Seabrook - Lanham, MD

The Lanham-Seabrook neighborhood developed around the creation of the Washington Branch of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad in July of 1872. The Seabrook section of the neighborhood got its name from Thomas Seabrook, an engineer for the railroad who purchased 500 acres of land in 1871 around the soon-to-be-completed station with the idea of creating a retreat community.

A few homes, commercial buildings and a schoolhouse were established by 1880. By 1957, the community had grown to close to 200 houses along 10 streets arranged in a grid pattern roughly parallel to the railroad line. Housing development boomed with the arrival of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, which is located immediately to the north. Many of its employees still live in the neighborhood today.

The Huntington Railroad Museum just north of the neighborhood helps educate visitors on many of the advances in these early days of development.

A forked road runs east and west through the center of the neighborhood. The tributary roads, Annapolis Road and Lanham Severn Road, serve as the home for most of the area's best restaurants. Two of those restaurants have a strong Caribbean flare.

Barbecue lovers head to Just Jerk, a Jamaican counter-serve joint serving up platters of jerk-spiced chicken in addition to mouth watering sides. Take your pick of white or dark meat (or a combination of both), and let the staff prepare it to perfection. Perfectly spiced, juicy meat and crispy skin are the norm at Just Jerk. For your sides, go for the coconut-infused rice and peas and plantains.

More Caribbean delicacies along with fresh-baked goods are available at Muffin Man Caribbean Cafe in the Seabrook Shopping Center. Make sure to order the fall-off-the-bones ziggy wings or the curried goat. You can't leave the Muffin Man's shop without grabbing a muffin or equally moist cupcake for the road either.

Locals rave about the fresh fried chicken at Cluck U Chicken on Lanham Severn Road. Start your meal with an order of deep-fried pickles, and move on to a perfectly seasoned order of fried chicken. Alternatively, try the barbecue chicken tenders or a freshly chopped salad.

Although a number a great dining options highlight this neighborhood, the nightlife options leaves something to be desired. Bay Street Restaurant & Lounge in the Best Western Hotel arguably has the most lively scene, with DJs playing top hits that are part of the fun vibe. The chain bar, Buffalo Wild Wings, also serves the neighborhood nightlife with ample TVs for watching the game and classic bar food.

Enough commercial amenities exist along Annapolis and Lanham Severn Roads that walking becomes a reasonable option but still not ideal. A few bike lanes exist along the far eastern borders of the neighborhood, but even without them, biking in the neighborhood remains fairly safe. Otherwise, locals get around with a combination of public transportation, but predominantly they drive.

The Seabrook MARC station sits right in the center of the neighborhood. This commuter train runs every weekday, transporting passengers between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Metro buses also transport residents to D.C. and to multiple stops within the neighborhood.

Still, the vast majority of locals drive. Public parking proves relatively painless in the neighborhood and drivers enjoy the easy access they have to major roadways. The Capital Beltway (I-495) runs along the western edge of the neighborhood and Highway 50 on the southern edge.

Uber cabs remain a viable option if all else fails. With just a few simple taps on your phone, you can have a cab at your doorstep to take you anywhere within the DMV area.

The beautiful forested area of Lanham Forest Recreation Center offers residents the perfect place to go for walks and jogs and take their dogs with them. Walk along Bald Hill Branch Stream for a relaxing weekend afternoon.

If biking is more your thing, head to Glenn Dale Park on the east end, where bike trails run through the park and along Folly Branch, the large body of water surrounding the park. The large grassy area at Seabrook Park also makes for a nice picnic area or pickup games of soccer or touch football. While no specific events or festivals take place in these parks, these and many others within the neighborhood provide year round enjoyment for all residents.

The cost of living in this neighborhood hovers slightly above the Maryland average cost. Rent for Lanham-Seabrook residents, for example, is around 8 percent higher than the state average. A one-bedroom apartment in this neighborhood goes for $1,260 per month compared to the average of $1,172 across the whole state. Gas prices fare equally high when compared with the national average. Locals can expect to pay about 7 percent more at the pump.

Other common expenses, such as dining out and public transportation, remain on par with the surrounding area, however. A meal at a decent restaurant will go for $15, a beer another $5. Getting into D.C. via the Metro bus will cost $1.75 each way.

The Target in the Vista Gardens Marketplace serves as the main shopping hub in the neighborhood. Residents also make frequent use of the Staples, Payless Shoes, T.J. Maxx, Family Dollar and GNC retailers in the neighborhood.

While perhaps not as wonderfully scented, Goss' Garage also creates a neighborhood buzz as the go-to mechanic and auto-parts supplier. No one likes an unfair mechanic, but Goss' does right by the Lanham-Seabrook locals.

The ALDI in Enterprise Shopping Center serves as the main grocery store option, while those who live on the south end of the neighborhood might also go to the Safeway on Forbes Boulevard just outside the neighborhood limits. Just beyond the northern limits, the Greenbelt Farmer's Market also attracts locals on Sunday mornings in search of farm-fresh produce and tasty crepes.