Because Bethesda is less than two miles from the border of Washington DC, people tend to look at Bethesda and Washington, DC in the same light. The history of the town stretches back a great number of decades. However, the Bethesda of today really didn’t get started until around 1984. The extension of the DC/NOVA/MD metro line transformed Bethesda into the place it is today.

Large office buildings and apartments dot the landscape. People are particularly impressed with the restaurants and bars that fill the city. When people talk about the great dining options that are available to you in Washington DC, it’s quite possible that they're talking about the assortment of restaurants in Bethesda. 

Although Bethesda is not particularly well known for its sights, there are a few notables. The National Institute of Health is not necessarily a place you’ll want to go inside. Even so, it’s the place in which the vast majority of the country’s bio-research is conducted. The same can be applied to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, which is where the President and other key officials go for medical attention. The Madonna of the Trail statute, however, is a place you may want to visit.

Bethesda is known far more for its bars and restaurants than for anything else. Check out restaurants such as Bethesda Crab House, Maki Maki, Raku, Passage to India, and the Tastee Diner. In terms of bars, head over to The Barking Dog, Ri Ra Irish Pub, and the Rock Bottom Brewery.