Montgomery County, Maryland is literally a stone's throw from Washington, D.C. It is a place where families can find fun activities of all sorts. The urban settings of Rockville, Silver Spring, Potomac and Bethesda are offset by the pristine areas of the outlying areas of the county. Regardless of where you go in Montgomery County, the parks, museums and educational opportunities are easily accessible and fun for the whole family.
Museums
Montgomery County museums are off the beaten path and although they are not as popular as the nearby Smithsonian museums in D.C., they are just as rich in educational and historical information. The privately funded National Capital Trolley Museum is close to downtown Silver Spring, offering guided tours and trolley rides as well as special packages for your little ones' birthday parties.
A short ride into scenic Montgomery County will take you to the bedroom community of Sandy Spring where the Sandy Spring Museum and Woodlawn Living History Museum, where hands-on exhibits, period teas and luncheons, and local crafts will transport you and your family to the 18th century.
Parks
The parks of Montgomery County are scenic, and offer picnic areas, nature centers, recreational facilities and educational opportunities for the whole family. Rock Creek Park extends from Washington D.C., where visitors can enjoy the National Zoo, riding stables and lush picnic areas. If anyone in your family likes trains, then be sure to visit Cabin John and Wheaton Regional Parks, where trains operate on a regularly scheduled basis. Historical Glen Echo Park offers visitors a glimpse into the bygone era of carousels and vintage amusement parks. The home of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, is found on the property as well and is open for guided tours year round. In addition, Glen Echo offers rides on a vintage carousel; yerts, cylindrical huts which once housed amusement side shows which are now used by artists in residence; the Spanish Ballroom which offers dance programs; a puppet theater; and historical lecture tours.
Gardens and Farms
Starting in the spring and continuing through the fall months, you can join families from all over on visits to local farms where for a nominal fee, your children can learn first hand how flowering plants, fruits and vegetables are grown, witness livestock care and feeding and even participate in the care of small farm animals. They can also enjoy the experience of picking the food that will end up on the dinner table. Berries, apples, pears, corn, peaches, tomatoes, squash, green beans and pumpkins are among the fresh produce that is available on the many pick-your-own farms in rural Montgomery County. In addition to edible treats, you will also be able to cut local flowers to beautify your home on your visit to these gardens and farms.
Downtown Silver Spring
The area known as Downtown Silver Spring is adjacent to the northwest end of Washington, D.C. Hotels, restaurants, theaters and a mall are easily accessible through public transportation or by foot. The renovated downtown area is pedestrian friendly with narrow streets that are closed to vehicular traffic on weekends. You and your family can stroll through the mall or any of the shops that are located here. Stop to enjoy a meal at one of the many restaurants, then take in a classic movie at the American Film Institute Theater or a production at the Montgomery College Performing Arts Center located on one of the major thoroughfares that dissect this busy locale.
Science and Technology
The NIH Visitor Center and Nobel Laureate Exhibit Hall, located on the main campus of the National Institutes of Health in Rockville, is open to the public five days a week. Your family can visit the photo exhibit of Nobel laureates of the NIH and take in the display of flags that describe the history and origins of the 27 institutes and centers that combine to form the National Institutes of Health. In addition, special tours and visitor programs are available as well as educational tours for school groups. You are invited to view the recorded overview of the NIH and schedule an appointment to tour Hatfield Clinical Research Center. Don't forget to pick up some information packets on the centers at the NIH, medical posters, maps and other printed material about NIH before you leave.
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