Betsy Boyd 2020-12-31 16:09:02
Bordering the District of Columbia, the cosmopolitan Capital Region is home to world-renowned restaurants and pivotal historic sites. Blending global influence with a casually sophisticated vibe, the area immediately surrounding our nation’s capital features go-to spots for urban entertainment, world-class roller coaster thrills, unforgettable history, and— at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center—even a window into the galaxy. CAPITAL IDEA FOR A GETAWAY The Gaylord National pulls out all the stops for family fun, especially at holiday time when you and your kids can explore the amazing ICE!—a festival complete with kids’ favorite characters, slides, and more all carved from shimmering ice. At this luxe retreat, enjoy fabulous in-house spa amenities as well as fine dining. You can also explore all that National Harbor has to offer, including the iconic trail, towering Capital Wheel and resplendent cherry blossoms. It’s a safe bet you’ll find a way to stay busy. National Harbor @dldphotography5 Speaking of bets, MGM National Harbor, on the banks of the Potomac River, is another sure win. Try your hand at table games and slots. And, to top it off, the 3,000-seat theater features popular acts such as the incomparable Cher, comedy legends like Bill Burr, and more. You may never want to call it a night, but your gorgeous suite awaits—so sleep tight. Tomorrow is another day full of adventure. URBAN INDULGENCE In the Capital Region, there’s something delectably edible for everyone, no matter how picky the patron—only trick might be agreeing on one restaurant. In downtown Bethesda’s food scene—which The New York Times has called a “Destination in and of itself”—Japanese, Ethiopian, Greek, seafood, and Mexican may all call your name. Entertain yourself in between meals by shopping at Bethesda Row, which offers an upscale array of stores including Lululemon Athletica, Williams Sonoma, and Amazon Books. Don’t overlook locally owned retail gems within downtown’s several vibrant blocks. Rio in Gaithersburg—a lakefront, outdoor shopping paradise—serves up comfy Chinese noodles, spicy Tex-Mex, and everything in between along with plenty of first-rate retail. Paddle boats, a carousel, fish-feeding, and a sweet lake view keep the kids coming back. About an hour’s drive outside the city, sample some of the state’s best vintages via the self-guided Frederick Wine Trail. Barbera and Albariño embody the rich land Marylanders call home. Take in the lush scenery—as well as the luscious wine—at award-winning Black Ankle Vineyards, Catoctin Breeze Vineyard, Elk Run, Hidden Hills Farm, and others. Cheers to a day well spent. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Live music lovers should not miss Strathmore nonprofit arts center—beloved for its Music Center, which welcomes internationally acclaimed performers both classical and contemporary. Strathmore resides on 16 acres and also features the more intimate 100-seat Mansion at Strathmore. Insider tip: Warm up in the Strathmore Tea Room, open Tuesdays and Wednesdays. More in the mood for a punk rock band shirt? The funky Fillmore in Silver Spring books popular rock, hip-hop, and metal bands. The theater got a cool, retro remodel recently, including a refresher of its awesome 1940s J.C. Penney’s façade. If you’re in the market for a movie instead, simply step across the street from the Fillmore to find the AFI Silver Theater and Cultural Center, a program run by the American Film Institute. AFI screens great stuff, brings influential filmmakers to the stage, and offers educational programming in partnership with the DC Arts and the Humanities Education Collaborative. Sunflower field near Potomac @sharpandsoundstyle You can also catch up on your creativity at Glen Echo Park. The riverfront location is home to more than a dozen resident artists and arts organizations, a fabulous social dance program—where you can redeem your bad prom experience any weekend of the year—and art instruction galore (in ceramics, painting, photography, glass, music, dance, and much more). Residents often serve as instructors. Add children’s theaters, free summer concerts, and arts festivals, and you’ll understand why Glen Echo Park has been a favorite for generations. Find even more art to enjoy nearby at the must-see Glenstone Museum in Potomac. Residing on a manicured 230-acre campus, the sprawling museum with its sculpture gardens and more is just as beautiful outside as it is inside. Post-WWII artwork and outdoor sculptures by seasoned artists make for a day well spent—it’s no wonder that Glenstone is often mentioned in the same breath as the Frick and the Phillips Collection. Recently, the museum added an environmental center with exhibits on recycling, composting, and reforestation. Frederick is home to its own Arts & Entertainment District boasting terrific art galleries, public art exhibitions, and regular live performance events. The festive area is wonderfully walkable to boot. Be sure to cross Community Bridge with its renowned trompe l’oeil mural, conceived by artist William