Part of original city planner Pierre L’Enfant’s design, Southwest Waterfront, D.C., contains some of the city’s oldest buildings, including the Wheat Row block of townhomes, which date back to 1793, as well as a 1791 U.S. military arsenal. The neighborhood is only one of two residential neighborhoods in the southwest section of Waterfront D.C. For decades, the Southwest Waterfront area felt isolated from the rest of the city, largely because of the busy southwest freeway between it and the National Mall. The neighborhood today is still rarely seen by the throngs of tourists flocking to the monuments. Pedestrian access, a Metro stop and an increasing number of for-hire bikes make access to other neighborhoods easier today, and an exploding number of new developments make living in Southwest Waterfront increasingly attractive and convenient.

The lifestyle of the Southwest Waterfront neighborhood is what makes it so popular. A stroll along the Washington Channel’s banks takes visitors past marinas full of pleasure and houseboats, waterfront restaurants and even the U.S.S. Sequoia, the former U.S. presidential yacht. At the far-northern section of the waterfront sits the iconic wharf, full of bustling seafood stalls and restaurants. Enjoy clam chowder, fried shrimp and blue crabs fresh from Maryland. Just inland lies the residential areas and several massive new developments, like the Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, that have brought new activities to the neighborhood. Nationals Park—home of MLB’s Washington Nationals—is located nearby in the Navy Yard neighborhood. The stadium is also a huge reason behind the Southwest Waterfront’s revitalization.