Many of the reviews are older but very similar to the experience we had with our wedding…read more If you are looking for a beautiful venue, this is absolutely it! The gardens are stunning and the mansion is an absolute gem. You cannot beat the beauty. We unfortunately had a very bad experience with the staff. It has been one year since my wedding and it has taken an entire year to write this. Proceed with caution. I want to remember the good parts of my wedding and this an honest review after 365 days to process this all. 1- On the wedding day, we arrived to the venue. The parking lot was roped off so no bridal party members or groomsmen could park their vehicles. 2- The table rental company (on their preferred list) was in the side driveway without room for any other vendors to park. 3- We were directed to WAIT to enter the building on our paid time that they approved beforehand. Esther informed us that we needed to wait until their staff arrived....during the time that was PAID FOR! and approved! This caused our schedule to be delayed and we could not get ready. 4- Staff are incredibly rude to guests, to the bridal party, and made up rules that were not listed in the contract. OPPOSITE of what was discussed in the walkthrough with Jessica. For example, putting a picture frame of a photo of my family member that is no longer with us on the piano was prohibited by Esther but discussed and approved in our walkthrough with Jessica. PLEASE BE WARNED : You will get a different person on the day of the event. The whole event was discussed with Jessica, but Esther was there when we arrived and it was our first time even meeting her. She knew nothing about what was discussed in the walkthrough and she makes up rules not in the contract. Esther walked around as if she was a guest, helping herself to food and drinks. This is NOT in the contract either. Had they informed us in the contract (or even had the courtesy to ask) we would have accounted for it in our budget - nowhere was this mentioned. Another warning: Our ceremony was filmed and staff will leave the fountain going so you cannot hear anything from our vows/ceremony. The ceremony was almost finished when they finally turned off the fountain. The personalized vows to each other are lost forever because it cannot be heard over the fountain. 5. "No visible garbage cans" became a new rule (not listed on their contract). Guests could not see where to dispose of the drinkware. Also, indoors, they will not allow you to use the wastebaskets they have in any of the rooms. You cannot use anything in the rooms and you do NOT have access to all of the rooms. They prohibited my grandparent (also my flower girl) from getting ready in a room downstairs. We had approval from Jessica beforehand to use the room - again, you will get the opposite of what is discussed in the walkthrough. They claim they are "handicap accessible" but they do not accommodate elderly grandparents on the ground rooms to get ready without extreme difficulty. 6. Staff locked the mansion before the contracted time was over. This was time that was paid in advance for. They also did not leave any lights on in the parking lot during our contracted time. Our vendors cleaned up in the dark while staff watched in their vehicles. Please be warned. The beauty of the mansion and the grounds come with a sacrifice. The old reviews still stand. Take my experience as a warning and address everything beforehand.

Strong Mansion and the surrounding grounds are gorgeous. If you have your wedding here, you won't…read morebe disappointed. We had the ceremony on the steps which back up to a reflecting pool. There are lots of flowers and green plants, so you don't need to bring any ceremony decorations. We had dinner and dancing under the tent, and took a lot of our pictures down the hill in their garden. It's really an incredible spot for photos. The rental fee is only for 7 hours and you have to add additional hours for set up and clean up. The rental fee does include a lighted tent, which was a huge bonus. That makes it quite comparable in cost to the county rental properties in VA and MD (which are relatively *cheap* compared to other venues), but it's such a nicer place! And it's much cheaper than other beautiful venues in the area - I did a lot of comparing. Patsy, the day of help (she's not really your Day of Coordinator, but helps with keeping things on schedule, lining people up, etc.) was great. She did an awesome job talking us through our rehearsal, which we had to do under the tent because it was pouring rain the day before the wedding. It's best to call them to get a response - email communication was sporadic. And book early - we booked 13 months in advance and there was only 1 Saturday slot in September left!

ock Creek Mansion hosted Len's 80th birthday, and we could not have chosen a better place. The…read moremansion is beautiful and impeccably kept, with an elegant ballroom and lovely grounds that made every guest feel welcome. Under Katy Linder's management, the support before and during the event was outstanding. Katy was attentive to every detail from the first visit to the last dance. Mike Horan made caipirinhas worthy of a Brazilian expert, and Mike Naas was always present, even finding a private space for our samba dancers to change. If you are planning a special celebration, we highly recommend Rock Creek Mansion. Thank you, Katy, Mike and Mike, for making Len's 80th so memorable!

