Wheaton Regional park is unquestionably one of the best amenities in the eastern part of MoCo and makes Glenmont/Wheaton such a desirable place to live. Each side of the park has its own benefits (ice rink/dog park; train, picnic tables; brookside garden, nature center, lake) so you can't go wrong with whatever entrance you choose. For me, though, I Iove waking up early on a Saturday or Sunday morning and walking along the trials that start from the nature center. Always lots of other friendly dog owners, walkers, and joggers to enjoy the scenery with. Wheaton Regional is such a wonderful spot we are lucky to have it in our community. read more

When I was a child, my parents would take us to Brookside Gardens often. On rare occasions, my parents would even take me into Wheaton Regional Park. Not that I was ever allowed to play in the park (I may get my hand knitted and embroidered dresses with shiny patent leather shoes and pristine white stockings dirty), but I was allowed to watch other kids play. Yeah, I know. My family is nuts, but I must say, I was rather devastatingly adorable in my outfits (I really was!), so really, can you blame my mom? Anyways, I haven't been back there in a long time, but just recently, my beloved husband decided to help me exorcise some childhood demons by bringing me to Wheaton Regional Park, and even through the eyes of an adult, this is the park to end all parks! To start with, there are three large jungle-gym type play areas, with ginormous slides and bridges and all sorts of wonders that has the kids shrieking with joy and happiness. Not being a parent, I can't say for certain, but it seems that the three play areas are set up for certain age groups. There is a smaller, simpler jungle-gym for what seems to be small children (under 5), a slightly larger one that seems to cater to the 4 - 7 age group, and between these two play sets, is a large one that towers into the air and is complete with large twisty slides and all sorts of tunnels and landings that seems perfect for 7 - 12 year olds. A little further down, there is both a merry go round (which I love love love), and a miniature train (which goes around the park and a bit into Brookside Garden) - both of which can be ridden for less then $2 per ride! Yes, that's right! It's cheap too! I'm sure that kids would find these rides fun, but as an adult, these rides were the bees knees!!! The merry-go-round is just...well, how many merry-go-rounds can you find outside of state-fairs anymore, really? And the train ride around the park may seem silly, but it's oddly exciting for your inner 5 year old! Yes, many people were looking at my husband and I, as we were the only ones on both rides without children, but you know what? Youth is wasted on the young. One doesn't properly appreciate the simple, fun childhood joys until one is an adult. There are BBQ grills set up randomly throughout the park, as well as pavilions for parties and family outings galore. I remember a few Sunday afternoons when my parents would hold BBQs here (while I'm still in my ultra glorious dresses and shiny shoes) with all of their friends, the air filled with delicious charcoal smoke and lighter fluid. To this day, a whiff of charcoal and lighter fluid makes me want to call my parents and ask them over for some grilled chicken. Heh. Yes, Wheaton Regional Park may have been designed for families with young children, but I believe that it's really a haven for adults to relive their childhoods and remember what life was like before taxes, insane bosses, and mortgage payments. Simple fun with the happy yells of small children in the background. It's enough to make anyone feel like they were 8 years old again. read more

My buddy calls me up and says hey - let's take the girls to Wheaton Park. "what the hell is there" said I ," and why do we want to go?" "you'll see" If you are 5 years old or under this place is fantastic. Not one, not two, but three of the largest jungle gyms I have seen, slides and monkey bars and tire swings ago-go. When we drove in I saw these dune buggy / go cart things with real tires and I thought for a splt second they had a 4x4 track for kids....no,,,,just some big ass cars for the kiddies to play in. Great spot for the kids. read more

