CABIN JOHN-POTOMAC’S BOHEMIAN SISTER

Known for its eccentric mix of architecture and residents, Montgomery County’s Cabin John, just west of Glen Echo, is like Potomac’s bohemian sister. Residents are as likely to meet for meditation as for a barbecue. Homes range from World War II-era government housing to assertive split-levels built into the shelves of land leading down to the Potomac River. A Pizza Hut and the Bethesda Co-op organic-food store are equally popular.

The town’s environmentalists support bike paths and creek cleanups and complain about infill development, yet innovative architects find clients willing to build there. Residents’ almost-spiritual relationship with the river is symbolized by the fire department’s heroic rescues on the Potomac.