Calverton PG - Beltsville, MD

Prince George's County and the neighboring Montgomery County, of which Calverton shares a border with, were both originally home to the Piscataways and the Susquehannocks tribes. In the early 17th century, Governor Leonard Calvert established Maryland's first settlement, St. Mary's City. Over the course of the next three decades, farms and plantations lined both the Patuxent and Potomac Rivers in Prince George's County.

In the 1700s, the area began to boom economically — primarily from the production of tobacco. This economic success provided the means to enjoy leisure time in activities such as theater, dance and music.

While modern art and cinema can be enjoyed at the AMC Loews Center Park movie theater, classic plays and performances can be see at Washington Revels, just south of town. The Fillmore also provides a modern music venue visited by some of the biggest names in the industry.

Conveniently, most of the neighborhood's restaurants are located right in the middle of town. Calverton Boulevard turns into Broadbirch Drive, but it's all one continuous road with many great local spots.

For classic Americanized Asian food, head to Siu's Asian Bistro. A mix of sushi and stir-fries provide a wide variety suitable for any diet. If you're with a large group, start off with some potstickers. If everyone's game, order a bunch of dishes to share. The pad thai, Philadelphia sushi roll, shrimp fried rice, beef and broccoli, and chicken drunken noodles all combine for a great meal.

If Indian flavors spike your fancy, there's no better neighborhood spot than Maurya Kebabs & Curries. You can't go wrong with the lunch buffet for $10. If just ordering take out, though, go for either the butter chicken, salmon tikka makhani or lamb shahi korma.

For a few drinks, head to Sierra's Grill & Taqueria. Nothing fancy — just your classic Mexican restaurant, but the extensive menu of genuine Mexican beers and tasty piña coladas add up for a fun night.

Biking, public transportation and driving all serve as viable and frequently used options for Calverton residents to get around. Many bike lines run through the neighborhood, providing safe passage for cyclists. Because most of the neighborhood remains residential, walking should not be considered as an efficient option for getting around town.

Public transportation riders have two options: the D.C.-based Metro buses and the Montgomery County Ride On buses. Both charge a flat rate of $1.75 per ride, and both allow the use of reloadable SmarTrip cards, which are a useful investment for frequent riders.

In addition to the buses, Uber cabs also serve the neighborhood. From Calverton, a ride into downtown D.C. starts at around $20.

The convenience provided by the three major roadways surrounding the neighborhood allows residents to quickly get in and out very easily. Drivers don't have to fret about parking in this neighborhood either as the streets almost always have spots available.

If you have kids, chances are you'll find your way to Cross Creek Club Local Park with its youth-only soccer field. The playground here offers a chance for little kids to run around and play as well.

To the south, the 60+ acre Galway Park also features a playground plus a softball and baseball field and lighted tennis courts. Galway makes for a nice weekend activity for all ages. The family can picnic under the pavilion before heading to the playground or to the fields for a game of catch or touch football. To the east of Galway, Calverton Park serves as the popular dog walking park.

While none of the parks in Calverton host any annual events, they provide year-round fun for individuals and families alike. Neighborhood residents make great use of their community parks.

The cost of living in this neighborhood falls relatively on par with the whole of Maryland if not slightly less. A one-bedroom apartment in Calverton goes for an average of $1,088 per month, which comes in at 7 percent less than the Maryland average.

The inverse is true when it comes to gas prices, though. Locals can expect to pay about 7 percent more at the pump compared to national averages. Other common expenses such as dining out are fairly representative of the area as a whole. A meal at a decent restaurant starts around $12, and a regular-priced beer at a local bar goes for $4.

A good handful of shopping opportunities exist within the neighborhood. Big names such as Target, Kohl's, Babies R Us, Staples and The Home Depot all sit around the central Broadbirch Drive area. Boutique and specialty stores exist as well. Head to Creative Floral Designs if you're looking for gift baskets or centerpieces. All the staff here are exactly what you'd expect from a local spot — extremely polite, friendly and always helpful.

For unique thrift store items, head to the bluntly named Unique Thrift Store. Technically in Silver Spring, this huge, department store-like thrift shop sits just south of the Calverton border. You can easily get lost in here for hours looking through all the weird items in stock.

When it comes time for grocery shopping, locals head to the Giant in the Calverton Shopping Center. Alternatively, Spicknall's Farm Market just on the other side of I-95 carries a large variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Produce, fruits especially, will generally be close to 50 percent less here than in the grocery store. This also serves as the local Christmas tree buying spot.