Waverly Hills Arlington, VA

Part of the charm of Waverly Hills lies in its rich history, which can be seen just by looking at some of the architecture of the buildings, most notably the Glebe House. This home, originally a 500-acre farm, eventually became subject to subdivision in the mid-1800s and development during the early 1900s.

As this historic district began taking shape, it brought the subdivisions together. Walking through Waverly Hills, you can spot several dominant architectural styles, ranging from craftsman bungalows to Tudor and Colonial revivals.

The neighborhood lacks a museum or arts scene, but it makes up for that with its vibrant social scene. Neighbors in the community gather for coffee socials, beer and cookie exchanges and holiday decorating contests. For larger-scale events, residents of Waverly Hills travel to the nearby Clarendon neighborhood, which hosts and annual street party and art festivals.

Waverly Hills residents don't need to travel far to find excellent dining options. Walk or take advantage of the free parking at Lee Heights Shops on Lee Highway, home to eateries such as American Seafood Corporation, a hybrid market and eatery. In addition to carrying up to 20 different types of seafood in the market, the restaurant serves some of the most outstanding, fresh seafood dishes in the area. Try the blackened grouper, the spicy jambalaya, comforting New England clam chowder or the house specialty -- crab cakes. Top off the meal with a sweet, tart slice of house-made key lime pie.

The leg of lamb and French toast made from challah bread served at Metro 29 Diner on Lee Highway earned this diverse diner national media attention. Guy Fieri turned the spotlight on this family-owned diner in a 2010 segment of "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives." Expect to wait in line if you come for brunch, one of the diner’s most crowd-inducing meals.

When it comes to nightlife, residents have few options. Come to watch the game and grab a beer, and stay for the beef on weck, burgers and fried Oreos at Thirsty Bernie, the only sports bar in Waverly Hills. This casual spot specializes in a great variety of beers, German and Bavarian menu items, including bratwurst, weiner schnitzel and succulent Warsaw pierogies served in a brown butter, Riesling raisin sauce.

For a little more action, travel a bit outside of the neighborhood to Whitlow's on Wilson in the Clarendon neighborhood. This landmark hot spot has been in operation since 1946, slinging well-priced beers and cocktails in addition to serving a full menu. Whitlow's features live music on most weekends and pub quizzes every Sunday, making it a fun hangout. Additionally, Whitlow's has a seasonal rooftop tiki bar and a brunch deal so fantastic, you really need to make a reservation if you don't want to have to wait a long time for a table.

If you don’t feel like taking the 20-minute walk to get there, flag down an Arlington Transit bus from anywhere in the neighborhood to catch a ride to the Ballston Metro, where you can transfer to the Metrorail. Rail service connects Waverly Hills residents with Washington, D.C. and other areas, including Falls Church, Tysons Corner or Ronald Reagan National Airport. Other neighborhood public transportation options include hopping on the Metrobus, which operates routes 3A, 3B, 3E and 3Y along Lee Highway and Glebe Road. You can’t hail a cab here as easily as in the city, but you can call to arrange taxi service or a ride with Uber.

Parking rarely presents a problem in Waverly Hills, which enjoys an ample selection of on-street spots and off-street residential parking. Although many residents commute by bus or train, most drive to work every day. Thanks to this charming neighborhood's proximity to D.C. and major commuter roadways such as Lee Highway and Interstate 66, residents enjoy a relatively easy commute, although rush hour traffic can double your driving time.

While the heavy traffic in the neighborhood requires pedestrians and cyclists to exercise caution, well-marked pedestrian crosswalks and sturdy sidewalks make walking a viable option. Shared roads and access to the Interstate 66 bike path invite cyclists for both recreation and commuting purposes.

Get out, stretch your legs and bring your kids and leashed pets to one of the neighborhood's two small public parks. Woodstock Park on Woodstock Street spans approximately one acre, with plenty of open grass for playing, relaxing or spreading a blanket for a picnic. The park also has picnic tables, water fountains, a basketball court and a playground. The Waverly Hills Civic Association began implementing plans to expand and renovate the park in 2014, with the goal of enhancing the space for community recreation and gathering.

Oakgrove Park on Quincy Street features a gazebo, picnic tables, paved walking trail, a sports field and a playground. Long Bridge Park, located six miles away along the Potomac River features expansive, lit sports fields, public artwork and a rain garden. Additionally, it hosts a summer concert series.

Living in a fantastic community like Waverly Hills comes with a fairly hefty price tag. In fact, the cost of living generally runs higher than average for Washington, D.C., although many of Waverly Hills’ residents will argue that the neighborhood is well worth it.

Renting a one-bedroom apartment here costs an average of $1,567, and you can expect to pay $5 to $8 for a pint of beer at local bars. Thankfully, commuting costs remain relatively low. One-way fare on a Metrobus averages $1.75, while a Metro train ride costs $2 to $6, depending on your destination. Gas prices in Waverly Hills hover within one percent of the national average, allowing residents to fill their tanks without busting their budget.

Keep the car parked in your driveway and walk to the Lee Heights Shops on Lee Highway. In addition to several restaurants, this charming shopping center houses several specialty shops, including Lemon Twist, which has resided in the neighborhood since the 1980s. Lemon Twist carries men's ties and belts, costume jewelry, shoes, outerwear and clothing from designers such as Vineyard Vine, Cape Madras and Lily Pulitzer. Renoir pants and Ciao Milano anoraks fly off the shelves. Additionally, Lemon Twist carries a bountiful selection of personalized jewelry trays, Salisbury Pewter gift items and Seda France candles.

You can expect stellar service at Bradshaw's Children's Shoes, a neighborhood staple since 1834 when it first opened its doors. Even though the shop is one of the oldest shoe stores in the country, you can still expect to find the latest styles for your kids. Friendly staff measure your child's feet and keeps a record of the measurements. By charting growth patterns, the staff easily identifies when you should recheck the shoe size and mails you a reminder to stop in and have your child's shoe size evaluated.

Fill your wine racks and stock your bar with the artisan spirits, fine wines and craft beer sold at Arrowine, nestled in the Lee Heights shopping complex. This specialty store hosts tastings on Fridays and Saturdays, stocks hard-to-find items and features a friendly, knowledgeable staff. Waverly Hills residents can stock their pantry shelves at local grocery stores such as La Union Grocery and Safeway on Lee Highway. Although the neighborhood lacks a farmers' market, you can find local produce at Westover Farmers Market in Arlington.