This review is being left three months after our event. While the venue setting was nice, and the…read moreservers were pleasant and on point, we have had lingering issues after the event for three months, trying to wrap matters up. Checks for the bar staff written the night of the event were not cashed. We sent inquiries each month, offered to bring cash to settle up, were then told the checks had been found, but they still did not make it to the bank. We were trying to close the event bank account by year end of 2022. We have received so many conflicting instructions from management that it has been totally frustrating.

Nice woods, nice cabins. We were here for a wedding…read more It's a pretty place.

We absolutely fell in love with this quaint brick manor nestled in the woods, only 20 minutes…read moreoutside of downtown DC, for our weekend getaway wedding. Owned by the Montgomery County Parks, the manor house is separated into various rooms, which we loved, but can prove to be a bit complicated when having to move people around in the house. This is a "do it yourself" type of venue, which can save you a ton of money because you can bring in whatever you want, but means that either you or a wedding coordinator need to organize outside vendors with the staff at Rockwood. There is no onsite wedding catering available, but several caterers available in the area. We recommend Stone Soup catering! Their food is delicious and they know the venue well! One huge bonus to Rockwood is that all of the tables, chairs, ceremony chairs, etc. are included in the price! That will save you a bunch because all you will need is linens. For a bit of a description, there are three rooms on the top level (we had a bar, appetizers, Photo Booth), a side brick floor veranda (where we had dancing), and a large banquet hall with a catering kitchen and large refrigerators for storage. We brought our own nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages, which saved us thousands of dollars. There are several gorgeous outdoor areas where you can hold a ceremony, including a stone patio in the back or a gazebo on the side of the manor. Above all, it is EXTREMELY affordable for the region. We paid less than $7000 in total for Thursday-Sunday with accommodations for up to 37 people in B&B style rooms, and 85 people in bunk bed cabins. If you wanted to charge a small fee for the accommodations, you would make back some money and save your guests money! The 13 B&B style rooms each have their own bathroom/shower. The three cabins are actually pretty nice if you can get over sleeping in a bunk. They are air-conditioned or heated depending on the season, and the bathroom facilities are clean and relatively modern. The whole package is an exceptional deal in this region. The only thing that can be a bit frustrating is that the staff at Rockwood are not always reachable by phone and do not communicate information among themselves very well. The staff is extremely friendly, but there were several occasions where I would email or call someone to confirm something and the next time I called or emailed, another colleague would have no record of what I had confirmed and I'd have to start over. On a few occasions, I would have to do this 3 or 4 times. If Rockwood had a dedicated wedding coordinator it would be so much more efficient. That said, we wouldn't have changed the venue for anything. We really loved the charming rustic, vintage feel of the manor.

I recently returned to Maryland after a decade away, and one of the first places I re-visited was…read morethe Sandy Spring Museum. I remembered it fondly as having lovely grounds and a small collection of interesting historical exhibits. Well, it still has beautiful grounds and some historical exhibits, but now most of its space is devoted to the work of local artists. It currently hosts colorful yarn sculptures that appear almost organic. Their beauty is enhanced by the diverse shapes and colors the artist chose for each grouping. It's a display that can be enjoyed by people of any age, and it's small enough that children won't get bored. The museum is free to visit, so anyone can enjoy what it has to offer. Highly recommended!

Enjoyed a walking tour of art on the grounds of SSM. Daría did an amazing job explaining each…read morepiece. This is a hidden gem in MoCo with a lot of history. You def need to check their website for different events and featured artists. FYI-you can have weddings, company events, etc.

Fantastic museum tucked away in MD, only a 45 min drive out of DC. Visited two years ago in the…read moresummer and went back this week in the fall. Enjoyed a delicious lunch at the cafe, which was under renovation the last time we went. Highly recommend the chicken sandwich. The coffee was also out of this world--maybe our highlight of the day. Very whimsical to watch all the guests walking around draped in Andrea Bowers protest ribbons (which were also at the NMWA!), and the rainy weather added to the ethereal experience. There are free umbrellas in the arrival hall. They cap the guests per day so it never feels crowded; oftentimes, you're the only visitor in a room. Only downside is the weird cult-ish vibe of the greeters at the arrival hall. Both times they've been aloof and unfriendly. But once you make it into the main area, everyone we spoke to was lovely. Service is pretty spotty unless you're indoors on the guest WiFi! There is ample parking and they have shuttles that can take you back to your car from the main area.

