As our family of two grew to include a dog and a child, our apartment in Logan Circle felt too crowded for the four of us. We were initially hesitant to leave the excitement and the convenience of 14th Street, but all the benefits of Friendship Heights made it a better fit for our growing family.
Proximity to DC – We live a minute drive from the Maryland/DC border, and so we’re the closest thing to being in DC without actually being in DC. The Friendship Heights metro (red line) is a leisurely walk from our place, and commuting to DC is easy and traffic-free.
Space, space, space – One of the best parts of living here is the additional space we have for dinner parties and BBQs, for vegetable gardens and sandboxes and for playrooms and man-caves.
Family friendly – I can’t say enough about how great this area is for our family. There are a few parks/playgrounds walking distance from us, and we visit Willard Avenue Park almost daily. Of course, Montgomery County is known for its public schools, and we are lucky to live in an exceptionally good zone. Beyond the parks and the schools, the people in this neighborhood form a tight-knit community. There is an active neighborhood listserv with events and parades and holiday gatherings throughout the year.
Great shopping – Bloomingdale’s, Saks and Neiman Marcus are walking distance. Need I say more?
Restaurants – We were pleasantly surprised by the restaurant scene. Downtown Bethesda which is a 5-minute drive from us has a ton of great places, but Friendship Heights does as well. We frequent Lia’s, a neighborhood pasta and pizza place and Sushiko, which is our 3.5-year old’s favorite restaurant on earth. She knows everyone who works there, and they greet her by name and hug.