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Head to this uptown neighborhood for lush green zones like Rock Creek Park, animals galore and great brunch spots.
Marilyn Monroe, well, a jumbo wall mural showing the legendary starlet’s face, stares out at traffic and passersby from a building wall at Connecticut Avenue NW and Calvert Road NW. It was commissioned decades ago by the owner of a hair salon in the building to honor his partner’s birthday.
Have your cake on a stick, and eat it too, at this brightly decorated bakery near the Smithsonian National Zoo. Cakepops in flavors like gingerbread, lemon and red velvet may be the biggest draw, but the spot also sells other sweet and savory offerings like bagels and cookies. All products are kosher and nut free, and some treats are gluten-free as well.
Explore Rock Creek Park's 32 miles of urban hiking and biking trails on foot or via wheels rented from a Capital Bikeshare station (there’s one near the back entrance of the zoo). Bridges cross the narrow, rock-filled creek, and there are tennis courts, picnic areas and a nature center to explore.
Woodley Park houses diverse cuisine from a multitude of restaurants, many with outdoor spaces. Choices include for garlicky Mediterranean fare and New Heights for a globally inspired neighborhood gem full of history and flavor. In mild weather, check out ’s patio for brunch loved by locals or perch outside of with a one-of-a-kind brioche donut filled with black sesame, passionfruit, pandan coconut and other memorable flavors.
The National Zoo is a landmark of the Woodley Park neighborhood, with the main entrance to the 163-acre attraction right on Connecticut Avenue. Like all Smithsonian museums, admission is free.
Two new giant pandas, Bao Li and Xing Bao, debut to the public on Jan. 24, 2025.
Even if you aren’t staying at the historic Omni Shoreham Hotel overlooking Rock Creek Park, you can indulge in a massage or facial at the spot’s plush spa. Treatments include access to the hotel’s state-of-the-art health club and a jumbo outdoor pool.
Once you're done exploring Woodley Park, check out nearby Upper Northwest or discover your next adventure in one of the District's vibrant neighborhoods.
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