When I was young I rode upon the train huge as an elephant and loud as volcano I rode upon horses steeds galloping furiously around in circles while lithe music played in the air I ate green grapes that my grandmother brought for our picnic as the uncles grilled meat and stories over the embers I ran through castles and raced in cars slid down chutes climbed up ladders and ropes flew into the air while leaping from a swing I lead a camel to water and hid in the house from the friends who were trying to find me Now that I am not so young I looked for the giant chute and it was not there I looked for the swing that taught me how to fly and found a hillock and while I may have grown away from my childish things I can not fathom why childish things ought to be taken from children who have no chance to have childish things to put away Wheaton Regional Park please return these items and you too shall return to the greatest park of childhood's past, present, and future. read more

If you have kids to entertain (read: exhaust), come to the playground, carousel, and train area. The playgrounds, as covered in other reviews, are fantastic. The carousel is very cool and mercifully music-free and the train ride is a huge hit. There are a lot of places to picnic here, so you could make a day of it. If you aren't a plan-ahead type, you could pick up lunch at Marchone's (subs and cookies) in the center of Wheaton. I suspect that on weekends it's packed, but for a weekday morning in the summertime, it's uncrowded, cool, and completely fun. read more

They have recently upgraded the playground at this park. They use to have a big blue slide, but they took it down and put a couple of climbing apparatuses. There is a swing area as well. I like that the playground section is near the bathroom and a water fountain because my daughter and friends will say they have to go to pee all the time. The parents seem to do a good job in keeping track of the kids running around. We all look like hawks walking around in circles as we watch our kids to make sure they don't get hurt or come up missing. The park has a couple of picnic areas, which we once rented out one of the covered spots for about $100 for my daughter's birthday party. Which was an easy online process. We did this because her bday is on Memorial Day weekend and the picnic spots are first come first serve and we wanted to guarantee we had a table. They also have a carousel that is nice. The park is not as nice as Glen Echo or Black Hill parks, but those are very far and this one is well maintained and not too crowded (except holidays and some peak times on the weekends). Keep in mind that the park is hidden way in the back behind an Asian grocery store and apartments. So if you've never been there, don't think you are lost. Just keep going down Shorefield Road and you will find it. read more

I can pretend I am not in DC but rather in VA or country town USA...lol. No, seriously. It's beautiful and family friendly. There is a carousel and train that goes around the park for parents and kids, each is $1.50 a ride and you have to buy tickets before you can ride. I think this is so you end up with more tickets than rides and have to come back, or not because they have your money, muah ha ha ha. There is a pond for fishing (yes people fish here - but don't eat it). The laughter of children fills the air and pinata parts litter the grounds like the game Operation gone wrong. There is a hall that can be rented out for meetings, team building, parties, etc. Also a few pavilions for the same. Parking is limited, car pool or Metro. read more

One of my favorite parks on the east coast, and I've been up and down the coast. It's massive, with plenty of playgrounds for the kiddos and gorgeous natural ambiance. There's an ice skating rink, a learning center for the littles, a butterfly garden, a lake, a beautiful trail going through old, tall forests (and benches to take it all in!). Its quite lovely, it's honestly probably #2 in my pick of parks on the East Coast. There's a darling carousel and a train that will take you around the park for a fee. There's also tons of open space and it's pet friendly. Lots of picnic areas too. All in all, this has something for everyone who likes to go outside on a nice day. read more

We had our son's 4th birthday here. Rented the train party room. It was nice. Is a large space. Has a refrigerator. Lots of long rectangular tables and one circular table. The space itself is very nice; lot of light (huge windows) with a high ceiling. The park is very popular on weekends... so be prepared for lines for the train and carousel; if you rent the party room you get one organized (priority) ride on the train. We will definitely be back to use the playground equipment and ride the carousel again. The train ride is fun, but not something I'd be inclined to do over and over again. read more

Wheaton is a must-see if you have a toddler in your family. There are ample picnic spots, a merry-go-round, train, AND a petting zoo. It's pretty much your one-stop entertainment center. It can be a bit of a drive depending on where you are in the DMV (District, Maryland, Virginia). It's well worth it though. It's worth several visits as your young one probably won't be able to take it all in with one visit. Use the train or merry-go-round to catch your breath. It's a great spot for a birthday party too. We were going to use it but we were aced by a friend. read more

