Our fav theater is Bethesda Row theater. Almost always has more interesting, substantial movies…read moreincluding indie and art house. And yes, the blockbusters are here too. We love it here.

We like this theater because it shows films we want to see, the seats are reserved in advance so…read moreyou don't have to scramble to get there early, and it seems fairly well-run. Plus the popcorn is quite decent. Parking in the public lot nearby can take a few minutes to find a spot on busy weekends so be sure to allocate time for that.

Located just across the border from Washington, D.C., the town of Bethesda, Maryland is a fairly…read morewell-to-do suburb and one of the last places one might expect to find a fantastical novelty house. The house at 4949 Allan Road in Bethesda has become something of a landmark, known for the curved canopies that earned it the name "the Mushroom House." The bumpy edges and pointed tip give the house a shape slightly reminiscent of a Dr. Seuss doodle. As it turns out, though, the original design was not particularly child-friendly. See link of interview from couple who had it built. https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ94C2IKSK6/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

I had no idea that such a unique piece of architecture was located right in the suburbs of…read moreBethesda. I only found this out after searching for activities to do in the area and was recommended this site. Definitely a really cool crafted home that looks like a smurf or flinstone home!

The seminary (or "castle" as I called it in high school, for apparently no reason, because castle…read moreis maybe the one type of building that the campus doesn't have) lived rent free in my mind when I was younger. It's just a crazy place, especially tucked right by Silver Spring, right by 16th and Georgia, and yet few people know it exists. Starting out as an inn and then a finishing school for girls, there's a Japanese pagoda, a Dutch windmill, a Parthenon looking building, and so many beautiful statues. After WWII it got taken over by the army. And then it slowly decayed. Save the Seminary, the organization whose mission is to restore the seminary, did a pretty damn good job at restoring the buildings, the ballroom, and the statutes. They do free walk tours, and most insane, the structures are now homes, where actual human beings live. I can't quite wrap my head around it, but if you have an extra mil lying around one of these places could be yours (if any of them happen to be up for sale).

Forest Glen, Maryland: Do you know where Forest Glen Maryland is?…read more Take a look at this map (This is the point of the presentation where I wish I could embed a map into my review) Well, imagine an isosceles triangle. Those are the ones that have a corner with 70 degrees- another corner with 70 degrees- and the third corner with 40 degrees. But make it stand straight up... like a pyramid. Ok, just think of a pyramid... but just one side, not like an actual 3D Pyramid. Ok... ya know what, think of a Yield Sign. There we go, just think of a Yield sign. The bottom left corner is Bethesda, the bottom right corner is Silver Spring and the top of the Yield sign is Forest Glen. See, that was so much easier than just showing you a map. In that time, I hope that you've just googled Forest Glen and seen exactly where it is. So in Forest Glen there is an enormous building on Linden Lane and you'll see a Japanese Pagoda right in front of it. Yes, a true to form, authentic color paint, bamboo what not Japanese Freakin' Pagoda. That'll make you say something like "This Is the FR*&*in' Catalina Wine Mixer!".. of buildings. And then you'll say, "Why have I never seen this before." Here's some real short history. I did the research for you. The building was built as a Hotel/ Vacation Resort in 1887 for DC vacationers: Ye Old Forest Inn. But that didn't work out. Apparently the people who ran it were less than savvy. Then in 1894 it became an all girls school. And it remained that way until 1942. But, as you remember, we were dragged into WW2 in 1942 after Pearl Harbor happened December 7th 1941 "A Day Which Will Live In Infamy". Quick side note. In addition to Pearl Harbor the Japanese on that day also attacked the following: American ships the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu, Malaya, Hong Kong, Guam, the Philippine Islands,Wake Island. And the next morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island. Something I didn't know because everything is really ethnocentric here in America. And now back to National Park Seminary So the building in 1942 became sort of an Annex for Walter Reed and was controlled by the army. But in 1977 most of the buildings were left abandoned. Which essentially became a playground ( a very expensive and beautiful playground) for vandals. After years of neglect and vandalism a company called The Alexander Company helped in it's rehabilitation for the purpose of preserving this listing on the "National Register of Historic Places." For a very long time an organization called SOS (Save Our Seminary) has been working to raise money to preserve and repair so many of the historic buildings, structures, and intricate details that make this place so G-D Da*n Magical! The building used to face railroad tracks where people would travel off the railroad and right onto the campus. Now, that railroad is 495 so the front faces a non accessible point. Coming up from Linden, you're actually coming from the back and don't get to see the entire majesty of what the Seminary is. Quick info: National Park Seminary- the name After Ye Old Forest Inn the school took notice of Rock Creek Park which was constructed and opened during that time ( an attraction that many people were coming to see), the spot was named "National Park" in reference to being so close to that site. The Seminary comes from the older meaning of seminary which is: "a school of secondary or higher level for young women." So the campus is big 23 acres. And on that campus lives several sorority houses done in an international theme ( I KNOW! Awesome!) Which explains the Japanese Pagoda- some of the others include a : "Dutch windmill, a Swiss chalet, an Italian villa, An American Bungalow and an English castle" Quick note- In 1936 the National Park Seminary was renamed National Park College and served as a very prestigious woman's college for a while. The name was changed back to National Park Seminary after it was reacquired from the army. The campus is brilliant and beautiful. Large sculptures decorate the beautiful buildings at almost every turn. A mix of styles inside the buildings. Especially the wonderful ballroom. The site is just something to behold. They do tours on Every 4th Saturday at 1PM Here are the rest for 2014 - They start at 1PM and are 5 bucks per person Saturday, June 28 Saturday, July 26 Sunday, August 3 Saturday, August 23 Saturday, September 27 Saturday, October 25 Saturday, November 22

My family and I were introduced to Josiah Henson by watching a PBS special on his life. We pass…read morethe museum frequently so we finally decided to go. The Museum & Park located on the plantation property where Josiah Henson was enslaved for over twenty years before escaping to freedom. The tour starts with a video presentation detailing the history of slavery in Montgomery County, details about Josiah Hensen's life and his impact on American history. After the video the guide gives you an orientation on the property. There is an outdoor path with signage with historical information + the Isaac Riley house (Henson's former enslaver) that has been converted to a modern museum. The guides were extremely friendly and helpful in providing additional background information about the site and life at that time. I think we spent about 1.5 hours there. There is a very very small parking lot in front of the visitor center but a larger parking lot about 1.5 blocks away. Overall it was a great expereince and I would highly recommend it.

