New Carrollton, MD

The turtle thicket on which New Carrollton sits was once owned by an immigrant who earned his passage to the colonies as an indentured servant. The parcel of land began to grow until the Civil War, when the loyalties of local families were divided and the town suffered a split. In the 1920s, Edward L. Mahoney purchased 300 acres of land and began to establish his vision, setting up stables for his horses and a raceway. Upon his death, Albert W. Turner purchased and incorporated the land into New Carrollton, which he envisioned as a completely planned suburban city. He received a charter from the Maryland General Assembly in 1953.

Head west of the city to enjoy the Riverdale House Museum, a manor house in the Federal style constructed in the early 19th century, and the National Museum of Language.

Head to Annapolis Road at the south border of the city to find the majority of entertainment and restaurant options, with a wide selection of international cuisines and home grown favorites all nestled together in the downtown district.

Be sure to stop in at the Asian Wings Cafe, a local takeout spot known for its Asian staples and chicken wings. Try a lunch box special in the daytime, filled with golden honey or black pepper chicken, ka prow chicken or beef, or sweet and sour chicken, all served with steamed rice and a soda. Indulge in a chef's special fried tilapia fillet or Asian-style paella, or tuck into a green or red curry or Panang curry. Party platters are also available for special occasions.

For Chinese cuisine, head to Cuisine of China, serving Hunan, Szechuan and Mandarin specialties. Enjoy a daily lava special, sauteed over steamed white rice, or a fried rice or lo mein dish with your choice of meat. Alternatively, select from the healthy portion of the menu, featuring dishes such as shrimp with mixed vegetables and moo goo gai pan.

For Italian and Greek fare ranging from pizza and gyros to sub sandwiches, visit Manny and Olga's Pizza, one of a small chain of restaurants in the Maryland and Washington, D.C. area. Blend the two cuisines with My Big Fat Greek Pizza, topped with gyro meat, black olives, spinach, feta cheese and onions, or enjoy a calzone with your choice of fillings. House specials include stuffed shell parmesan and baked ziti with beef.

Though nightlife options in New Carrollton are scarce, La Fontaine Bleue offers regular events including galas and dance lessons, as well as live music.

Residents of New Carrollton primarily rely on personal automobile or the minimal local public transit to get around the neighborhood. The city lies adjacent to the New Carrollton Metro Station, serviced by both Metrorail and Metrobus as well as the AMTRAK Metroliner, which provides additional commuter access from New Carrollton to Washington, New York, Baltimore, Boston and additional locations to the south. You won’t be able to hail a taxicab in the neighborhood, but there is a local cab service and a private car service operating in the area. Uber, a ride-share service, serves Washington D.C. and surrounding areas.

Residents of New Carrollton enjoy close proximity to several highways, including the Capitol Beltway, Baltimore-Washington Parkway and U.S. Route 50, with limited on-street parking available and most businesses offering ample parking for their customers. For commuters or those needing longer term parking, locals rely on New Carrollton Garage, located at 4280 Garden City Drive, which features over 1,000 parking spaces. Buy a parking pass for a monthly cost, or pay for your spot in hourly increments.

Because New Carrollton largely consists of residential suburbs with the exception of downtown, locals typically don't rely on walking or biking to run errands. Expect little to no biking infrastructure, so while riding around some of the parts of the neighborhood is viable and safe, riding to the local commuting station using a bike as an alternative to your automobile or public transit is not advisable.

Take advantage of several parks within the city of New Carrollton. Becket Field provides 3.6 acres of ball fields (including baseball, football and softball fields), as well as a playground, basketball court, batting cage, a community building available for rental that often gets used for outdoor events throughout the year, picnic tables and bleachers arranged around the various ball fields for spectators. Turner Field features two baseball diamonds, horseshoe pits, grills and picnic tables as well as bleachers.

The more than 4 acres featured by West Field Park, meanwhile, contain Vita Course exercise stations, a three-quarter mile paved walking path and a softball diamond. Oaklane Park, a somewhat smaller park space, includes 1.4 acres of green space and a swing set. Frenchman’s Creek Park is child-focused with a playground and a second playground geared towards very young children. Find a basketball court at 85th Avenue Park in addition to more green space.

Dogs should remain leashed at all times unless otherwise noted. The New Carrollton Police Department holds an annual crime and drug prevention event called the National Night Out, which features events for the kids, activities, food and more. While all the parks mentioned do provide exercise opportunities, West Field Park features space dedicated solely to sports and exercise.

The cost of living in New Carrollton, Md., averages roughly 13 percent below the typical cost for the Washington, D.C. region. A ticket on public transportation to reach the center of D.C. from New Carrollton will set you back anywhere from $1.75 to $4, depending on the means by which you travel. The average rental cost for a one bedroom apartment in New Carrollton sits at $1,077 per month, while the average price for a pint of beer comes in just under $9. Commuters pay a little more for gasoline — roughly 4 percent — than the national average.

The downtown area of New Carrollton houses a range of shopping opportunities, from large department stores such as Lowe's to discount store such as K&G Fashion Superstore. Visit the New Carrollton Town Center, an outdoor mall with shops and restaurants running along Annapolis Road.

For groceries, try the Yes Organic Market, or head to the Foodway Supermarket or Save-A-Lot. The Abea International Groceries provides cuisine options with more of an international flavor. Find the closest farmer's market located in Cheverly. The Cheverly Community Market takes place on every other Saturday from May to December and stocks everything from fresh produce to coffee beans, floral arrangements, fine teas and baked goods.