ocean. Along the way, the water encounters different fish and creatures, from turtles in the mountain forest area to Maryland Blue Crabs in the Chesapeake Bay.

After passing through the Maryland exhibit, visitors head to one of the most popular floors. The “Surviving Through Adaptation” exhibit houses a giant Pacific octopus and other mysterious creatures of the deep, including electric eels and nautiluses.

After exploring creatures from the deep blue sea, visitors can next visit the aquariums most impressive exhibit –a realistic recreation of the Amazon rainforest.

Take the escalator up to enter the hot, humid terrarium, which simulates the conditions in the world’s largest rainforest. All flora and fauna in the exhibit are identical to their counterparts in the rainforest. Surrounded by all the sights and sounds, it takes only minutes for you to forget that you are actually still in Baltimore. You are instead transported 6,000 miles south. Monkeys howl in the open, mere feet from you. High above, majestic birds squawk loudly. The effect is near deafening and a bit overwhelming. Without noticing, you could be walking inches away from a poison dart frog. But don’t worry, those are kept safely behind glass.

After the rainforest visit, your trip to Pier 3 is complete, which is more than enough for a full day. But if you just visit Pier 3, you’re missing out on the giant dolphin tank in Pier 4. Visitors can walk around the bottom of the dolphin tank and catch glimpses of the aquarium’s Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins.  For an extra three dollars, visitors can head to the amphitheater above and watch a half-hour show where the marine mammals perform tricks.  If you’d like to see the dolphin show, be sure to order tickets ahead of time — it’s very popular and weekend shows can sell out in advance.

It’s a worthwhile addition to a trip that lets you experience everything the world’s five oceans have to offer all under one roof.

-David

Stafford County, VA Market Report – 4/27/11

Our spring market in the Fredericksburg region has been much hotter than our weather!  Buyers are out taking advantage of great interest rates and housing prices.  Sellers are able to take advantage of low housing inventories and somewhat stable prices.  We experienced a very busy start to our year that has been very steady up until the beginning of April.  We had a little lull the first part of this month, most likely due to the worry of the government shutting down, but we are now starting to pick back up again!

Stafford County has some pretty interesting statistics going on.  The last quarter of 2010 we ended with an overall slight median sales price increase.  So far March of 2011 compared to March 2010 the median sales price has decreased -7.8% to a price of $212,000.  New listings are down -29.2% which is a huge decrease.

There really is no rhyme or reason to these numbers considering the amount of sales occurring.  Closed sales are up 14.7% from this time last year and pending sales are up 12.2%!  That is good news and shows that what we are feeling is in fact happening.  Please read on for more statistics:

STAFFORD MARKET STATS

No matter what these numbers say, Stafford is located in a fantastic area between Washington D.C. and Richmond.  We always have a stronger market than other parts of the country due to our proximity to the nation’s capital.  This area has so much to offer that people will continue to want to make Stafford County their home for many years to come!

Commentary and market stats provided by Amy Cherry-Taylor, Business Manager, Stafford Regional Office.

Search for Home in Stafford County: www.averyhess.com

Fredericksburg’s Past is a Present

Avery-Hess Realtors’ Fredericksburg office recently posted its 365th “Thing to Do” in Fredericksburg VA, completing a year-long blog aimed at giving Fredericksburg residents something to do every day for 365 days straight. But the fun isn’t over yet!

To celebrate, the blog is hosting a contest open to the general public that’s easy to enter. Simply submit an original photograph involving something you did in the past 365 days in the “Burg” and send it to fredericksburg@averyhess.com. Entries being accepted April 16^th – May 31^st and the public voting to be held the first week in June. Winning contestants will receive some incredible prizes, like an overnight stay at a downtown Fredericksburg hotel!

In honor of the contest, MyLifestyle is taking a closer look at some of the enjoyable things to do in the Fredericksburg area.

Fifty-two miles south of Washington, DC lies the small town of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Though only 22,000 people strong, the community is vibrant and alive. Located on the banks of the Rappahannock River, Fredericksburg offers old world charm less than an hour’s drive from Washington, D.C.

The town has been around since colonial times and has played a significant role in United States history, especially during the Civil War. In the 1860s, the city sat directly between the Union capitol of Washington, D.C. and the Confederate capitol of Richmond, Virginia and became of strategic importance.

