East Rockville - Rockville, MD

As one of the oldest towns in Maryland, Rockville enjoys a rich history dating back beyond 1801, when it received its official name from the Maryland General Assembly. With the growth of the railroads in the late 1800s, the population of this once sleepy town continually grew, skyrocketing during the mid- to late 1900s. Once a quiet agricultural community, Rockville transformed into a midsize cosmopolitan suburb of the nation's capital.

Although East Rockville lacks any large museums, smaller historic sites such as the Beall-Dawson Historical House Museum on West Montgomery Avenue and the graves of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald on Veirs Mill Road reside in the area. Additionally, evidence of Rockville’s vibrant arts scene is visible from neighborhood parks such as Woodley Gardens Park, which take part in the Art in Public Places program by displaying permanent works of art.

Area restaurants serve everything from classic American fare to Ethiopian food or zesty Asian cuisine, providing a little something to please every palate.

Once you step through the door at La Canela, you can almost imagine you're in the heart of Lima, Peru. This Peruvian restaurant specializes in tasty dishes such as arroz con mariscos, tacu tacu, anticuchos and chupe de camaron. Although the dishes tend to run on the pricey side, the quality of the food, service and ambiance make it well worth the splurge.

Savor the flavors from another continent while dining at Benjarong Thai Restaurant located on Rockville Pike. Order some larb gai to share or start the meal with a papaya salad. Entree specialties include crispy duck, flavorful green curry and spicy drunken noodles.

As for nightlife, many of the happening hot spots lie outside of East Rockville. For example, Washingtonian Magazine named The Outta the Way Cafe in Derwood as one of its favorite places to drink. The local hot spot features live music, open mic nights every Thursday and a tasty menu. In particular, this area gem serves some of the best chicken wings in the area.

Reserve a private karaoke room at iRock Karaoke Lounge located just outside of East Rockville in Gaithersburg. This fun, casual hangout offers seven private rooms where you can sing your heart out, all furnished with plush couches and flat-screen televisions. Snack on Taiwanese noodles, dumplings or crab cakes while quenching your thirst with ice-cold beer, sake cocktails, hot sake or plum wine.

For a low-key, inexpensive night out, stop into Hank Dietle's Tavern on Rockville Pike. Grab a few beers and practice your pool game at this friendly neighborhood dive bar.

When it comes to public transportation, East Rockville residents can choose from Metrorail, which departs from Rockville Station on Hungerford Avenue. Other options include MTA commuter rail lines, and the Metrobus or the local RideOn buses.

Most people, however, drive to work. Access to major roadways such as Interstate 270, which connects to Frederick in the north and the Capital Beltway to the south makes commuting relatively easy and fast, although traffic can be heavy at times.

Parking options include on-street spots, off-street parking and parking garages. If necessary, you can apply for a residential parking permit through the City of Rockville's Department of Public Works. Bicyclists have several dedicated bike lanes to choose from across the city and shared roadways in other locations.

Residents of East Rockville have plenty of green spaces to enjoy. All the neighborhood's parks welcome leashed pets, including smaller parks such as Broome Athletic Park on Twinbrook Parkway. This 7-acre park has sports fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, benches and a playground. Woodley Gardens Park on Nelson Street spans 37 acres, with several sports fields, a nature trail, tennis and basketball courts, volleyball courts, a picnic shelter, a playground and picturesque gardens and landscaping.

Rock Creek Regional Park on Needwood Road, covers an expansive 1,800 acres of woodlands and rolling fields. Bring your own boat or rent one at the Boat Rental and Snack Bar to go boating and fishing on Lake Frank or Lake Needwood. This large Montgomery County park also has an archery range, picnic areas, approximately 13 miles of walking trails and tours of the lake on the Queen Needwood. When you crave adventure, make a reservation and buy your tickets to Go Ape This zip line and adventure course nestled in the northern part of Rock Creek Regional Park includes six zip lines, rope ladders and two Tarzan swings to keep you entertained and challenged during the two to three hour adventure.

Bring a lawn chair and a snack with you to the lawn at Rockville Town Square, which hosts Movies on the Square every Thursday and free concerts every Friday during the summer. Town Square also holds Kids Night on Wednesdays, with balloon art, magic shows and fun live performances.

Life in East Rockville generally carries a significantly higher cost of living than both the national average and the costs of living in Washington D.C. The median price for renting a one-bedroom apartment settles in around $1,516. On a bright note, you can go out for a cold one without breaking the budget. Residents typically pay $5 to $6 for a pint of beer at local bars.

Montgomery County's RideOn bus service costs $1.75. One-way fare from Rockville to Union Station in Washington D.C. costs $5 on Maryland Transit Administration's MARC commuter rail line or $5.90 on the Metro. Gas prices in East Rockville typically run approximately 1/2 to 1 percent below the national average.

Auto repair shops, car sale centers, home furnishings, appliance stores and big name shops such as Lord & Taylor and T.J. Maxx make up the majority of East Rockville's shopping scene. When you want a less conventional shopping experience, look to Rockville's specialty stores, many of which reside in Rockville Town Square. Whether you're planning your own wedding or you're the mother of the bride, the planning should begin at Fairytale Brides on a Shoestring, located at 154 Congressional Lane in Rockville. This boutique is a not-for-profit charity that sells gently-used wedding gowns for a fraction of the cost. The experience is the same as visiting traditional stores, with volunteers making you feel like a princess the moment you walk through the door. Donations are tax-deductible here, and the shop is also a must-visit before prom season.

The Cottage Monet carries a variety of goods, including handbags and Vera Bradley accessories, bath and home products from Thymes, ceramics and gift items from Vietri, glassware and cutlery from Mariposa and Raika leather goods. Ten Thousand Villages, a chain specialty store in Rockville Town Center that gives off the ambiance of a mom-and-pop shop, carries unique hand-crafted jewelry, household goods and trinkets such as singing bowls and owl tape measures.

Residents of East Rockville have a variety of grocery stores to choose from, including big name markets such as Safeway, Giant and Harris Teeter. The neighborhood also features several specialty markets, including: Meixin Supermarket, a gourmet Asian market; Dawson's Market, an upscale natural foods grocer; and Korean Korner, which specializes in fresh fish and Korean products. Stock up on fresh produce and plants at nearby farmers markets such as the Shady Grove Farmers Market on Broschart Road or Pike Central Farm Market Vendors in North Bethesda.