Came here (Monday) for lunch. We brought Marchones subs and sat at the far right table. There were a fair number of cars and people sitting around in the pavilions. Everything was very clean. Our lunch today was very pleasant. I know it would have been totally different if it the weekend.. Good, quiet weekday lunch spot to get away from all the craziness. *Bad thing, building wasn't open. I saw this family use the porter potty. read more

I lived nearby Wheaton Regional Park since 2010, and I love the renovated playground put in place last year. If I was still a child, I would spend all day on the monkey bar pyramid and slides. :) But since I'm not, I just have to say that I see lots of children at this playground having the time of their lives! I mostly use the paved and unpaved trails for walks with my wife and 5K runs. The park staff do a very good job of keeping the park and trails clean on a regular basis in the early morning when opening and in the evening before closing at dusk, as well as cleaning the public restroom. The trails are routinely cleared of debris such as leaves and fallen branches, especially after storms which I greatly appreciate. Especially when running, there is the danger of slipping and falling on wet leaves or broken branches. There are two paved 0.8 mile trail loops that are connected with a few elevation changes. These are a great challenge to run, and despite running the course several times, I'm never "used to it." It definitely is a good workout and scenic. I love to see the local wildlife (mostly deer, squirrels, and chipmunks) and hear the chirping of robins, cardinals, blue jays, and tapping of woodpeckers overhead in the area. This keeps the run interesting, as I can't stand running on a treadmill. I also like the park's proximity to Brookside Gardens and have incorporated a part of my run through it. Unless there is a special private event occurring, Brookside Gardens is accessible from Wheaton Regional Park from dawn until dusk as well. Wheaton Regional Park also has an indoor ice skating rink, a dog park, four softball fields, two baseball fields, sport pavilion, an indoor tennis facility, and six outdoor tennis courts. There is literally no shortage of things to do here! read more

What a super cool park! I had been wanting to come here for awhile to check out but it looked very large and spread out so I wanted to wait for my kids to be a bit older so I could take them myself without them running off. It reminds me a bit of Burke Lake park in that there are different areas & amenities of the park (carousel, train, playgrounds, etc) that are spread out. For the record, follow the address listed on this Yelp page (2000 Shorefield Rd); if you put Wheaton Park in your GPS, it's going to take you to the Wheaton baseball fields & ice complex. The actual playgrounds are awesome and creative. They have a large teepee like item that the kids slide down. Bungee jungle gym, a couple swing sets, sandpits, 3 large slides, and a variety of other playsets. Despite the actual playground being so large, I found it fairly easy to keep my eyes on the kids, which is major when you're going alone. We plan on returning for their annual Haunted ghost train & creepy carousel, which opens Oct 8. We will see if Wheaton or Cabin John has the better ghost train! read more

Love this playground park - lots of different things for different ages or abilities - and a HUGE plus is THE BATHROOMS - THEY HAVE REAL BATHROOMS WITH TIOLET PAPER!! now they don't always have soap to wash hands but there's water and I bring anti bacterial gel so I think it balances out - another feature I love is lots of places for the adults to sit in and out of the sun - also never had have a bee issue or bug issue here unlike other parks where they seem to swarm you the minute you sit - it does get very busy at times but at others when you think it might be busy I have found it completely empty There are picnic tables, walking trails, and an ice cream truck (occasionally) also nearby read more

Grew up coming to this park and have many fond memories. Still love the train and carousel. Not as well kept or welcoming as it once was.

Beautiful playground, lots of room to picnic, and great train ride.

