The DMV area refers to the Washington metropolitan area, which is centered around Washington, D.C., the federal capital of the United States. The metropolitan area includes all of Washington, D.C. and parts of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. The term DMV stands for "District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia" and is a colloquial name for the National Capital Region. The regions three largest cities are Washington, D.C., Arlington, and Alexandria. The area is surrounded by Interstate 495 with the locations inside of it referred to as Inside the Beltway. The DMV area is a vibrant area with good food, a rich history, and some unusual activity options. The exact boundaries of the DMV area are not well-defined, and opinions vary. However, most people consider all of D.C. as being in the DMV, and almost everyone feels that the areas immediately surrounding D.C. are part of the DMV. Some people think the DMV expands to include the entirety of the counties surrounding D.C., plus some of the counties beyond that.