Fredericksburg proudly displays its historical importance with a large historic district in the middle of town. It is filled with numerous building that date back to the 18^th century and is a great place for fans of the Colonial times to visit.

The Risking Sun Tavern and Kenmore Plant are two of the areas most famous Revolutionary-Era buildings in the 40-block historic district.

George Washington’s brother, Charles, built the Rising Sun Tavern in the 1760s. The white clapboard building, on the corner of Caroline and Fauquier Streets, was originally Charles’ home. In 1792, the house was converted into a tavern. Though alcohol’s no longer served there, visitors can see the restored bar where “tavern wenches” and “indentured servants” replicate what the tavern experience would feel like.

Kenmore Plantation was also built by one of George Washington’s relatives and is just five blocks away, down Fauquier Street. This house was built by his sister Betty and her husband. It is a brick, Georgian-style mansion, both opulent and elegant. The plaster ceilings feature intricate designs and many rooms still have their original wallpaper.

If it’s the Civil War interests you, there are numerous famous battlefields near the city’s center. Two sites near Fredericksburg are the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse and the Battle of the Wilderness.

The two battles were fought just days apart, in the spring of 1864, and were some of the deadliest campaigns in the entire Civil War.

Both battlefield sites are within reasonable distance of Fredericksburg. Spotsylvania Courthouse, is a scenic trip, just ten miles away.  The battle occurred inside the city limits,  so visitors can easily visualize where Union and Confederate soldiers set up and waged their campaigns.

The Battle of the Wilderness is much closer to Fredericksburg and offers a treat for true history buffs. Somewhere in the massive state park lies a small stone marker. Under it, buried, is the arm of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson. In the Battle of Chancellorsville in 1863, he was shot twice in the left arm and it had to be amputated. Jackson died of pneumonia several days later. The arm, though, never left the field hospital and is buried in the park.

With all the causalities that occurred around the city during the war, Fredericksburg is considered one of America’s most haunted cities, and ghost tours abound. At nighttime, guides will take you down the darkened streets of the historic district of Fredericksburg and regale you with stories of buildings whose owners, though long passed, still lord over the places. There are many companies offering tours, a good provider to check out is Ghosts of Fredericksburg. They offer tours starting at just $11 a person.

And whether you’d like to experience your history by day or in the dark, Fredericksburg is the perfect place to visit…365 days a year.

Visit the 365 Things to Do in Fredericksburg blog for more information on the photography contest and then be sure to “like” it on Facebook to get daily updates on all the great things to do in the area!

-David

Kensington, MD Market Report – 4/20/11

Since its establishment in 1894, Kensington has been a wonderful place to live and explore.  Residents of Kensington are proud of their tree-lined streets, gardens and parks that are reminiscent of the town’s early years.  There are many small enclaves of homes ranging from large mansions to smaller cape cods and ranchers.  Home prices range from the $300,000 to $1 Million+.

Although the town itself is less than one square mile, it is surrounded by the Montgomery County suburbs and is accessible to the county transportation system; making it a convenient place to live.  The town has its own Mayor and although it relies on the county for some services, it does manage many services on its own.

The citizens of Kensington are among the few that can honestly brag that the Real Estate bottom has come and gone.  With a Total Sales Volume of $8,010,210 just last month, which is up not only 2.05% over last month, and up 80.39% – yes, I said – 80.39%, over this time last year!

Before prices climb any higher you may want to join the residents of Kensington; who love the small town life, its unique shops, restaurants as well as the easy access to the Washington D.C.

Market data and commentary provided by Kathy Fleskes, Rockville Managing Broker and Serena Toro, Rockville Administrative Manager.
Search for homes in Kensington, and all of the DC Metro: www.averyhess.com

MyLife in Metro DC – Movin’ On Up!

April 26, 2011 will mark my official one-year anniversary of living in Metro DC.  And after one year, it is once again time for me to sign a lease or look for a place to buy.

While both my roommate and I absolutely love our condo, David has started to consider the idea of purchasing his first home and I’ve realized that if I want to start saving for my first home, I needed to find a place to rent priced closer to my realistic “housing budget.”

And so the search began…again.

