Washington Heights sits north of Harlem on a high ridge that makes it the most elevated point in Manhattan. In New York history, too, the neighborhood that runs from 155th Street all the way up to Dyckman Street has an exalted position -- once one of Manhattan's most glamorous neighborhoods, Washington Heights is still home to a number of stately brownstones and old mansions. The oldest of these is the Morris-Jumel Mansion, which anchors the landmarked Jumel Terrace Historic District. For all the architectural history lining its blocks, though, Washington Heights is anything but stodgy -- an influx of Caribbean immigrants have given Washington Heights a lively food culture and 24-hour life, while an assortment of ambitious renovations of pre-war apartment buildings have greatly enhanced the stock of pre-war apartments in Washington Heights. New construction condominiums are still scarce north of 155th, but the townhomes that have long defined the neighborhood have benefited greatly from a recent wave of restoration.

Many of these Washington Heights residences offer easy access to both the lovely Fort Tryon Park and some of the most stunning river views in Manhattan, of both the George Washington Bridge and New Jersey's Palisades. Thanks to a cultural mix unlike any in Manhattan, Washington Heights has re-emerged after decades of decline as a lively and fast-rising neighborhood, and as one of the last undiscovered gems in the Manhattan real estate market.