I love coming here and the art installations are always so nice and interesting to see. I love how…read moreminimalistic the design and layout of the museum is and I especially love the outdoor experience of walking around and looking at the outdoor art. The staff are always so friendly and welcoming. It's been becoming hard to get tickets now since it always gets sold out fast! However I was able to get tickets and experience their summer music series for the first time. It was a wonderful time listening to live music outdoor and enjoying lite bites and drinks from their cafe patio.

Some of the organizers are rude. No real community outreach for women that are Seniors that are…read moreminorities. Not accommodating peoples wide array of dietary restrictions. Should include various topics of cultural information and education for the cultural landscape of the MD and DC community. Should engage young woman volunteers.

The Woman's Club of Bethesda was perfect for our daughter's Sweet 16 party. It is just the right…read moresize and the recent updates along with our decorations made it a very pretty venue for our party. The management was very responsive and easy to work with. Highly recommend!

Absolutely gorgeous gardens and the best part is that admission is completely free…read more Rain or shine, the gardens were stunning and exceptionally well maintained. We were impressed by the variety of plant collections, some of which rivaled gardens we had previously paid admission to visit. Parking was free and we chose to park at the Visitor Center. However, those planning to visit the Butterfly Experience should park closer to the Conservatory, as the walk between the two was fairly substantial. The map was detailed and pathways were well maintained, making the grounds accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. We purchased tickets for the Butterfly Experience and check in was quick and seamless. I did find the additional $2 service charge unfortunate, especially since there was no option to purchase tickets in person. Thankfully, staff were flexible with entry timing. The volunteers were incredibly kind and guided visitors through the double door system efficiently. Inside, butterflies freely flew around the conservatory and many rested on the ground, so we had to stay mindful of where we stepped. I especially appreciated the bulletin board displaying all the butterfly species currently housed inside. The Children's Garden was relatively small but wonderfully colorful and dense with greenery. The vibrant artwork throughout added a whimsical charm that made the area feel playful and inviting. Nearby, the Winter Garden and Camellia Garden were similarly well maintained, though neither was particularly abundant in blooms during our visit. I still appreciated the many art installations scattered throughout the surrounding trails. The Fragrance Garden absolutely lived up to its name and ended up being one of my favorite sections. Beyond the floral aromas surrounding the garden, the entire area felt incredibly serene and the air itself felt remarkably fresh and crisp. The Japanese Tea House was beautifully simplistic, featuring plain wooden benches along the exterior while overlooking still water framed by lush Japanese trees. The Anderson Pavilion offered a similar tranquil atmosphere on the opposite side of the Visitor Center, though surrounded by a different collection of trees and landscaping. The Visitor Center contained a small gift shop, though I did not notice many customized or particularly memorable souvenirs. The building otherwise seemed primarily dedicated to educational programming and exhibits. The grounds were incredibly well maintained and there was an impressive variety of gardens to explore and interact with. While I found the Butterfly Experience somewhat expensive, it would absolutely be worthwhile for those who have never visited an active conservatory before. Otherwise, the free portions of Brookside Gardens alone make this an easy and worthwhile stop for anyone in the area.

This is a lovely park and served as a great alternative to going downtown to see the cherry…read moreblossoms. They have areas to sit with various views of the lake. Dogs are not allowed unless they are service animals. There are centers on the premises that have bathrooms in addition to events and programs they give yearly.

McLean Gardens Ballroom is one of my favorite venues to work as a vendor. As a music supplier, I've…read morebeen helping to put on social and corporate events there since 1999. It's a beautiful and classy room perfect for a DJ, string trio or quartet, soloist and small jazz combo. I've helped countless numbers of brides and grooms with their music needs as well as corporate clients (annual parties and meetings) supplying not only music but also, A/V, projection, lighting, lecterns and technical needs for their meetings. (In short, I know this room, its acoustics, what works, what's possible and what simply won't work). When Philippe and Stuart (who I've had the good fortune to work with for the past 14++ years) took over managing this room a few years ago, operations became a lot smoother. Having an 'in house' caterer makes so much sense and reduces wear and tear on the room from outside caterers who need to bring everything in and everything out. So, I really do have a unique history with this Ballroom and highly recommend it for anyone who wants a beautiful room for their event and a top notch catering (and fun) pros who will provide a fun, unique and memorable experience.

