15th St Northwest, Columbia Heights

Imagine driving down 15th Street NW in Washington, D.C. and seeing the majestic Washington Monument on one side of the street and the gigantic Department of Commerce building on the other side. Drive a little farther and you will come up on the Treasury Department, the Ellipse and the famed Willard Intercontinental Hotel. This is the end of 15th Street NW that travels through the government and tourist section of town, until it turns into mid-rise and high-rise apartment homes toward the northern end of the street.

This is a great place to live if you work in the District of Columbia, as 15th Street NW is one of the most convenient locations around. The street gets its share of traffic, but it is also clean, lively, friendly and very tolerant of newcomers (which is good). There are restaurants and boutique shops on 15th Street NW, but it is never far from a night spot or eatery. Getting around the city from this location is easy and convenient. The only downside of living here is that it is fairly close to the White House and Executive Office Building, and streets can get congested (and may be closed) during special events. Otherwise, this is pretty much in the heart of everything in D.C.