Sometimes good things come in small packages. Neighboring the National Zoo, this locale bundles small-town charm with hidden architectural gems, cozy cafés, and green getaways.
Woodley Park’s distinctly neighborly vibe is quick to make you feel at home. Like a little town that found itself within the borders of a sprawling city, this residential district feels cozily contained. If slow travel is your style, you’re in luck: Woodley Park is perfect for exploring on your own two feet. A stroll along Woodley Park’s broad boulevards presents a rolling reel of pretty row houses intersected by grand old manors and leafy parklands.
Are you ready? Lace up your walking shoes and take a tour of Woodley Park’s leafy streets. Like most of Washington D.C., Woodley Park is no stranger to monumental architecture. Check out the neo-Byzantine solemnity of St. Sophia Cathedral or do some dream-home hunting around the neighborhood’s grand old manors. The British Embassy, the Embassy of Switzerland, and Washington International School are among the prominent landmarks around here. Travel through space with your feet still on terra firma at the U.S. Naval Observatory. This institution is one of the country’s oldest and most significant stargazing sites and presents guided tours of the galaxy.
Check out this upscale neighborhood’s dainty terraces, where cafés and eateries tumble out of the redbrick facades. Connecticut Street is the main artery here. Pick up the goods for a picnic from one of the organic grocers and make a beeline for some greenery. The Smithsonian National Zoological Park is at the top of the list in this district, followed by Bryce Park as a close second. If you’ve got youngsters in tow, the zoo’s animal enclosures and nature trails are surefire crowd pleasers. Special anniversary? No problem. Plan a special treat for a special someone at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, a luxurious 1930s lodge overlooking Rock Creek Park. That’s homespun hospitality, Woodley Park style.