So I've thought a long time about how I want to do this review (what with all these businesses…read moresuing for bad review lately) but I just have to do it. We had our wedding reception here in October. I'll start with the positives: + The food is fantastic + The venue is gorgeous + The prices are reasonable This would seriously be a five star review if I could overlook the service issues. I was so excited about our wedding and I seriously thought McLean Gardens Ballroom was going to throw the best event ever until about a month before the wedding. Washington Parties, the exclusive caterers at this venue, and specifically the owner, Philippe, put a pretty big damper on our big day. And not in some sort of Bridezilla "omg why aren't there sugar cubes with the coffee instead of regular sugar" kind of way. More of a "this organization didn't keep their size of the contract" kind of way. About a month before the wedding, Philippe began to be difficult to get a hold of. And when we did talk, it was like we had the same conversation over and over again (it didn't seem like he remembered anything we had talked about in previous conversations or emailed about). And when I would get him on the phone, he would just tell me what I wanted to hear to get me off the phone. He promised me just about anything I asked for. I should have realized it was a sign. So here's everything that specifically went down: - To start off with, they had another event there the day of our wedding. This, in itself, is not unusual or bad. What was bad was the timing. According to our contract, we were supposed to have the room two hours before the event to get set up. Our reception started at 6:00. Their party ended at 5:00. In the end, they worked it out but I found out about this conflict the day before my wedding. I feel like I should also note that we booked the room in April of 2010. When it came time to send out the invitations, I confirmed with Philippe that the time would be ok. He mentioned nothing of the conflict at that time. Stress? Yes. Stress. - We selected three types of DC Brau to be served at our reception, Heiniken, and left it up to the venue to select a couple of domestic beers to serve. They chose Milwaukee's Best and Steel Reserve. Malt. Frikkin. Liquor. At the time, I thought it was funny but after everything that transpired later in the night, it's just one more thing that was screwed up. - According to our contract, they were supposed to serve "mini desserts" with the cake. They were never served. Ok, so any of the above I could have just laughed off. But what happened at the end of the night really soured me on the service for this place: - So Philippe let the Bridesmaids and I keep our stuff in his office (when we actually booked the venue, there was an unused room that we were told we could use while we were there but by the time we had our event it had been rented so Philippe let us use his office). Unfortunately, the door would lock if you pulled it shut behind you so we had to keep it propped open. One of my 'maids accidentally pulled it shut behind her at the end of the evening. Oh crap, well Philippe has the key, right? OH, Philippe left 20 minutes ago. Well crap. Let's ask the assistant he left in charge to call him. Wait, why is the assistant trying to jimmy the door open with a butter knife? Oh, Philippe isn't coming back? But my ID and telephone are inside and I'm flying out for my honeymoon tomorrow morning and I need the ID to get on the plane... So a couple of my drunk guests are starting to talk about breaking down the door (we were obviously not letting them). The assistant turned around and yelled at everyone to just get away from the door and disappears. Did not ask politely, yelled. Doesn't tell us what he's going to do. Doesn't say he's going to try to keep fixing it. From what I understand, he just left and kept going about the business of cleaning up (I didn't see myself so I have no idea). It basically took me calling Philippe up myself on one of my guests phones and begging him to come back. He showed up almost an hour later, unlocked the door (without saying a word to me sitting right there in my wedding dress or even looking at me), and just walked away. From what I understand, he actually yelled at my mother in law and my florist because they were having a glass of wine while they were cleaning up (his exact words were "PARTY'S OVER" as he snatched their glasses away). If that wasn't allowed, fine but he yelled at them. The caterers had shooed everyone out the door by 10:30 (we, contractually, had until 11:00 to clean up). In conclusion, I would not recommend this venue unless Philippe hires someone to manage the events or to assist him. He is a fantastic cook but disorganized and his people skills suck when he's stressed out.