The pretty suburb of Gallaudet is an enclave of Washington D.C.’s Near Northeast neighbourhood. It’s a place where colourfully painted houses share the streets with cool bars and entertainment venues. It’s also where Gallaudet University is located. This institution is devoted to the education of deaf students and those hard of hearing.

Gallaudet is loosely divided by Florida Avenue Northeast. Enjoy a stroll around the tree-lined streets south of here to get a feel for the neighbourhood’s tranquil suburban lifestyle. You’ll see terraced townhouses, many painted in bright colours and decorated with intricately carved balconies.

Stretching north from Florida Avenue Northeast is Kendall Green, the picturesque campus of Gallaudet University. Pick up an information brochure from the Visitor Centre and take a self-guided tour. Prospective students can take guided tours with the university’s current students.

Admire historic 19th-century buildings such as College Hall and the high Victorian Gothic-style Chapel Hall. Check out the Edward Miner Gallaudet Residence, the former home of the university’s first president. Look for a sculpture by Daniel Chester French. It portrays the bond between a student and revered educator Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.

Be sure to visit the Gallaudet University Museum. Find exhibits that retrace the 150-year heritage of the university and highlight deaf language and culture. The museum is open from Monday to Friday.

Discover Gallaudet’s range of dining and nightlife options. Choose from African and Asian restaurants to beerhalls, cocktail lounges and live music venues. Nearby H Street is a popular nightlife zone and the host of the annual H Street Festival, a one-day art, food and music event usually held in September.

Get to Gallaudet by taking the metro to NoMa-Gallaudet U station. Frequent services connect the station with Downtown Washington D.C. and the city’s northern suburbs. Public buses stop at regular intervals along Florida Avenue Northeast.