Wheaton

You would never know Wheaton, a DC suburb in Montgomery County just outside the Beltway and about 15 minutes from the city line, was rural farmland and heavily wooded forest for most of its life. Today, it is a busy, ethnically diverse area whose walkable center around the Wheaton Metro is dotted with new condos, locally owned shops and restaurants, and major retailers. You’ll also find many artists living and working here, as Wheaton has been designated an Arts and Entertainment District by Maryland. Named for Frank Wheaton, a Union Army officer who successfully defended DC and nearby Fort Stevens from an attack by the Confederate Army, the town still holds onto some of its rural past at the popular Wheaton Regional Park, which includes a nature center, horse stables, dog park, a picnic area with carousel and miniature train, and an athletic complex. Brookside Gardens, Montgomery County's award-winning 50-acre public display garden, and Sligo Creek Park are nearby as well. As an up-and-coming neighborhood with a great location, Wheaton is on the rise.