Small-town feel with some of DC's movers-and-shakers and artists as neighbors, with a history of…read moresupporting civil rights and the arts. The one drawback: pricey to own or rent, though with its location, real estate here is considered to be relatively recession-proof.
Living here for the past 15 years has offered my family the best of both worlds - tree canopies, wooded area, a walkable neighborhood, the river and hiking along the canal nearby, a fabulous park dedicated to the arts (complete with artist yurts), all less than three miles from the DC-MD line.
The boundaries of the tiny, sliver of a town - its total area is just 0.10 square miles --
are the Potomac River (with Cedar Island and Chautauqua Island between the town and the full river) and MacArthur Boulevard forming the long sides of the rectangle; the short side at one end is close to Wilson Lane, with an entrance to Clara Barton Parkway at the other.
The centerpiece of the town is the historic Glen Echo Park (originally an amusement park where Glen Echo residents and their neighbors protested for desegregation). A gorgeous Dentzel carousel, fully restored, graces the park, which is now part of the National Park Service. There are year-round classes and more in dance, theater, music, and the rest of the arts.
Neighborhood volunteerism is strong, including ongoing commitments to nature preservation and protecting the watershed in the town (Cabin John Creek and Minnehaha Creek both run through Glen Echo). There are regular organized volunteer outings to remove invasive vines that threaten trees, creek cleanups, and removal of non-native plant species.
With its own tiny post office snugged into the quaint Town Hall, folk sculptures gracing porches, family-owned businesses including a pharmacy and hardware store, plus easy access to put your kayak into the Potomac or walk along the Canal (where in the springtime you can discover baby ducks), I find it easy to forget you're just a short distance from the hustle and bustle of the nation's capital.
The town's geographical neighbors are Bannockburn, Cabin John, and the Potomac River - all good company. So's the occasional little newt or box turtle I find wandering in my yard. Abundant deer, bunnies, and foxes make appearances as well, and if you sleep with your windows open, you might be lucky enough to have the hoots of owls make you chuckle before bedtime. (If you're unlucky, during mating season you might be kept up for hours by horny - not horned - owls.)
Schools for the area in some of the best in all of Maryland: Bannockburn Elementary, Pyle Middle School, and Walt Whitman High School.
My kiddo thinks it's the "best place to live, ever!" 'Nuff said.
