Washington area neighborhoods: Rockville, beyond the Pike

Full disclosure: I grew up in Bethesda, and after 18 years there, my feelings toward Rockville boiled down to a single word: traffic.

Traffic on the way to Putt-Putt Golf and Games. Traffic on the way to Toys R Us. Traffic on the way to ice hockey practice. Rockville Pike. Always traffic.

So when I decided to move to Rockville last year, traffic was something I knew I would find.

A neighborhood, though? A place to walk around, with hidden gems to discover and places to become a regular? I wasn't optimistic.

But it's out there. It's hidden among granite countertop and mattress dealers; hidden across the street from car washes and behind BP stations; hidden above dance studios and in the shadows of tall government buildings. It's hidden a short walk from the Twinbrook Metro.

It's also hidden among the chain stores of Rockville Town Center, which opened in 2007 across from the Rockville Metro. "It's really cool to have a place to run into people," said Kate Bentley, 25, a construction office manager who grew up in Twinbrook. "We didn't really have that before, just a place to walk around and hang out. You always see the same people there all the time. It's a little bit more of a community feeling."

Just like a good scavenger hunt, the gems are hidden among the ordinary.

You don't need to have a car to find any of these places, either. Hop on the Metro with us as we explore the Twinbrook and Rockville areas (a three-minute ride between the two; $1.60-$2.15). We've chosen some of our favorite spots, and there are surely more out there.

The best part? You can enjoy this expanded neighborhood without having to worry about traffic. Well, other than foot traffic, that is.

TWINBROOK

1. Gilly's Craft Beer and Fine Wine