Washington, D.C. is one of the most vibrant, fascinating and beautiful cities in the nation - but finding a place to live can be a challenge, especially if you need more space than a cramped apartment. Want a little bit more space to yourself? Love the National Mall, monuments, museums and restaurants but prefer to be outside tourist central? Townhouses for rent in the Takoma Park neighborhood might be ideal for you.
Takoma Park started as a commuter suburb, but it's come a long way since then. Sharing a border with Takoma Park, Md., this neighborhood is on the outskirts of D.C. In fact, it's the last stop on the D.C. red line, which continues into Maryland. But that red line train has made all the difference.
Takoma Metro Station is a hotspot for commuters. If you're looking for a townhouse for rent, Takoma is packed with them, and you'll likely be hitting up the metro on a regular basis to get to work in the city. The neighborhood's commuter history has allowed it to grow into a thriving little corner of D.C., however - without ever overstretching its boundaries or becoming too packed. If you want space to kick back, Takoma has it. Plus, alongside the neighborhood's own great parks and restaurants, there's the convenience of the metro station and easy transportation just a short walk away.
Not everyone has a car in D.C. - which is a good thing, as traffic can be stop-and-go during rush hour. In fact, most D.C. natives prefer taking public transportation. The primary public transportation provider in D.C. is the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority. The WMATA makes getting from one corner of the capital to another a breeze, even if you're in a distant neighborhood like Takoma.
The WMATA consists of both bus and rail. The Metrobus provides more than 400,000 trips every single weekday and serves 11,500 bus stops in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. In fact, it has a fleet of more than 1,500 buses operating on 325 different routes. Metrorail serves more than 700,000 folks in and out of D.C. every single day. Spread across 86 stations, the Metrorail has a basic color-coded system of five rail lines: red, orange, blue, yellow and green. At Takoma Station - just down the street from your townhouse for rent - you can grab the red line and head downtown or further out into Maryland.
Whether you need to travel 10 blocks or 10 miles, the WMATA makes getting around a cinch. And that's not the only method of transportation in the area. You can join the legions of D.C. bikers, walkers and runners who commute by foot or pedal into work each day. There are plenty of bike trails to check out, according to The Washington Post, including the Anacostia Tributary Trails, Capital Crescent Trail, C&O Canal or the relatively new Marvin Gaye Park Trail.