This review is really for the Train Party Room, since when I was booking my son's party I couldn't find many reviews. The room is great. It is very large - we had about 25 people in there including 7 kids (aged 1-6), and there was way more than enough space for them to play. The floor is not concrete, so I was okay letting my 1-year-old crawl around on it (hey, it was his birthday... he didn't want to sit in peoples' laps the whole time. I sanitized his hands, for those who are concerned). There is a lovely bay window looking out onto the train tracks, which the kids liked. Our party was in the winter, so we didn't get to ride the train, so I can't speak to how that works with a party. There was a staff person there to help set up, and there are bathrooms in the building. I think everyone had fun! read more

This is one of the top parks in the county. There is so much to do. One of the biggest draws is there is a wooden train that takes you on a ride through the park and an antique carousel. Tickets are sold at the "station" and there is a small discount for ordering ten tickets or a "book". The playground itself is huge. It has 3 huge slides, a spider web, sand pit, swings, and a mountain that can entertain for hours. It's a better playground to head to with kids who are slightly older. It can get very crowded when school is out, and a wandering 3 year old can be hard to spot quickly. There are plenty of picnic benches and open grass areas for a picnic lunch. The playground does not have much coverage from trees, so on super hot summer days, you may want to consider a playground with more coverage or bring plenty of water. There are also several hiking paths that go around the grounds. They hold children's train birthday parties in the party room at the station. You can also rent out one of the picnic table gazebos for any outdoor event you are having. read more

We went to the park for the haunted train ride. I was looking for a beginners level scary attraction......this was below beginners level. Let me say I loved the train but the scare factor was totally missing. The volunteers didn't really try to scare the passengers. For $6 I was expecting a big production but maybe at least one scare. Get some more pulsating lights, incorporate more scary sounds and have more enthused actors....run at the train with a fake chainsaw or something!!! But again I liked the little train.....just riding in the pitch black darkness would have been scarier then the actors, my imagination could have got the best of me lol. read more

Fabulous park. I wish I'd known about this place sooner, I've been looking for a great park with lots of green space to have the perfect picnic and I've finally found it. Plenty of parking, just a few miles from 495 and super clean grounds. I cannot wait to come back, picnic basket in hand. :) read more

So great! HUGE playground, clean bathrooms, water fountains for drinking, picnic spots within view of playground and plenty of shady areas.

Favorite park ever. They have a garden and also I get to see endless turtles . The park overall it's beautiful.

What my two year old would write for a yelp review if he could type: WHOA CHOO CHOO TRAIN yay yay yay CHOO CHOO CHOO CHOO whoa mama whoa MAMA HORSES mama horses yay horses whoa MAMA MAMA MAMA CHOO CHOO TRAIN whoa whoa yay I running choo choo train whoa CHOO CHOO TRAIN where choo choo train man? there man mama choo choo train WHOA WHOA yay ice cream? mama share ice cream mama bite i bite mama bite i bite home? Now for my review: Whoa choo choo train! That was pretty damn awesome, save for the forty minute wait to get on the first time (the second time, after we had ridden the carousel, there was no wait for the train so we raced down and got there just as the train was pulling into the station). I'd say be prepared for a long wait but really there's nothing you can do other than try to get there at some magical time when there's no wait. Even with the antsiest two year old on earth it passed quickly enough. I nearly lost it at one point, though, when a party showed up and got special boarding precedence. We had already been waiting 25 minutes and the party attendees didn't care to fill up the train efficiently. Single adults spread out over seats that could have easily fit two adults and two kids. When my kid cried briefly after realizing he wasn't making it onto that train, one man who hogged up an entire seat said "awwww, poor guy." I nearly pulled myself over the fence to clobber him. But I didn't, and then we made it onto the next train, and all was right with the world. Best afternoon outing ever. read more

This park is darling!!!!! There are numerous trails---paved and unpaved, a dog park, a lake, botanical gardens, and wonderful shade for running. Also, there is a nice playground for the kiddies. read more

