The Washington Metro Region: N.W. Washington, D.C. and Capital Hill; Bethesda; Chevy Chase; and, Potomac in Montgomery County, Maryland 
The Washington Metropolitan region is comprised of Washington, DC and the adjacent counties of Maryland and Northern Virginia. The DC metro area is culturally rich, very international, vibrant and diverse. Its residents are some of the most highly educated in the country. It is, of course, close to the political center of the country, but it is not just about politics any more. A wealth of educational and career opportunities makes it much more than the political town it once was. It is architecturally interesting with mature landscaping throughout the area as well as many beautiful parks.
For the culturally inclined inspirations abound in lectures, concerts, ballet, opera, theater, and cultural exhibits. The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the National Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian Institution, The Freer Gallery (Oriental art), the African Museum, the Phillips Collection, the Corcoran School of Art and its gallery, and many other theaters, museums and exhibition halls offer a myriad of options. In nearby Kensington, MD, the new Strathmore Hall is a second home to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, other notable orchestral and choral groups of the region, while also featuring famous musical groups from around the world. Additionally, just a short 45 minutes drive away in Baltimore the excitement continues with: Center Stage; the Walters Art Gallery; The Baltimore Museum of Art with its spectacular Impressionist collection; the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, home of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; the Baltimore Aquarium; and the exciting Baltimore Harbor with its delightful prospects, shops, restaurants, and museums.
Sports enthusiasts will love the area, as Washington is the home of the Redskins, the Wizards, the Capitols, and the Nationals (affectionately nicknamed the Nats) and the Baltimore Orioles and Ravens are only a 45-minute drive away. Panda watching at the Washington Zoo is another popular sport here. The ease of taking family trips to the zoo, the Air and Space Museum, the Natural History Museum, the botanical gardens, the historic town of Annapolis or any one of the many atttractions in metropolitan Washington and its environs is part of what makes living in the area so pleasant and stimulating.
Shopping in the region is exciting and widespread. Beyond the smaller shops that line the streets of DC and its suburbs, larger shopping malls include Bethesda’s Montgomery Mall (with Nordstroms, Macy's, and Sears as its anchors), White Flint Mall in Kensington (with Lord & Taylor and Bloomingdales), Mazza Galleria and Friendship Heights on the District /Maryland line (with Neiman Marcus, Hechts, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Lord & Taylor), and Tyson’s Corner in Northern Virginia (with Lord & Taylor, Bloomingdales, and Macy’s). Fabulous opportunities for more specialized shopping within a 30-45 minute drive include Kensington's Antique Row, wonderful boutiques in Georgetown, Old Town Alexandria, Frederick, and Annapolis, as well as the off-price malls at Potomac Mills and in Hagerstown.
The Washington Metro area public transportation system is among the best in the world. Metro trains and buses primarily run in DC, while Ride-on buses cover Montgomery County. These methods of transportation, and others, are convenient and excellent. For more significant travel, there are three international airports in the area. Washington Reagan National airport is accessible by Metro, and Dulles International airport is less than a half hour away, and a Metro line may be added to serve Dulles in the next decade. Baltimore-Washington International Airport is about a 45 minutes drive from DC. Also, train transportation from Union Station in downtown D.C. is an alternative preferred by some. Union station is easily accessible by Metro as well.  |
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