Dine at eclectic restaurants, browse independent boutiques, relax in leafy parks and watch a movie at an historic theater in this pretty residential neighborhood.

Cleveland Park is a village-within-a-city, a suburban neighbourhood that dances to the beat of its own drum. The laid-back atmosphere in the streets, parks and retail outlets help to promote a youthful, family-friendly community spirit. Cleveland Park shot to fame as a sought-after district of Washington D.C. in 1886, when President Grover Cleveland bought a summer house here.

The neighbourhood's focal point is Connecticut Avenue, a commercial avenue located toward the Cleveland Park’s eastern edge. Find brand-name retail outlets, boutiques, gift shops and strip malls. For eating out, choose from delicatessens, pavement cafés and steakhouses, to restaurants that serve Asian, French and Mexican cuisine.

Catch a movie at the art deco-style Uptown Theatre, which opened in 1936 and hosted the world premiere of 2001: A Space Odyssey in 1968. Admire the impressive colonial houses that frame the tree-lined Newark, Ordway and Porter streets. These houses showcase architectural movements such as Georgian revival, Prairie style and Tudor revival.

Enjoy an evening at the Washington Ballet, established by the pioneering ballet instructor Mary Day. Attend productions at the intimate theatre or check the listings for performances at the Kennedy Centre, in the central Foggy Bottom neighbourhood.

Go to Melvin C. Hazen Park on a sunny day and stroll amid its towering trees. A trail connects the park with the popular Rock Creek Park. From here an extensive network of trails meander south toward the city centre and north, through parkland, to the District of Columbia-Maryland border.

Located in Washington D.C.’s northwest quadrant, Cleveland Park is easy to reach via public transportation. The metro provides quick access from Cleveland Park Metro Station to Downtown Washington D.C. and Capitol Hill.

Combine your time in Cleveland Park with a visit to the free Smithsonian National Zoological Park. Spot Amazonian aquatic creatures, Asian elephants, American bison, exotic birds and pandas, among other animals. Alternatively, join a guided tour of the neo-Gothic Washington National Cathedral. Climb the 333 steps to the top of the bell tower for unbeatable views over the city.