Cochran. Volunteers—local, national, and international—contributed symbols that represent for them “the spirit of community,” and Cochran then spent five years painting the amazing mural for the bridge that arcs over Carroll Creek. OPEN FOR FAMILY FUN Get your fast-action kicks at Six Flags America in Upper Marlboro. With family rides like the Flying Carousel and Renegade Rapids or mega-thrillers like the Firebird floorless coaster, Superman: Ride of Steel, and the insane Bourbon Street Fireball, it’s an adventure for children of all ages. Find more amusements at Adventure Park USA in Monrovia—ride on a coaster, drive a go-kart, or challenge your travel companions to a game of laser tag or a round of bowling. Feeling spacey? Visit the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt and explore the farthest reaches of the universe. The Hubble and the James Webb Space Telescope operations are monitored from Goddard, offering spectacular deep-space views, and on the first Sunday of each month, bring your own model rocket and join in a community launch free of charge. It’s the best way to see the galaxy short of becoming a NASA astronaut. Kiddos will also love the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo in Thurmont. Each guest can get “as close to the animals as safety permits.” Creatures run the gamut from the soft and cuddly chinchilla to the fierce jaguar on the hunt, not that you’ll be invited to snuggle with either. Catoctin, which occupies 50 acres, shelters more than 300 species of amphibians, fish, and invertebrates; all in all, visitors can experience more than 600 animals, large and small. Stay all day, take a vintage safari truck tour, and ride on the back of an obliging camel. The National Wildlife Visitor Center in the Patuxent Research Refuge is another place for animal lovers. This science and environmental research center offers a chance to explore animals in their natural habitat. Check out the interactive exhibits (including a viewing pod overlooking the outdoor sanctuary), as well as an on-site art gallery and store. HISTORICAL EXPLORATION Frederick has been called the Crossroads of the Civil War and provides a backdrop to learn more about this tumultuous time in American history. Union and Confederate troops occupied and moved through here and neighboring towns. Frederick also served as a field hospital. Today, learn more about this and other medical firsts at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine then check out nearby Monocacy National Battlefield—where “The Battle that Saved Washington” was fought. Pedal through another piece of history along the C&O Canal towpath, which operated in the 19th century as a commercial waterway delivering coal, lumber, and agricultural products to market along the Potomac. Today, it’s a great place to hike, bike, jog, or stroll. The C&O Canal towpath ranges 184.5 miles—from Georgetown in Washington, D.C. to Cumberland, Maryland—and offers options as far-reaching as the land itself, and worthy of return trips. Choose from among more than half a dozen trails and paths, including the 4.7-mile Billy Goat Trail (strenuous, moderate, and easy routes available—the latter two are safe for your pups), spend the night at a drive-in campsite, or charter a canal boat at Great Falls Tavern in Potomac. Pro tip: Start at one of the well-equipped visitor centers, pack water and sunscreen, and wear tough, broken-in shoes. Billy Goat Trail @in2theyonder In the Capital Region’s town of Emmitsburg, you can also retrace the footsteps of the first American saint. In 1809, Elizabeth Ann Seton, a widow and mother of five, relocated from New York to Emmitsburg, where she founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s, the first community for religious women in the U.S. Many religious congregations meeting the needs of the poverty-stricken are today living out her legacy. Seton—who is often called Mother Seton—was canonized in 1975, becoming the first person born in America to become a Catholic Saint. The National Shrine of Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg is a place to learn about and reflect on Seton’s life of service and for the devout to celebrate Mass at the Basilica, originally constructed as the chapel for the Daughters of Charity. The National Shrine Grotto on the campus of Mount St. Mary’s University—also in Emmitsburg—honors the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes. Mass is held each day at noon. Visitors may experience the Corpus Christi Chapel at the site of the Grotto as well as the Grotto of Lourdes Cave, a replica of the Grotto of Lourdes in France. Fun Facts It takes an international team with dozens of artisans to sculpt the ICE! annual holiday showcase attractions at the Gaylord National. Frederick County @de.luna.shoots The NASA Goddard Visitor Center lets you try on a real space suit, touch real rockets, and even get an up-close glimpse of the sun. National Harbor @sarah4posh Find more things to do in the Capital Region online at: visitmaryland.org/regions-cities/capital-region
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