Navy Yard - Washington, DC Area Guide

The true beginnings of this neighborhood came about with the building of the Navy Yard in 1799. Throughout the 1800s, the wharf area was one of the most lively sections of the city. The Navy Yard built and produced many ships in this time and also acted as a key defense point in the War of 1812.

Once the war had ended, many commercial retailers and shops from Near Southeast moved downtown. The constant production of ships and other war products left the river badly polluted, and the I-395 highway was built through the center of the neighborhood. All of these factors contributed to a migration of people from the Navy Yard to other neighborhoods of D.C., leaving the area open to crime and the buildings free to wither away from abandonment.

However, Navy Yard received a jolt of energy and life after the construction of the Nationals Stadium in 2008 and the Department of Transportation headquarters in 2007. Following this expansion, builders returned to the area with plans for new apartment complexes and condos. It was also around this time that the area began to be referred to as Capitol Riverfront.

The best museum to visit in the area is hands down the Navy Museum. As a central location for shipbuilding in the past, Near Southeast contains years of military history and models of some of the finest ships ever built. If you're looking for even more history, check out the Navy Library as well.

Some say that Near Southeast lacks the vibrant arts scene that you might find in a location like downtown. The focus here is much less on art and theatre and more on sports and business development. However, the neighborhood has taken a leading stance in D.C.'s culinary scene over the years. Out of the multiple food festivals taking place in the D.C. area, Navy Yard sponsors some of the most unique events. Every September, vegetarian food lovers can feast on various dishes at the DC VegFest . The event draws over 10,000 people each year and takes place in Yards Park.

With its close proximity to the coast, you can find some great seafood restaurants in Navy Yard. To dine in first class, book a reservation at Osteria Morini , an Italian bistro with traditional pasta dishes and fresh seafood options. Some crowd favorites include the crostini appetizer and the gnocchi pasta dish.

Stop by Cornercopia for a deli style sandwich when you are looking for a quick bite at cheap prices. All sandwiches are named after D.C. locations, such as Georgetown and Dupont. People rave about the Stadium sandwich and also highly recommended snagging a pint of gourmet ice cream on your way out. The Yards Boilermaker Shops also offers a nice central location to find a bite to eat. The strip includes multiple dining options and is central enough to explore other restaurants in the vicinity.

Artomatic acts as the main venue to see local art and performances in the neighborhood. With a total of eight levels, the building houses an immense amount of art and hosts live music performances from time to time. Entrance is free, and most beer and wine costs around $5 per drink. Check their calendar for event dates throughout the year.

The best way to get around in Navy Yard is through the Navy Yard Metro station. With an entrance right by the ball park, this station serves thousands of people per day. Multiple bus routes service the area as well, including the Circulator, P1/P2 and 90/92/93.

Cabs frequent the area near the ball park, especially around baseball season. There are also a few Zipcars in the area as a taxi alternative. As another option, you could take a water taxi, something not found in any other D.C. neighborhood.

Parking options are slim, but the city constantly updates the neighborhood with development projects and has built numerous businesses and shops with extra parking spaces. Easy highway accesses can be found on South Capitol Street SW, merging on to I-695.

Many residents walk the neighborhood every day, and the area is suited very well for pedestrians. Bike lanes also line the side of 1st Street SE, 4th Street SE and 6th Street SE. Stick to these areas, and you should have no problem navigating the area while feeling safe from motor vehicles.

For outdoor activities, Yards Park is the place to go. Finished in 2010, this park contains plenty of grassy areas, fountains and scenic river views. Yards Park draws people from the area year-round, with recreation trails, riverside gardens and a terraced performance venue in the lawn. The park even offers a canal wading pool that provides the perfect spot for young children to play on a hot summer day. While providing space for multiple activities, Yards Park places a particular emphasis on exercise with various fitness classes offered. Throughout the week in the warmer months, people are often seen in VIDA fitness classes, such as Zumba and Boot Camp.

Another notable park to visit is Diamond Teague Park . With a wide boardwalk running throughout, people come to Diamond Teague Park for the close proximity to the river and water activities such as canoeing and kayaking. For wintertime activities, check out Canal Park, and go ice skating with family or friends. Navy Yard-area parks offer access free of charge, and all parks are both kid- and dog-friendly.

In the summer time, Canal Park hosts weekly outdoor movie nights at sundown on Thursday evenings. If you are looking for live music, go to Yards Park on Friday nights in the summer for the outdoor summer concert series.

The average price for a one bedroom apartment is around $900, but there are also some luxury high-rise condos that run for much more than this. In Navy Yard, the median home value fluctuates between $600,000 to $660,000.

The cost of living in Near Southeast is overall less than what you would find downtown. The food and entertainment options are much fewer and cheaper, for the most part. That being said, some rent prices exceed that of downtown apartments due to the riverfront views. Transportation costs remain low with the Metro station being very close by.

Navy Yard Town Center, which is also known as Admiral Gooding Center, offers the closest thing to a shopping mall that can be found in Near Southeast. The most noteworthy store to visit is the local shop called Temptations, a small gift store that provides seasonal crafts, bags and other fashion accessories. Outside Town Center mall, you can find EVO Furniture, a high-end home furniture store with an emphasis on modern and urban styles.

Safeway offers a close and convenient grocery shopping experience, but there are a few other options if you are willing to travel a bit further. To the north lies Capitol Supreme Market and Yes Organic Market, which both provide local and regional options as alternatives to the Safeway chain. In addition to brick and mortar stores, a farmers market occurs every Tuesday in Canal Park from spring time until November.