Walker Mill - District Heights, MD Area Guide

Walker Mill's history can be traced to 1780. At this time, Walker Mill was a part of the "Barrens". Daniel Curfman, a Pennsylvania German from Yolk County created the first mill on this land. Later, he sold it to Daniel Walker in 1794, and since then, this area came to be known as Walker Mill.

There are no museums in Walker Mill, so you have to travel to downtown DC to see museums such as National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Museum of Natural History. Art lovers should go to National Gallery of Art located on Constitution Avenue in DC to get a glimpse of breathtaking pieces of art.

For festivals too, you have to drive to the DC area. H Street Festival on H Street Corridor, DC Beer Festival on Capitol Street and National Cherry Blossom Festival in Tidal Basin are good choices.

Walker Mill boasts of cultural diversity that emanates on all aspects of its life including food. To get a taste of good Chinese food, head to Lucky Star Restaurant on Walker Mill Road. This carry-out Chinese restaurant serves salted fish and chicken with eggplant, chinese brocolli with oyster sauce, egg flower soup, shredded pork sauteed with dry bean curd, walnut prawns and szechuan scallops. Its authentic Chinese fare coupled with low prices make this place a favorite among locals.

Sardi's Pollo A La Brasa on Hampton Mall Dr serves authentic Peruvian food. Its specialty dishes include charbroiled chicken, fried plantains and dulce le leche. Vegetarians have plenty of choices too with beans and rice dishes, yuca fries, coleslaw and peruvian corn. With warm and inviting ambiance and friendly staff, this place attracts locals during both lunch and dinner.

Drive down a few miles to Bowen Road when you want to enjoy a good Caribbean meal. Pimento Grill serves a range of Caribbean fare such as fried sweet plantains, jerk-que chicken salad, jerk turkey avocado sandwich, rasta pasta platters, callaloo greens and cod fish, ackee and cod fish platter and more. Reasonable prices and friendly owners make this place a preferred location for both lunch and dinner.

For good nightclubs, you have to drive down to downtown DC/Capitol Hill. Harold Black on 7th Street has a dark and intimate ambiance, something uncommon for a DC bar. Nevertheless, it gives an opportunity to spend time with friends in peace. Bartenders are friendly and innovative, and they come up with exotic drinks such as Blood and Sand and St.Georges. Their cocktail sampler gives customers a chance to sample a variety of drinks at one low price. Due to its popularity, this place tends to be crowded. So, book a table before hand on their website.

If you like Hookah, stop over at Nomads on H Street. Hookahs here come in unique flavors such as peach, blue mist and pineapple. Its laid back vibe and fantastic service makes it a popular hangout for the locals.

Many Walker Mills' residents travel to downtown DC for work, so this neighborhood has good public transport connectivity. Take the silver line or blue line of DC metro to get to downtown DC, and this trip costs you $237 for a period of 28 days. Other than train, some people use their cars to commute to work as this neighborhood sits just five miles away from I-95. Parking spaces are available, though most of them are paid spaces. Locals like to walk or bike during the summer months to get some physical activity.

Walker Mill Regional park has something for everyone. Its new play equipment and padded grounds provide hours of fun for the little ones. The skating rink and walking trails give plenty of exercise options for you. So, go for a run or walk your dog on its well-paved path.

When you want to play a sport, go to Millwood Neighborhood Recreation Center in Capitol Heights. It has softball, football, soccer, tennis and basketball courts that does not cost you anything. It also has a walking trail loop where you can walk or run to your heart's content.

Walker Mill is affordable to most people as it sits just 4.70 percent higher than the average national cost of living. This affordability reflects on all aspects of life, as a single bedroom apartment rents for an average of $1,030, while the average cost of a pint of beer in the local bars is $4. A gallon of gas runs 11 percent higher than the average national price.

There are no boutique stores or shopping malls in the Walker Mill neighborhood, so you have to drive a few miles out to Largo or Temple Hills. The Boulevard at the Capital Centre is located on Shoppers Way. This mall has good places to eat, branded clothing stores, a movie theater and ice-cream shops for entertainment for the entire family.

Iverson Mall on Branch Avenue in Temple Hills has good shopping and dining options too. It is low-key and relatively less crowded than the other malls, so you can shop at your pace.

For your grocery needs, head to Wegman's on McHugh Dr or Washington's Green Grocer on Edgeworth Dr. For fresh produce, visit Eastern Market on 7th street SE.