Brightwood - Washington, DC

Originally known as White Mill Seat and then Peter's Mill Seat, the area was renamed Crystal Springs in homage to the pure water that flowed from several nearby springs. Though the name was eventually changed to Brighton, residents grew irritated with the confusion with nearby Brighton, Maryland and eventually settled on Brightwood in the 1840s. Emory Church once stood on half an acre of land, but was torn down to make way for Fort Stevens. Redevelopment of this historic area, which also houses Moreland's Tavern and the Engine Company 22, began in 2008 and remains in progress.

In Rock Creek Park, visit the Nature Center and Planetarium to learn more about area plants and animals. To the south, find the Hillwood Museum and Gardens and President Lincoln Cottage, while the Zenith Gallery lies to the north. Once a year, enjoy the DC Africa Festival just to the northeast of the neighborhood.

Head to Georgia Avenue for a stretch of commercial businesses, including plenty of eateries and nightlife options. Enjoy a diverse range of cuisine, from traditional American to Latin American and Caribbean.

Visit the Wapa Cafe Boutique, a Latin American establishment with a passion for coffee. This establishment serves breakfast all day, with choices such as quesadillas and homemade waffles. Lunch diners enjoy a panini or wrap, or the cafe's speciality: crepes. Choose from fillings that include avocado and sauteed mixed vegetables or grilled steak, mushrooms and onions.

For Indian and Pakistani cuisine using halal meat, try the Salt & Pepper Grill. Featuring biryani specialties using lamb, seafood or vegetarian ingredients, this busy restaurant also features chicken specialties that include korma, karahi and vandalu. Order a tandoor kebab from the grill, or try a wrap filled with chicken, salmon or goat.

With a sister restaurant on Mount Pleasant Street, Haydee's has become the go-to local destination for Mexican fare. Enjoy live music while you tuck into a quesadilla, nachos rancheros or the restaurant's famous buffalo wings. Alternatively, create your own personal combination of fajitas, served with pico de de, fresh guacamole, sour cream and beans, or enjoy a Salvadorian specialty, such as camarones al Ajillo.

In the evening, Georgia Avenue lights up as the nightlife gets started. Head to the Turntable Restaurant & Disco to dance the night away in a Caribbean atmosphere, or try the Serengeti Restaurant and Lounge dive bar. The Carter Barron Amphitheatre hosts free concerts and performances, including Shakespearean plays, just to the south of the neighborhood.

The most common means of getting around in Brightwood and Manor Park consist of personal automobile, public transportation or your own two feet. Find several commuter bus and train stops throughout Brightwood and Manor Park, with some inter-neighborhood travel available, mostly used by commuters to reach Washington, D.C. proper. Though no major highways run through these neighborhoods, smaller roads and highways crisscross the region, allowing easy access to all the surrounding towns, such as Bethesda and Silver Spring.

Taxi cab and Uber car service pickups can be arranged within the neighborhood, though you should expect some wait times. Find public parking at most commuter train and bus stops for a nominal fee and limited on-street parking as well as parking lots for the customers of local businesses. Most errands in this neighborhood can be accomplished by walking. The fairly extensive biking trails and bike-friendly roadways throughout the area make it easy to travel by bicycle.

Free to the public and often described as a national treasure, the vast swathe of land that makes up Rock Creek Park takes up most of the western half of the neighborhood. Enjoy planetarium and environmental education programs free of charge as well as tours led by park rangers. The Carter Barron Amphitheatre puts on a series of summer concerts, including blues, poetry, hip-hop and reggae, while visitors can also use their cell phones to tour the park and learn about the statues.

Rock Creek Park features 32 miles of trails for exercise enthusiasts and dog walkers, while all roads and paved trails are open to cyclists. Rent a picnic grove for a family day out while the kids enjoy the recreation field and sports fans play soccer, football and field hockey. In the summer, send the kids to the park for a summer camp and take the time to experience the golf course and horse center.

As you walk down Georgia Avenue, expect to pass a wide range of shopping opportunities, from thrift and chain stores to smaller boutiques and family-owned premises. Try No 1 Beauty Supply for cosmetics and beauty products or the Graphic Box for custom tattoos. Elsewhere in the neighborhood, watch out for boutiques such as Lovely Lady, which sells women's clothing, the Bloomwerks florist and Sugarfoots for handmade dolls.

For groceries, head to the Streets Market and Cafe on Columbia Heights, Yes Organic Market on 14th Street or local supermarkets, such as Walmart and Safeway. Just to the east of the neighborhood, visit the Takoma Park Farmers Market, which provides local seasonal produce as well as breads, meats, artisan cheese, eggs and baked goods year-round, plus holiday gifts in the winter.