When Sara Burke, her husband Eli and their first child moved to Brambleton in 2003, they knew they’d hit the jackpot – and that was back when Brambleton was really a fledgling new community (even though by that time, it had starting winning national awards for design and planning). The setting, the already-established amenities, the insightful community plan, as well as the clear commitment of the developers and builders convinced, the Burkes that they’d made the right choice. They felt certain that they had plenty of great things to look forward to, and in all these years since, they haven’t been disappointed.

“When we were expecting our first child, we realized we would outgrow our starter home, so we started to look at the communities in Loudoun County,” Sara recalls. “As young technology workers, Brambleton’s embrace of FiOS high-speed Internet was very appealing, and its proximity to the Dulles Toll Road would make commuting easy. A friend and early resident of Brambleton invited us to visit and check out the model homes. We knew instantly that Brambleton would be perfect.”

The rest is an ongoing Burke family history.

Fast-forward to today, and the Burkes still couldn’t be happier with the choice they made those years ago. Their family is now five-strong, with Mom and Dad and sons Avery, Zachary and daughter Leah. Well, make that eight-strong, including cats Daphne and Casper, and dog Pixel. In addition to the growth of their own family, they’ve been first-hand witnesses and participants in the growth of Brambleton, from the opening of Legacy Elementary, Brambleton Middle and Independence High schools, to the debut of Brambleton Town Center, the fantastic recreation amenities, parks and trail network. Then, of course, there are the annual events that are family favorites.

The Burkes love Red, White & Bram and the Comedy Nights. Eli’s particular favorites also include the Brew Fest and the annual Neighborhood Campout. Everyone enjoys dining, shopping and movies at Brambleton Town Center, not to mention the peace of mind that Sara and Eli take from knowing that their kids can have fun with their friends right in the community, walking or biking distance from home. Their house is even a great viewing spot for the Summer Concerts. Sara and Eli know they struck gold with Brambleton, and that feeling grows every year.

Days and evenings are filled with Brambleton-centric activities, especially for Sara, a busy stay-at-home mother. Spin classes, yoga and Zumba at least four days a week at Onelife Fitness complement hours of running and walking on Brambleton’s trail network, along with being an active parent in Girl Scouts, supporting the Independence High marching band (Zach plays trumpet) and the Young Mens Service League.

“I could spend most of my time enjoying what Brambleton has to offer without leaving,” Sara says with undeniable enthusiasm. “Everyone I meet is friendly and I’ve been fortunate to form a number of lasting friendships here. As it grows with new neighborhoods, schools and amenities, Brambleton gets better every year.”

Well said, Mrs. Burke. Well said. Every passing year will surely bring even more fulfillment for you and your family as Brambleton continues to flourish.