Photo: Der Berzerker From nature trails to inaugural festivities, the Woodley Park neighborhood has played host to everything from parks and balls to pandas over the years. A favorite of locals and tourists alike, affluent Woodley Park offers upscale housing, surrounded by parkland. One of the biggest attractions in Woodley Park is National Zoo. Until recently, the zoo has included giant pandas, on loan from China for the past half-century or so. The zoo is part of Rock Creek Park, which offers plenty of space for enjoying nature, from taking a stroll to biking or jogging along one of the miles of paths in the park. The area also offers some horseback riding trails. Tregaron Conservancy is also nearby, which provides even more green space to enjoy. You can also take one of the local biking trails to travel throughout the region. The neighborhood is packed with history too, including an Art Deco-style theater which dates back to the 1930s. The tony Omni Shoreham Hotel in Woodley Park was once visited by the Beatles, plus it’s also hosted several presidential inaugural balls over the years. It’s said that President Grover Cleveland was among those that once owned a summer home in this part of DC. Originally plotted as a suburban area, part of Woodley Park took a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in the early 1990s. Residential turnover is extremely low in Woodley Park today, and those homes that do go on the market are often sold quickly. Homes and condos are often priced at a premium too, but there are sometimes rental opportunities in the neighborhood, as well. Public transportation is most readily available along Connecticut Avenue and Calvert Street NW. The local Metro station serves the Red Line, but you can also catch a bus or travel around the neighborhood by bike or foot. The neighborhood may not be the most affordable, but is considered good for families, good for nightlife, and good for schools and diversity.