White Oak - Silver Spring, MD

White Oak stands as an unincorporated town in Montgomery County. Because of its proximity to the nation's capital, the county has a history scattered with Americana, such as playing roles in the French and Indian War and the War of 1812. The county developed largely thanks to the B and O Railroad line, and then after WWII, returning vets helped spur on residential growth in places like White Oak. The Montgomery County Historical Society works to keep this history alive and maintains a museum and research center in Rockville, Maryland.

Every summer, Silver Spring hosts the AFI Documentary Film Festival at the historic AFI Theater in downtown. Tickets cost only $14, making it an affordable and enjoyable event for local residents. For more family-friendly events, the county also hosts Heritage Days as well as the county fair during the summer.

In the area where Columbia Pike and State Route 650 intersect, a small shopping center known for diverse places to eat awaits visitors and residents alike.

Try food a world away at Pho Hung, where the portions run small while the flavor runs big. With eat-in or take-out options, this Vietnamese restaurant makes a great lunchtime choice, and customers love the bubble tea.

Stop by Bombay Indian Restaurant where the fresh naan and chicken tikka Marsala will transport you to a faraway land. If you've never tried Indian food before, give the traditional samosas and pakoras a try, or stop in for the lunch buffet and sample a little bit of everything.

Sarku Japan is ideal when you need your food hot and fast. This establishment serves teriyakis, traditional bento boxes, and various sushi rolls.

For after-hours fun, the 4 Corners Pub, just outside White Oak in Colesville, stays open late, making it a popular choice to hang out. Known for its great pizza and burgers, this establishment consistently ranks as one of the top bars in the area. Stop by on Monday nights to get 40 percent off your burger.

White Oak sits slightly northeast of Washington, D.C., with Interstate 495 running along its southern border. Two main roads, Route 650 and the Columbia Pike, cross right in the middle of town, making it easily accessible.

Locals appreciate the ease of public transportation in White Oak, thanks to both the Washington Metro system and the local bus lines, known as RideOn. Easy to use and with plenty of stops along the main roads, RideOn only costs $1.75 for a one-way trip. The nearest Metro station runs on the red line and stops at Wheaton, five miles away from White Oak. Both the local and major routes of the Metrobus have many stops in the neighborhood, and using the bus to get from downtown White Oak to downtown D.C. takes an hour and only costs $3.40.

Get to the BWI Airport with ease using public transit. The B30 Metrobus runs you right from the Greenbelt Metro to the airport. Five taxicab companies operate in the White Oak area, such as Orange Taxi or Regency Cab. You can also use Uber to arrange a ride with your computer or smartphone.

You'll find White Oak somewhat manageable without a car. The older residential areas have narrow roads and no sidewalks, but the main roads have begun to create dedicated bike lanes. The parks have many more trails for walking and biking.

Montgomery County features an excellent parks system with well-developed hiking and biking trails. On the western end of the neighborhood lies Burnt Mills East Park. Park here and enter the Northwest Branch Trail, which will eventually become part of the Rachel Carson Greenway Trail Corridor.

Enjoy the all-encompassing Martin Luther King Jr. Recreational Park at the northern edge of town. At 95 acres, this park includes both outdoor and indoor swimming pools, tennis courts, sports fields, a playground, and even a lake that allows fishing. The park includes hard-surface trails to walk and bike, and also connects to the larger Paint Branch Trail that follows the Paint Branch Stream.

The closest dog park can be found at Wheaton Dog Park, located next to Wheaton Regional Park. Only a half-acre, the fenced park provides space for dogs to run without being leashed.

People living in the White Oaks area can expect to pay about 13 percent more for the cost of living than their Maryland neighbors. The average rental rate for a one-bedroom apartment in White Oaks runs just under $1,300 per month, and while gas might be three percent higher in White Oak than in the rest of the state, you can use the local transit for $1.75 one way. If you'd rather go into the city, the Metro system takes you to downtown D.C. for only $3.50. When you go out for a beer, expect to pay around $6 for a domestic draft.

White Oak's White Marsh Mall is the most popular shopping destination in the area, along with the Avenue at White Marsh. Grocery shoppers head to the neighborhood Giant, but as you head southwest out of town, you'll run right into Trader Joe's. If you keep going past Trader Joe's, you'll be in downtown Silver Spring in minutes, the location of some terrific boutiques and specialty shops.

Beaders and jewelry enthusiasts love Atlantic Gems. Not only a beader's dream, this small store also sells and repairs jewelry. The owners keep locals and visitors coming back with their attention to detail and personal service.

For a true vintage experience, walk into Silver Spring Books. Selling new and used books, this little shop exemplifies the used book store experience, complete with an old-book smell. Keep the vintage experience going when you head into the Record Exchange. This music store buys, sells, and trades not only vinyl but also cassettes, DVDs, turntables, and memorabilia. With a helpful staff, a great selection, and fair prices, music and movie lovers call this a favorite store.

Downtown Silver Spring also hosts the Fenton Street Market, an open-air market that sets up shop on Saturdays, May through October. The market operates across the street from the Fresh Farm farmer's market, and while that market sells fresh produce, cheeses, and meats, the Fenton Street Market focuses on locally-owned businesses selling crafts and fine art.