What's so great about Western Prince William County?

Western Prince William County resident and writer Kathy Moya has been living in Northern Virginia since 1973. But where she lives now, in the Catharpin area, she says is her favorite.

She describes her neighborhood as peaceful. In a wooded section that backs up to a working farm, Moya enjoys wildlife with conveniences only a few miles away.

“The minute I turn into my neighborhood, I feel like I am in a completely different world, far away from the crowded highways of the D.C. Metro area,” she says. “At night, I hear the sounds of nocturnal wildlife partying under the bright stars. Each day, I have the privilege of watching Virginia’s creatures, in their natural habitat, doing things I’ve never seen them do before.”

She says, “I’ve seen squirrels lying sprawled out on their bellies while taking a nap, a butterfly exercising (flapping its wings while staying in place), baby deer (or fawn) running around playing with each other until their mother makes a kind of snorting sound alerting them to possible danger. I never knew deer made audible sounds before moving here.”

Moya likes that if she is in the mood to see the mountains, she can take a short drive and then hike to the highest point of Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve where she feels like she’s “at the top of the world.” If she prefers water, she is only a few minutes away from Silver Lake Regional Park.

Yet, she says, “The conveniences of everyday life in the suburbs are only a five to ten minute car ride from the house. There are gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, movie theatres and more, just a few minutes away, even though most of our out-of-town visitors never suspect this.

This Gainesville/Catharpin/Haymarket area of Prince William County has all of the best parts of Virginia wrapped up in one small area.”

Learn more about Western Prince William County by contacting licensed realtor Susan Welsh.