[torstenvl]

The suburbs are not bland, DC is. The idea that DC is a richer experience than Alexandria or Manassas or Frederick or Fredericksburg is absurd. These are places with centuries of character, not the transient facade you find in DC.

[TimC123456]

Sorry, I was referring to the previous commenter's list of suburbs, like Pentagon City, Clarendon, Rosslyn, Tysons, Reston, Herndon, etc. in that corridor out to Dulles.

(Downtown) Alexandria is lovely. Manassas and Fredericksburg (VA), and Frederick (MD), are very distinct from DC and the DMV suburbs, though—to me they feel much more like separate cities/towns in Virginia and Maryland (with all that Civil War history you're referring to).

[mixmastamyk]

Those were not recommended upthread.