Wheaton Regional Park is one of the best parks if not the first best in Montgomery County! I just moved here and can't tell you how convenient this park has multiple picnic areas, a big adventure park for kids, a miniature train that takes you around the park in 15 minutes, and a carousel. There is also a 5 minute path to another part of the park that passes a lake to fish and it will take you to Brookside Gardens (a nice botanical garden), a dog park, and ice arena, baseball fields, indoor soccer field, and outdoor fields... Let me catch my breath! Tickets to ride the train are very cheap compared to those little ones in the mall. In fact the train at Wheaton park is a REAL train and it only costs $2. The lines can get long but understand that everyone loves and wants to ride the train! If they are not long, it runs every 30 minutes. The manager on duty who I believe his name is Matt was very helpful and nice. You can always see him helping his other staff members. Above all, the staff was awesome and must really love their jobs. I will recommend everyone to this park as you will be happy when you leave! :) read more

I used to come here as a kid. I miss those days. Still do, only now my niece is the kid. Family grills aren't just for picnics, it's part of my childhood. I especially love the Flower Garden despite the pollen. I want to go this year again. read more

Wheaton Regional park is a great place to go with kids. The playground is loaded with endless possibilities. Our favorite is the blue hill, which you run up and slide down, oh so fun. There are picnic tables, many families bbq on the outdoor grills. Very fun place! read more

Great afternoon walk with cool playground for kids. Probably unbeatable within a good range of distance in my neighborhood.

How have I not discovered this until now. The park is unassuming from the road. Tucked away off of Georgia ave.... there is so much to do there and the park is very nice. There is a carousel and train for the kids and lots of picnic tables. However it gets packed on the weekends so plan early.... read more

We took our 2 year old here recently after hearing so much about it. It was easy to get to and there was tons of parking. She absolutely loved the huge slides, the sand area for toddlers, and the swings. There's some construction going on right now, but it definitely didn't deter us from having fun. While we missed the train ride, we bought a book of tickets (they don't expire) and she rode the carousel which was lovely. Lots of paths too. I can't wait to bring her back when the weather is warmer. Highly recommend! read more

Nice park with a lot of space for strolling. A small section for toddlers and huge challenging section for older kids with super long slides and unique equipment. read more

I can not believe I lived near here, on Briggs Road, for about 9 months three years ago. But I do not think I was missing much. It is ok. I will say, I would take my child here if I had one and was living in the area. Seems like a lot of neat stuff to do for a young person. But if you are older, you have the Brookside Gardens and there is just so much better in DC like Kenilworth or the Arboretum or the many trails. read more

Excellent place to bring young children. There is so much to do!

Great place to throw a Harry Potter themed birthday party. The train station party room is air conditioned a must in DC summer and holds a ton of people. The train ride is long so well worth the buck seventy five. read more

We are moving from a 2 1/2 acre yard to a yard where our black lab will be saying "you call this a yard" and are now in a hotel waiting to move in. Finding this dog park was a huge smile maker! Maggie is going to love it here! read more

This park is Wheaton's hidden wonder! I've visited the Wings of Fancy Butterfly Exhibit, which is well worth a visit. It's on from May 3 to September 21 this year (2008). There's a Nature Center will a full calendar of events for children and adults. Horse stables and trail, trails for walking, biking, skating. Whodathunkit?!! read more

Wheaton Regional Park - Brookside Gardens in Wheaton Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Wheaton, Maryland

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Amazing playground! There literally something for every kid. It has great options for both younger and older kids. The sand pit was super fun for both my kids. We can't wait to go back! read more

Awesome park for the kids, very large, lots of play areas to choose from, plenty of room to burn energy, endless picnic areas, very clean and well maintained. Cool train ride for kids, clean bathrooms, hiking trails, etc. read more

Fantastic! The children had fun, the playground area is spacious with a tot playground next to it with a cross bridge. Alot of children!

This is a really nice place for an event or a nice relaxing picnic with family. The park is a lot larger than most. It has several sheltered areas for cooking. The train ride is neat, but I really have mixed feelings about it. To me it spoils some of the peacefulness of the place. But it is definitely fun for kids! Overall very much recommended! read more