I came into work and talked with a few of our agents, asking what prices they were seeing for rentals in the Arlington area. They gave me the overwhelming response of, “Oh Arlington, yeahhhhh, {insert high rent price here} that’s what you are going to pay to live there.  If you are looking to save, you should try Falls Church.”

Move out of Arlington?!  The idea was hard to process. No metro outside my door? No walking to my favorite stores and bars?  Could I do it? All hesitations aside though, “responsible Kristin” told me to give it a chance and take a look.  So just like last year, I started with Craigslist…

This time, instead of only looking for apartments and condos for rent, I expanded my search to include rooms for rent.  I had been looking for a place to rent on my own but was open to the idea of moving in a house with roommates already there.  If you are new to the area or looking to have one or more roommates I recommend this as a great place to start.

A few days and a few hundred posts later, I found something.

A mid-twenties female was looking for a roommate to live in her 3 bed 3.5 bath townhouse. It was located just minutes from where I live now, offered the entire first floor to the renter (room, bathroom and own living room), and was over $400 less than my current rent!

While it wasn’t right IN Arlington, it did happen to be on the same street as some of my friends!  It seemed too good to be true, so I contacted the owner right away to find out more.

I’d compare the process of finding a good fit with a “random roommate” online to that of someone seeking a relationship from an online dating site.   It’s important to make sure that your personalities complement each other, you have some interests in common and that you have similar views on living etiquette (such as paying rent on time, who takes out the trash, house guests, and so on) before you commit to anything.  Knowing this, when I emailed the owner, I included a bit about myself.  I told her about my career, interests and what I expect when living with someone.  Then I sat back and waited.

She contacted me less than an hour later (Phew! Craigslist rejection can happen frequently and make you start to question if you really ARE that good of a roommate) and was excited to meet up.  We scheduled a meeting for her to show me the townhouse and to see if we would be a good match.

A few more emails and two visits later, I was convinced this was the place for me.  The owner couldn’t be nicer, and her home (complete with an adorable backyard/patio area) was perfect.  Yes, I’ll be living outside of Arlington, but the additional space and added savings are worth it.

Success.

So here I am, one year later, moving again. But this time I’m feeling much more confident in my knowledge of Metro DC, and that my decision to move out of Arlington will put me one step closer to one day being a home owner.

My first year in Metro DC has been a whirlwind of visitors, vacations, new experiences (I finally made it to the Cherry Blossom Festival this year –See below!), new friends and… good news. I am excited to share that I have recently been promoted and am now Avery-Hess, Realtors Marketing Manager.  It’s a great honor to be moving forward with a company I love and I can’t wait to see what opportunities the new position will bring.

I thank you for reading along this year, it’s been an incredible opportunity to learn my new city and share what I’ve found. Though my duties with this new position will increase, fear not, you’ll still be hearing from MyLife in Metro DC.  I’m even going to start including some “guest” spots from other young professionals in the area to make sure you stay informed on ALL the fun things to do around our city.

With my "Maine" Family at this year's Cherry Blossom Festival

-Kristin

Springfield, VA Market Report – 4/18/11

A year ago we were nearing the end of the government’s tax credit for 1^st time buyers. There was a frenzy to be under contract before the end of April. Comparing this year’s 1^st quarter to 2010 is a bit skewed because of that.

However, figures for March of this year seem to be improving from February so the spring market looks promising.

Market Statistics for Springfield, VA:

Look for improving markets this spring as Springfield rejuvenates, making it a very desirable place to live.

Springfield is strategically located at the confluence of 3 major highways, Routes 95, 395 and 495. Major highway construction over the last several years was completed making commuter routes more bearable. Most commuters drive north into D.C. but with the nearing completion of the military BRAC program at Fort Belvoir and the supporting locations at the Mark Center and the National Geospatial Agency, more commuters are heading to those locations as well. Traffic coming north on the Fairfax County Parkway in the morning also indicates a growing number of commuters going to western Fairfax County employment centers along the Dulles corridor. Commercial construction continues and the redevelopment of the Springfield Mall is ongoing.

Springfield boasts some of the top schools in the county. All of this bodes well for a return of increasing property values.

Market data and commentary by Charles J. Carroll, Managing Broker at Avery-Hess, Realtors.

Search for homes in the Springfield, and the rest of the DC Metro: www.averyhess.com