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DT Bethesda is definitely more walkable and urban. Although, Buckhead is more of a regional destination than Bethesda, so it can in some ways feel "bigger."
Which location provides the better urban style of living? Which feels more like a mini-big city in it's footprint?
Discuss:
Walk-ability
Public Transit
Bicycling
High rise living
Parks/Rec
Housing diversity
Dining
Specifically Downtown Bethesda, or the DT Buckhead core.
I've never thought about comparing the two before, but this is a pretty good matchup actually.
I'll give Bethesda the nod in the first three categories and give the other four to Buckhead. When it comes to parks, I like how Buckhead is bookended by Atlanta Memorial Park to the south and Chastain Park to the north with the small, but quite nice Charlie Loudermilk Park anchoring the center. PATH400 is also a great recreational amenity seeking to make Buckhead more walkable overall.
Bethesda for me by a wide margin. I’ve been to Buckhead before but more recently, I stayed at the JW Buckhead 3 weeks ago so it’s been recent.
I’ve also went to Bethesda for the first time since Covid a couple weeks ago. That place has really had a construction boom with very tall and stunning towers. But importantly, it’s just a very urban area that really could rival many downtowns in the US.
The walkability & pedestrian & bike experience is what does it for me. Buckhead is by far more auto centric than Bethesda.
No slam against Buckhead, it excels in what it’s supposed to be.
A couple of (my) pictures below Shows the quality of developments Bethesda is getting.
But what Buckhead is missing is really good transit connectivity.
And Bethesda transit is totally top notch.
Bethesda, Maryland is actually one of my favorite suburbs in the nation.
Such a great blend of density, greenery, shopping, restaurants, parks, housing stock ranging from high rise apartments to single family homes, and amazing transit access... You have no need to own a car in Bethesda, Maryland. It feels as an extension of DC by all means...
Bethesda also has a really beautiful greenway that goes from Bethesda, Maryland to Georgetown in DC. It is such a beautiful trail and beats Buckhead in the park department as well.
But what Buckhead is missing is really good transit connectivity.
And Bethesda transit is totally top notch.
Bethesda, Maryland is actually one of my favorite suburbs in the nation.
Such a great blend of density, greenery, shopping, restaurants, parks, housing stock ranging from high rise apartments to single family homes, and amazing transit access... You have no need to own a car in Bethesda, Maryland. It feels as an extension of DC by all means...
Bethesda also has a really beautiful greenway that goes from Bethesda, Maryland to Georgetown in DC. It is such a beautiful trail and beats Buckhead in the park department as well.
Not really, Buckhead is served by both the Gold and Red Lines. Regarding your other comments, I don't believe you have ever been there.
As a matter of fact, I doubt many posting here have ever been there.
Not really, Buckhead is served by both the Gold and Red Lines. Regarding your other comments, I don't believe you have ever been there.
As a matter of fact, I doubt many posting here have ever been there.
When you get off MARTA in Buckhead vs. Metro in Bethesda, it’s quite a different experience.
Do you think the MARTA stops in Buckhead are pedestrian friendly areas?
Do you consider the MARTA stops in Buckhead to be great examples of urbanity?
The Lenox station is particularly bad, the Buckhead stop at least has nice views of skyscrapers when you get off.
But I can’t imagine it’s great getting off to a huge road and walking to a restaurant or store that you most likely will have to walk through a parking lot to get to. Bethesda doesn’t really have large surface parking lots.
I have not used the MARTA stops despite even my hotel being right beside the stop (but most of the hotel has fencing around it.) Plus, it wasn’t convenient for places I wanted to go like Ponce City Market, etc.
I like Buckhead. But I like it for the what it is. A place to stroll around with no car is not one of them.
In actually interested to hear your reasonings for choosing Buckhead. Because you’re the local so you have more experience.
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