Clarksburg, MD

Named for a trader by the name of John Clarke, Clarksburg was first established as a settlement at the intersection of an old Seneca trail and the main road from Georgetown to Frederick. Michael Ashford Dowden received a patent in 1752 for 40 acres called "Hammer Hill" and permission to build an inn that later hosted General Edward Braddock during the French and Indian War and was a meeting place for the Sons of Liberty before the American Revolution. Everything changed in 1964, when the Montgomery County planning commission announced large-scale development and adopted a master plan to rezone the land as a residential area; a second master plan was adopted in 1994.

Visit the King Barn Dairy Mooseum just south of the neighborhood to experience a working dairy barn with tours and oral histories. Each October, head to High Point Farm for the state BBQ championships.

While no central district for entertainment exists within Clarksburg, a few local eateries dot the neighborhood with a focus on home-grown comfort food. For an indulgent brunch buffet, try GrillMarx Steakhouse & Raw Bar on a Sunday morning. Head to the Chef's Choice omelet station or carving station, then round out your meal with a variety of traditional breakfast favorites. Also open for lunch and dinner, GrillMarx proffers a menu of fresh-cut steaks, burgers and sandwiches along with entrees including crab cakes, meatloaf and roasted lemon-thyme chicken.

Locals also rave about the Gateway Cafe, calling it a hidden gem with fast, friendly service as well as fresh and tasty food, ample parking and reasonable prices. The restaurant's daily specials include a signature Gateway omelet with chicken, shrimp, green pepper and onion for breakfast and a haddock platter with french fries and cole slaw for lunch.

For Italian and pizza in a low-key environment, order delivery from or visit Pizza 500. Start with a portion of garlic knots or chicken tenders, then order New York-style pizza with your choice of toppings, ranging from pepperoni and salami to banana peppers and black olives. Gourmet menu options include the house special: a classic crust topped with pepperoni, sausage, ham, meatballs, green peppers, onions and mushrooms.

The majority of nightlife lies just to the south in Germantown. Try The Greene Turtle for blazing hot chicken wings and sports on the overhead screens. Also nearby in Germantown, the BlackRock Center for the Arts serves as a venue for the performing and visual arts throughout Upper Montgomery County. The center hosts free gallery exhibitions and arts education classes in addition to various performances ranging from dance and theater to top regional, national and international artists from a wide variety of genres including blues, classical, folk, jazz, pop, rock and world music. For live music, open mic nights and karaoke, head east to The Music Cafe in Damascus.

Due to the limited availability of public transportation in Clarksburg, the most common means of getting around the neighborhood is by personal vehicle. Just one commuter bus route passes through Clarksburg on I-270, also visiting the Germantown MARC Rail Station.

Though no cabs are available to hail, several companies service the area. If you call for a car, be prepared for extended wait times. Uber serves Washington, D.C. and its surrounding areas, including Clarksburg.

When travelling by personal vehicle, expect limited on-street parking as well as parking lots provided only for the customers of local businesses. The Washington National/Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Highway, otherwise known as I-270, bisects Clarksburg, while several other connected highways crisscross the region. This neighborhood may be largely non-walkable, but it does feature several bike trails and bike-friendly roads.

Enjoy a picnic at the Ovid Hazen Wells Park, with three separate shelters within the 290 acres of green space, alongside playgrounds for the kids and ball fields for exercise enthusiasts. Visitors may book the picnic shelters for events and the ball fields separately.

For an outdoor adventure, Black Hill Park operates from sunrise to sunset all year round and includes more than 2000 acres of green space, with natural surface and paved trails, picnic shelters, playgrounds and volleyball courts, all featuring breathtaking views of Little Seneca Lake.

Take advantage of private boat access, rental boats, a pontoon tour boat and a fishing pier. For the more experienced outdoors person, Black Hill Park features extensive forest trails for mountain bike riding, horseback riding trails and hiking. Pet owners make use of a 6-acre fenced dog park that lets off-leash dogs run and exercise. Dogs must be up to date with their vaccinations and older than 4 months, and arriving at and leaving the park requires the dogs to be on a leash at all times. For those who wish to attend an event, the visitor center at Black Hill provides nature exhibits and programs that are free to the public.

The cost of living in Clarksburg sits marginally higher than the Washington, D.C. average. Travelling to the city center of Germanstown via the commuter bus that passes through Clarksburg costs you $1.75 for a one way trip, while the median rental cost of a one bedroom apartment in Clarksburg sits around $1410. The typical price for a pint of beer is approximately $8.60, and the price per gallon of gasoline hovers just under 9 percent above the national average.

Covering over 100,000 feet of space, the retail center of Clarksburg lies in the Clarksburg Village Center at the intersection of Newcut Road and Snowden Farm Parkway. Browse a range of chain and large stores, such as Dunkin' Donuts and Sleepy's, then pick up your groceries at Harris Teeter.

For gifts and antiques, try Timely Treasures at Little Sierra Court. Nearby, visit Bhavna's Henna and Arts for a custom-designed tattoo, and browse the Novel Places Book store. Though Clarksburg itself does not host a farmer's market, travel west to find Comus Market, known for its hot apple cider, or east to reach the Two Peas Farm for fresh produce.