Located a short Metro ride from the city center, this uptown neighborhood boasts leafy attractions like Rock Creek Park and the Smithsonian National Zoo. Locals enjoy a vibrant restaurant scene on Connecticut Avenue, where they can dine on Lebanese Taverna’s garlicky fare or eat one-of-a-kind brioche donuts at Rose Ave Bakery. Click here for more info.
1. National Zoo
The National Zoo is home to more than 400 different animal species and is known worldwide for its giant pandas. The Smithsonian institution works closely with China to breed and nurture these iconic black-and-white creatures.
The zoo also has an extensive conservation program that supports research in more than 30 countries and reintroduces animals to the wild. This work reaches hundreds of thousands of households, providing an ideal platform for corporate sponsors to demonstrate their social responsibility.
The zoo is located at 3001 Connecticut Ave NW and is equidistant from Woodley Park-Zoo and Cleveland Park Metro stops. A word of caution: When taking the subway, don’t get off at Woodley Park as it will be a steep walk uphill to Cleveland Park. Instead, leave at the Cleveland Park station and walk downhill to the zoo. It will save you time and energy.
2. Rock Creek Park
Rock Creek Park, a tree-filled ribbon defined by its namesake stream, offers hikers, runners and bikers access to trails, workout stations, picnic sites and Pierce Mill. Its upper entrance (down a steep hill) is in Woodley Park.
The District’s oldest and most famous park continues to face challenges, including the loss of tree regeneration due to invasive species and climate change. A new forest resilience plan will emphasize community engagement to increase equity in the park.
2300.6 Unlike other parts of the city, neighborhoods west of the park continue to add households. The demand for housing is driven by the area’s relative safety, a range of neighborhood amenities, thriving retail corridors in and around the five Metro stations, convenient transit connections, active community organizations, high-performing DC public schools and private schools.
However, the community’s roadways need esthetic improvements to be the gracious gateways to the nation’s capital that they were intended to be. The community also needs more opportunities to create and preserve affordable and moderate-income homes.
3. Omni Shoreham Hotel
It might seem impossible to find sanctuary–and a sophisticated one at that–near the stress-inducing capital, but the mammoth Renaissance palazzo that is the Omni Shoreham Hotel has managed just that since it opened in 1930. Society heavyweights have been coming to the hotel for years (Franklin Delano hosted his first inaugural ball here, and Joe McCarthy and teammates of Joe DiMaggio surprised the Yankee Clipper after he broke Babe Ruth’s record of 56-game hitting streaks).
The property sits on 11 acres in Woodley Park, a quiet residential neighborhood bordering Rock Creek Park, but is only a quick drive or metro ride away from the National Zoo and Smithsonian museums. The hotel is also within walking distance of a small strip of neighborhood restaurants that reflect the diversity of the community.
After a long day of sightseeing, guests can unwind with a swim in the outdoor pool surrounded by lush landscaping and enjoy a massage or facial at the on-site spa. They can also relax in the dry sauna or work up a sweat at the state-of-the-art fitness center.
4. Restaurants
When a day of gazing at lions, elephants and cheetah cubs leaves you hungry, grab a bite to eat in Woodley Park. The Smithsonian National Zoo draws crowds, but the neighborhood also boasts plenty of restaurants. Here are some of the best places to chow down:
Connecticut Avenue is lined with elegant early-20th-century row houses, a throwback to when this northwest DC neighborhood was one of several uptown neighborhoods where 19th and 20th-century residents escaped from bustling downtown. Today, it’s home to a handful of buzzworthy eateries and two large hotels.
Sample the seafood at Maddy’s, a restaurant that earned a Michelin star for its humble atmosphere and flavorful food. Or, head to Duke’s Counter for a taste of foggy London town without leaving the District, where you can liven up with a pint of beer and chow down on dishes like truffle mac and cheese and avocado toast.