'''Bethesda''' [http://www.bethesda.org/] is a city in Montgomery County in the state of Maryland. It is located right on the outskirts of Washington, D.C., inside the Beltway.

Understand

Bethesda was a quiet suburb until 1984, when the Metro Red Line was extended. This brought an explosion of growth, and many high rises were built. Some critics argue that the rapid growth of Bethesda has given it an over-commercialized feel.

Get in

Bethesda has its own stop on the Washington, D.C. Metro '''Red Line''' at the intersection of Wisconsin and Old Georgetown Avenues, which are in turn the major arteries for getting in by car. Take note, though, that parking is usually only available in the garages, and it's not a cheap place to park—much of the Capital Region's suburban residents come here regularly for dining, so those parking spots are in high demand.

Get around

The Bethesda circulator [http://www.bethesda.org/parking/circulatorinfo.htm] will take you everywhere you need to go, and for free. It runs every ten minutes M-Th 7AM-midnight, F 7AM-2AM, Sa 6PM-2AM. You'll know it right away since it's mocked up like a trolley. But keep in mind that you can just walk around downtown Bethesda—it's not so big. Traveling around greater Bethesda, on the other hand, is difficult if you don't have a car.

See

You don't come here for the sights, you come here for restaurants and bars. Nonetheless, you might be interested to see:

  • The National Institutes of Health. 000 Rockville Pike (north on Wisconsin). ttp://www.nih.gov. The mammoth collection of buildings housing the majority of the nation's government bio-research. Consequently, the grounds have been pretty much off-limits to non-employees since the 9/11 attacks and the ensuing anthrax mailings, since there are worries about the security of the bio-weapons research programs here. But the view from Wisconsin Ave of the main building is plenty impressive. If you see a helicopter landing on that main building, it's probably the president or one of the top cabinet officials—this is where they get their repairs.
  • The Madonna of the Trail statue. isconsin Ave & Old Georgetown Rd. The Madonna of the Trail is a sixteen foot monument to the benighted wives who were dragged out west to extreme hardship and poverty in the wild by their adventurous pioneer husbands.

    Do

    Events

  • Summer Concerts. ttp://www.bethesda.org/specialevents/summerconcerts.htm. noon-2PM (Old Georgetown & Woodmont), Th 6PM-8PM (Woodmont & Norfolk), weekly May-July. ree. Two free concerts every week throughout the summer is a pretty nice deal. Check the website for details on who's playing.
  • Bethesda Outdoor Movies. oodmont Triangle, Corner of Norfolk & Auburn Avenues. PM daily. ree. Five nights of free outdoor movies, usually very family friendly. Check website for exact dates and to see which movies are playing.
  • Taste of Bethesda. ttp://www.bethesda.org/specialevents/taste/taste.htm. arly October, 11AM-4PM. The taste of Bethesda is the biggest festival of the year, when people from all over the area come to sample Bethesda's restaurant offerings and to enjoy big free concerts. A pack of 4 taste tickets costs $5, and restaurants will give you a food serving for 1-3 tickets. A ton of restaurants participate, and Bethesda's restaurants are good!

    Buy

    There are many places to shop in Bethesda. Stop by the Apple Store, one of the very few in the capital area, located in the vicinity of the Bethesda Row Theater.

  • '''Montgomery Mall''' - upscale shopping - food court.
  • '''White Flint Mall''' - upscale shopping - food court.
  • Eat

    Bethesda has about 180 restaurants. It is known throughout the Washington D.C. area for the abundance of restaurants in the downtown area.
  • Bangkok Garden. 906 St. Elmo Ave.. 301) 951-0670. ttp://www.bkkgarden.com. This Thai restaurant is one of the best in the D.C. area. It has relatively inexpensive food served in a warm, inviting atmosphere.
  • Tastee Diner. 731 Woodmont Ave. ttp://www.tasteediner.com/. Looking for the true American diner experience with greasy spoons and waitresses with too much eye shadow? How about cheap eats any time of day or night? Look no further than the tried-and-true Tastee Diner to serve your needs.
  • Jaleo. 271 Woodmont Ave. ttp://www.jaelo.com/. Excellent Spanish Tapas.
  • Raku. 240 Woodmont Ave. Arguably the best Asian food in Bethesda. Very popular so make a reservation or get there early

    Drink

    All of Montgomery County, including Bethesda, is smoke-free in restaurants and bars.

  • '''Rock Bottom Brewery''' (301) 652-1311, 7900 Norfolk Avenue [http://www.rockbottom.com/].
  • '''Flanagan's Harp and Fiddle Pub''' [http://www.flanagansharpandfiddle.com/]
  • '''Ri Ra Irish Pub''' [http://www.rira.com/]
  • '''The Barking Dog''' 4723 Elm Street, (301) 654-0022 [http://www.thebarkingdogonline.com/]. Dance floor upstairs.
  • '''Caddies on Cordell''' 4922 Cordell Avenue, (301) 215-7730 [http://www.caddiesoncordell.com/]. A sports bar.
  • Bethesda Crab House. ethesda Avenue. For great fresh seafood, mostly blue crabs. A must see, been in same location since 1964.

    Sleep

  • Bethesda Marriott Suites. 711 Democracy Boulevard. 01-897-5600. ttp://www.bethesdamarriottsuites.com.
  • ''' Bethesda Court Hotel''', tel: 1-301-656-2100, [http://www.bethesdacourtwashdc.com]. One-and-a-half blocks from the Bethesda Metro station.
  • Hyatt Regency Bethesda. ne Bethesda Metro Center (7400 Wisconsin Ave). 01 657 1234. ttp://www.Bethesda.Hyatt.com. A large Hyatt located right on top of the Bethesda Metro station.
  • '''Bethesda Marriott''', 5151 Pooks Hill Road, tel: 301-897-9400, [http://www.bethesdamarriott.com]. Within minutes of downtown Bethesda.
  • Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. 701 Marinelli Road. 01-822-9200. ww.bethesdanorthmarriott.com. This hotel offers conference space and services for any event. It also offers a fitness center, heated indoor pool, restaurants, the largest ballroom in Maryland.
  • Residence Inn Bethesda Downtown by Marriott. 335 Wisconsin Avenue. 01-718-0200 . ww.marriott.com/WASBR . Located near the Naval Medical Center, NIH, FDA and NRC. 1 block from the Bethesda metro station.

    Get out

    The Capitol Crescent Trail [http://www.cctrail.org] passes through Bethesda, and provides a bike trail from Georgetown to Silver Spring. Between Bethesda and Georgetown the trail is smooth asphalt suitable for rollerblading, while from Bethesda to Silver Spring is currently loose gravel.

  • The grave of American novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald (The Great Gatsby) at the nearby Saint Mary's Cemetery in Rockville.
  • Silver Spring