This is a sample itinerary for groups visiting Montgomery County, Maryland during the summer season. It offers a wide-range of outdoor activities for adults of all ages and provides groups both downtown and upcountry experiences in four memorable days.
Day 1:
Arrive and check into one of many group friendly hotels in Montgomery County, Maryland. Enjoy an evening of fun and food at Dave and Buster’s at rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg.
Day 2:
Rise and shine and enjoy breakfast at your hotel before heading out to explore the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park at the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center in Potomac, MD. Hike along the towpath or ride on The Charles F. Mercer – a boat pulled by the famous C&O Canal mules.
Then head to the town of Sandy Spring with a lunch stop at the Smoketown Bar-B-Que and on to Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park, where you will be immersed in the experiences about slavery, and colonial and plantation life. The park features an 18th century brick manor house, stone barn and Underground Railroad Experience hiking trail.
Next stop is Brookside Gardens where you will not want to miss the Wings of Fancy live Butterfly and Caterpillar exhibit and the award-winning 50 acres of nature including the Aquatic, Azalea, and Children’s gardens.
End the day enjoying some local craft brews at Brookeville Beer Farm or Waredaca Brewing Company and/or dinner at the Olney Ale House where the feel of a traditional Irish pub and the historic American roadhouse come together.
Evening entertainment is available at the Olney Theatre Center directly across the Olney Ale House; a historical theater complex with professional productions all year round.
Day 3:
After breakfast, enjoy a scenic drive up to Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve – home to 93,000 acres of protected farmland in the north-western part of the county with over 540 farms and 350 horticultural enterprises. Visit Butler’s Orchard – a family farm of over 300 acres of pick-your-own fruits and veggies, hayrides, gift shop and bakery.
Continue to Sugarloaf Mountain and take in the vista all around. This private mountain was used as a flag station to relay messages to Harpers Ferry and the City of Washington during the US Civil War. Hiking trails of differing difficulty levels are an option for those willing to try them.
Enjoy lunch at the Victorian-style Comus Inn for delicious American cuisine with an amazing view of Sugarloaf Mountain.
After lunch, stop by at the Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard for a tasting of their award-winning Maryland wines.
The drive back to Rockville can include stops at Rocklands Farm Winery & Market, Patriots Chesapeake Farm House, and Rock Hill Orchard/Woodbourne Creamery.
Head to Rockville to enjoy an evening of food, fun and games at Pinstripes with bowling and bocce.
Day 4:
If time permits, visit Glen Echo Park, an arts and cultural center with the historic Dentzel Carousel, numerous art studios and galleries, and a nature program.
Have a safe trip back home.
Thank you for visiting Montgomery County, Maryland – we can’t wait to have you visit us again!
