Holy concrete, glass and art! Glenstone is a canvas for adults' imagination. This retreat is if a…read moreminimalist billionaire and Mother Nature had a serene art child. Every turn of concrete and glass leads to a magical surprise. My favorite was the Alex Da Corte exhibits which were full of color and textures.

Glenstone is one of the country's most well-respected and influential modern art galleries. The…read moreRales' have amassed a private post-War art collection worth more than $2 billion, and they have built a private museum to showcase their collection, spending more than $200 million to build the structures over the years. The property encompasses 360 acres and includes not only the two buildings housing the art, there's also an arrival center, a cafe/cafeteria, a patio cafe/coffee shop, and a beautiful woodland walking path, along which one can experience many outdoor sculptures and pieces of art. And all of this is open to the public for free. You are advised to schedule your visit in advance via the website, but walk-ups are accommodated during the winter months. If you arrive via the Ride-On bus (the Rales' worked with Montgomery County to ensure that a bus would be routed right to the front door of the arrival center), you are guaranteed entry. Students 12 and older (including college and graduate students), educators, active-duty military members, veterans, and museum professionals enjoy guaranteed entry for themselves plus one guest, 12 or older. You might read articles about Glenstone that disparage what the Rales' have created, but the reality is that they are doing good in the world: they are making world-class art available to the public for free. I've visited Glenstone about a half dozen times over the years. There are some permanent exhibits but the majority of the galleries rotate art from their massive collection. The cafe has great food. The grounds are quiet and beautiful. The staff are all unbelievably knowledgeable and helpful. A visit to Glenstone is a gift to yourself.

The Heritage Farm Museum is one of my favorite ways to entertain a toddler on a rainy / hot / snowy…read moreday! You can spend a full morning here, running around, playing, and exploring all the different exhibits and not get bored. The general store is a personal favorite and my kiddos love putting on an apron, stocking and restocking shelves, and pretending to purchase bread and potatoes. There is also a little interactive farm, one room school house, and recreation of an old timey kitchen that are a big hit with our toddler set. In nicer weather days, they have actual farm demonstrations and lots of tractors and other wheeled contraptions for kids to look at. The cost of a morning of fun? $5 for adults, $3 for kids, and FREE NINETY NINE for the two and under set. You can tire your kiddos out, grab lunch at nearby Ridgetop Coffee (which has an indoor playroom), and have a peaceful car nap home. Truly one of the best hidden gems for families here in Nova.

Great spot to spend a few hours with your toddler! The museum is small but perfectly sized for…read moresmall toddlers that need to burn energy on a hot or rainy day. The woman at the front desk was incredibly nice and helpful. The play areas were clean and creative. There farm area and general store were our toddler's favorite! Would definitely recommend and we will be back soon

This museum is free. The hours are limited, so check the details listed above for their schedule…read more They have 2 train cars on display that are vintage, one being a diner car full with real china used on the train. The brick and mortar part of the museum offers a scavenger hunt for children and adults to play alike. They have original antiques used at train stations, like a Morse code reader. It's located in the heart of Old Gaithersburg, right outside the Marc train station .

I have always passed this place on weekends, looking a the steam engine and then got the…read moreopportunity to take my son on a week day when this museum is open. Whole lot of history from Montgomery County and enjoyed poking around the station books, typewriter and imagined I was present a 100 years ago. Good Job Montgomery County on keeping these memories away. Who doesn't want the opportunity to also see the almost 200 wagon CSX pass by

If you're into the arts, check out the workshops and art gallery inside the Mansion at Strathmore…read more There's a parking lot near a garden full of sculptures and chairs to enjoy the view. Walk inside to the mansion to find an art gallery throughout. Here, they host afternoon tea, crafts, story time, and more. My nine-year-old daughter loves their gift shop!

Attended the afternoon tea experience at the Strathmore Mansion in May 2025. Probably one of the…read morebest tea services in the area for the value. Their signature blend tea is really flavorful and available for purchase in their gift shop. Everything was laid out on the table when we arrived so we were able to enjoy ourselves. Great variety of sandwiches, desserts and a scone. The caterer did a fabulous job with the food prep. I'm not a fan of macarons so that was the only item I didn't taste. The chicken sandwich was the only one that was missing something, but it still tasted very good. They host teas during the week and on one Saturday each month. The weekend dates sell out pretty fast. Definitely worth a try! And parking is right there so you can get decked out for your tea experience and not have to worry about walking too far!

I was driving to see the McKee-Beshers sunflowers when I stumbled upon this gem…read more This Seneca Schoolhouse Museum was built in 1865, and is a historic one room schoolhouse which is now used for educational programs and event space. I didn't get to really go explore the grounds since the gate was close. They did offer a history board about the building and the grounds from outside for people to read about it. I checked out the website, and it would seem this gets frequented by elementary school kids for a field trip back into time. I think it's great! It really is well preserved and well located for the what it was used during its time as an active school house right near the C & O Canal. If in the area - come visit and take yourself back into time.

