Crystal City, Virginia…a City in Itself
The neighborhood of Crystal City in southeast Arlington VA, is within walking distance of Reagan Washington National Airport, the Pentagon, Pentagon 
City Mall and the National Air Force Memorial.
This sparkling chrome and glass high-rise community was built on acreage comprising of mostly former industrial properties and railroad rights-of-ways. It now houses some of DC’s more desirable commercial properties, hotels, high-rise apartments and retail space.
The first building to be erected in the early 1960s, the Crystal House at 1900 South Eads Street, set the standard for naming buildings in the area, using the word “crystal” in its name, and eventually the area became known as Crystal City.
The area boasts an underground network of corridors and walkways that allows residents who work nearby to never have to brave the elements to and from their daily commutes. They can also shop and dine in their underground city.
With retail, dining and housing all in one convenient community, it’s an unique place to live, shop, work and play.
Over a dozen full-service major-chain hotels, including a Marriott, Hyatt Regency, Sheraton serve the area. And with over 5,300 rooms in Crystal City, it attracts business travelers and tourists alike, being only 10 minutes or a short Metro subway ride to downtown DC and the National Mall. Some great discounted room rates are often available at some of the hotels, notably on weekends and during holidays when occupancy by business travelers is low. Staying in Crystal City is definitely an alternative to a DC hotel.
Finding a great meal is also easy, from fast food to fine dining. A few of the area’s favorites, especially for steak-loving carnivores are:
- Jaleo (tapas) - 2250, A Crystal Drive
- Morton’s Steakhouse (steaks) - 1631 Crystal Square Arcade, Suite 54
- Ruth’s Chris Steak House - (steaks) 2231 Crystal Drive
- McCormick & Schmick’s (seafood) - 2010-B Crystal Drive
- Ted’s Montana Grill (check out a bison filet or bison burger) - 2200 Crystal Drive, Suite A
The besides the local shopping, the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City mall (1100 South Hayes St.) is just one short subway stop away on the Metro’s Blue and Yellow lines. The mall hosts anchors such as Macy’s and Nordstrom, as well as Armani Exchange, Coach, BCBG, Cole Haan and a Ritz-Carlton hotel as well as several great restaurants within a block of the mall.
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