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Living in Arlington, Massachusetts:
Tips for Moving and Visiting

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If you've been wondering what it's like to live in or visit Arlington, the Crowdsourced Explorer community can help. We asked ten people living in Arlington what someone who is considering moving to or visiting there should know. Here are their pros and cons, tips, and advice:

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10 comments on “Arlington”

At four in the afternoon on April 19th, 1775, the militiamen of 13 towns gathered in the quiet village of Menotomy (modern-day Arlington). Having heard of the British retreat from Concord, the militia lined the sides of the road to Boston to harass the incoming redcoats. The British, weary from hours of marching and constant skirmishing, resorted to ransacking the homes they passed by to eliminate colonial snipers.

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The local barbecue chain Blue Ribbon, which had a cameo in the video game Bioshock Infinite, is among dozens of types of cuisine to fit all manners of tastes. Perhaps the greatest culinary attraction is the Greek Festival put on by the local Greek Orthodox community, featuring homemade traditional Greek dishes like gyros, souvlaki, and baklava. Many gift and hobby shops line the streets. If you can’t find what you’re looking for in town, then a simple bus or train ride will take you right into Cambridge or Boston itself.

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The scenery in Arlington is incredible. There are several spots where you can see the Boston skyline. There’s also nature all around: trees line the streets, grass sits on resident’s lawns, flowers bloom everywhere. Parks are full of wildlife, medians sprout colorful plants, and birds sit on the trees. The community is caring, donating to many causes including scholarship money for the seniors. Arlington is also a sanctuary city that cares about immigrants and protecting them from those who try to tear them apart.

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Rosali, says: 2020

There are 64 listings on the National Register of Historic Places in Arlington. Among them are farmsteads from the 1700s, the oldest continuously operating mill in the United States, and the historic churches of many different congregations. The National Register doesn’t completely cover all the historical pieces of the town. As a bustling town of about 40,000 people, Arlington has a mix of an urbanized core with plenty of restaurants and stores, as well as a sprawl of residential suburban neighborhoods spread out around Arlington Center.

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Nicole, says: 2020

Menotomy Rocks Park gives the town a little slice of wilderness, and the pond at its center freezes over in the wintertime for great ice skating. Nearby is Spy Pond, once the center of a profitable ice-mining business, and now a pleasant park for families and local fishing hobbyists. On the border with Medford are the Mystic Lakes, where you can enjoy a quick swim or more involved water activities like kayaking and canoeing. There are smaller parks that families around them treasure.

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Fallyn, says: 2020

Many churches do community service projects, and there are events like the Walk for Hunger and Relay for Life. The community is also extremely interactive, having a plethora of online groups to be a part of: one for giving away things, one for posting about town elections, one for posting about anything and everything Arlington related. Arlington also has its own food pantry and “little free libraries” for residents to use as they please.

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Christopher, says: 2020

Known for its small local shops and close proximity to many big towns and cities, Arlington is full of life. Arlington, being so close to Boston, is huge on sports, both local and more regional. Many show up to the Friday night high school football games, and the Thanksgiving game is a must go to. Everyone cheers on the hockey teams as they compete in the Super8 for championship and posts on various websites are constantly made praising the students for their hard work.

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The education system is very helpful to both the parents and students. There are 10 public schools to accommodate the vast amount of students: seven elementary, two middle, and one high school. Teachers are genuinely passionate about both kids and learning. Counselors help get students on the right track with college admissions as well as being there for students who are struggling. School safety is a big problem in some places and Arlington prides itself on having great safety standards and ensuring that they have up to code solutions. Schools also ensure that everyone is welcome no matter their race, sexuality, or gender.

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Twenty minutes from Boston lies a town of a little over 40,000: Arlington. All around town there are small shops and restaurants owned by the locals. In fact, Arlington has made it a law that there be no chain fast food restaurants, the only big chains being Starbucks and Dunkin’. However, even those are not allowed to have a drive-thru. As you walk through the town there are restaurants all around ranging from Asian to American cuisine. Everywhere you look there’s a little coffee shop.

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Shawna, says: 2020

Uncle Sam was born in Arlington. The Robbins Library in Arlington Center is the oldest continuously operating children’s library in the US. The Minuteman Bikeway, a bustling and popular path, is one of three in New England that’s in the Rails to Trails conservatory hall of fame.

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