Great local art center, has a super wide variety of concerts and events. I particularly love their…read morefree festivals like Octoberfest and Juneteenth. I'm excited for their artisans markets to start again too! Staff is always very friendly, venue is beautiful and clean. I would highly recommend BlackRock to anyone in the area!

I came here for a memorial celebration of Prince's birthday, and it was a really good time. Parking…read morewas surprisingly easy, especially with so many other guests in attendance. I was able to park directly in front of the entrance and walk right in. The setup was really nice--plenty of tables and a huge area for dancing. The DJ was spinning not only the hits but also deep cuts and some previously unreleased versions of his songs. Behind her, a projector played clips from Prince's past performances, which added a great visual vibe to the night. There was a small cash bar offering Prince-themed cocktails, plus beer and wine. The staff were fantastic and even popped in a few times to dance and celebrate with us. The venue itself was absolutely gorgeous--cool and comfortable despite all the dancing. I never imagined this would be such a great place to host or attend a party, but I'd definitely come to another event here.

I visited this museum a couple months ago and it was an excellent experience more than I expected…read more Small yet so impactful on what Josiah Henson's history means to the state of Maryland and the country. Tickets were $12 a piece and you have to park a 1/2 a mile away across the street at a park then cross a busy street. My only suggestion for this part of the visit is to let visitors park at the daycare next door or the commercial building lot where there was no one on the weekend. (Saturday in particular no 1 was at either business) Both are on the same side as the museum and much safer to walk. Once I was at the museum, you watch a video of Josiah Hensons' history which was about 10-12 minutes. Then Ginger, the friendly front desk receptionist, takes you outside to the grounds of where Josiah and his family were enslaved. There's signage at each ground site and then you walk into the original house where everything felt surreal. Our tour guide Jessie had so much wealth of knowledge and was able to answer every question we had. We actually had the house to ourselves so it felt more personable as she guided us until the next group came in. You can take pictures of most inside. While I don't want to go into the particulars of what you see (nothing graphic), some things you just have to experience in person. I would highly recommend this hidden treasure to any local of Maryland. I would pass this place all the time and glad I finally carved time out to visit. What I thought in the beginning would be less then an hour turned into 2 1/2 hours of a phenomenal, educational visit. Thank you Ginger & Jessie! (We even bought a couple books after)

Josiah Henson Museum & Park tells the story about the challenges and triumphs of Reverend Josiah…read moreHenson, enslaved in Maryland. This is one of the best museums in the DMV area that gives you an actual depiction of Josiah Henson's life from start to finish. Henson achievements have gone almost unnoticed due to being overshadowed by the popular novel, inspired by his life, Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. The visitor's center offers a 12-minute film. I recommend watching this movie 1st before moving into the plantation house and walking down the trail. The visitor's center has lots of information and touring guides to historical sites all over Maryland and they are FREE. And did I mention admission to the museum is free, however you are welcome to donate online or at the visitor's center. Things I learned: 1. Henson led approximately 120 people to freedom in Canada as a conductor on the Underground Railroad 2. Henson established a community for former slaves in Canada called the Dawn Settlement 3. Henson has his own autobiography, "The Life of Josiah Henson, Formerly a Slave, Now an Inhabitant of Canada" written in 1849. 4. Henson successfully escaped from slavery with his wife and children in 1830. 5. Henson was a very handsome man, several high-resolution photos are on display at the museum, which counteract the not-so-kind propaganda that mockingly depicted him as old and feeble. What really makes this museum unique is the comic strip animation (that looks like the animation from The Boondocks), used to creatively tell his story from one room to the next. On the backside of the plantation home there is a well preserved out-house kitchen, where the meals were prepared, and there was a loft area where the kitchen staff could sleep and keep warm. Other interesting landmarks was a plot which was believed to be where he lived as the grounds manager of the property. Other artifacts and tools located inside the house. Maryland truly has a historical gem that does not get as much attention as other historical figures from this period. I truly encourage you to make this trip and discover the amazing life and legacy of Reverend Josiah Henson.

Very nice little but packed museum in Lutherville! I loved learning about the history of fire…read morerescue and all the tools, gadgets and trucks they used to use. The museum also gave insight into how the fire men used to live at the stations. Very interesting stuff. They also give you a free poster! Recommend!

WOW What an experience this has to be one of the best fire apparatus collections I've been to. You…read morecan tell they take great pride in the museum!!!

Family friendly…read more Wheelchair accessible. Inviting space for education AND fun. Community-oriented. Many program options. Check them out!

From the owner: The Rockville Science Center is a place for ALL AGES to discover the wonders of science and connect…read morewith the scientific community in our region. Join us for a class, a lecture, chess club, or one of our special events. Sign up for our programs on our website. Hope to see you soon!