There's no avoiding the history of Mt. Vernon. Statues, steeples and regal rowhouses tower over streets and sidewalks busy with pedestrians and downtown traffic. The neighborhood named for George Washington's home in Virginia is one of Baltimore's oldest communities -- and it shows.

Central to the neighborhood are Washington Place and Mount Vernon Place. Flanked by one of Baltimore's main arteries, Charles Street, which splits to accommodate several grassy and marble paved parks, the spot is crowned by the Washington Monument --a tribute to our country's first president that predates its counterpart in Washington D.C. In the spring, blooming pear trees and flowering bulbs decorate the landscape. At Christmas time, the monument is awash with colored lights.

Once home to the most affluent Baltimoreans, Mt. Vernon is now an eclectic mix of students, professionals and artists. Residents and visitors are drawn to a collection of cultural attractions: Walters Art Museum, The Peabody Conservatory, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Center Stage, to name a few.

The neighborhood is also a destination for sublime food and drinks -- from Ethiopian to a hometown brew. Mt. Vernon is just the thing for a night on the town.

Whether you're looking for a sweet spot to walk your pup or a hip joint for cocktails, this historic neighborhood can deliver. Don't let the history fool you -- Mt. Vernon is neither stale or stodgy.

Mt. Vernon