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)

I really like this theater great service and everything you could want to watch a movie. Its a…read morelittle small. There are a great amount of options for beer and wine too. Its a great place to see a reasonably priced movie.

This is the closest movie theater to where I live. While the staff was friendly, and the theater…read moremostly empty, I felt like this is a solid 3 star experience and has a bit of improvement. The movie theater used to have a full bar. However, as of writing, lost its liquor license. They do hope to re-gain it, but have no immediate plans in the future. The food menu is very basic -- hot dogs, pizza, pretzels. We tried to order 2 different types of pizza. A cheese pizza and a buffalo chicken pizza version. However, they ran out and could only do cheese. That's fine. We ordered 2 pizzas as they were small but only got one. I did appreciate that they comped the second pizza. Service was very slow, but friendly. The theater space is small and intimate. Would I rush back here? Definitely not. I prefer AMC Georgetown, Alamo Drafthouse in Crystal City and E Street Cinemas.

A little piece of Silver Spring History: This 1945 beloved landmark was rescued and restored by…read moreMontgomery Preservation Inc. It is the only building in downtown Silver Spring listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The original train station manager from its 1945 start was here today to greet residents. It is known that President Harry S. Truman often used this station to avoid crowds at Union Station. Inside the building you'll find mementos from bygone days and little bits of nostalgia of long gone Silver Spring businesses. Up until fairly recently, the MARC train used this station. Now the station is open to the public once a month. It may also be rented for meetings and special events.

Held my son's second birthday here and it was fantastic. This is a great space for a party in…read moregeneral, and it comes with many train toys! The staff were very helpful and had great suggestions for where to set up food, when to bring the kids into the back room and turn on the model train, and when to bust out the Thomas Power Wheel (which was quite the hit.) I also got the impression that they appreciate the rental fee and use of space, as it goes toward the ability to continue maintaining the site. This is a gem in Silver Spring.

The National Museum of Health and Medicine was a bit small, but it still made for a fun pitstop…read moresince we were already in the area. Parking was free and no tickets were required. We visited on a rainy day, and many guests left their umbrellas and coats in the entry room where there were hangers available. Volunteers greeted us at the front and pointed us toward a stand of pamphlets. We were able to see the entire museum in about 30 minutes. At one point, the staff brought out a cart of organs for hands on interaction. Based on some of the flyers, they also host additional demonstrations once a month. There was a modest anatomical collection with a focus on the nervous system and bones. I found the displays of brains after injuries and strokes especially interesting. There were also several examples of bone infections and exhibits highlighting medical developments over time. I appreciated the historical context behind each advancement, particularly how it connected to warfare. One of the most striking sections for me was the wall of organs affected by different diseases and infections. It felt especially rare compared to what I have seen in other museums. I was also fascinated by the less common presentations of parasites, which are not typically featured elsewhere. There was also a room dedicated to surgical advancements, and I found myself quiet while looking at the stories of soldiers who sustained injuries and underwent reconstruction. There was no gift shop and it seemed like a quick stop for most visitors. There was an upcoming veterinary focused day that looked interesting and would be worth checking out if I were still in the area. Overall, the museum is not as elaborate as others, but I still enjoyed the visit while staying nearby.

This museum may be the most unique museum in the D.C. area. If you are into history and medicine,…read morestop by. Or if you want a very interesting museum experience, visit. Opened in 1862 during the Civil War, the museum preserves over 25 million objects about medicine, public health, and anatomy. Nowhere else can you see skull fragments of Abraham Lincoln, President Garfield's vertebrae, and President Grant's tumor slides. The museum is open Wednesday-Sunday from 10am-5:30pm with free admission and parking in Silver Spring, Maryland. Walk inside and find all the exhibits on the main floor in a brutalist building. One exhibit talks about public health and the others focus on history of military medicine and anatomy. Here, you'll find lots of bones and organs preserved in medical jars. If you have a weak stomach, be warned. Eat BEFORE visiting. The museum is well kept with clean restrooms and lots of space to enjoy the museum. I highly recommend it for adults and older kids with an interest in the medical field.

One of the best theaters in America. Period. I don't mean that because they have lay-flat seats or…read morethe best concessions or do screenings in Imax. No, they don't have any of those things. AFI is a delight because they provide access to an incredible catalog of films and, as a cinephile, you'll find yourself consuming them with fellow addicts. How often have I come here for something like a 1940s Italian neorealist black and white on a weeknight and felt to myself like here with these people I belonged? You can't beat it. This is a theater that takes film seriously, that loves film. It doesn't really matter if I drive or metro, it's a hike either way...and yet I just keep coming back more and more often because there aren't many treasures of DMV arts and culture that beat AFI.

Came here for a free advanced screening of the movie Christy. I love all the nostalgia feelings in…read morethe theater. Different equipment associated with film making from decades ago and the information about them displayed through out. They have a rewards program that I signed up for while there awaiting the movie to start and the manager was not then happy to tell me about. They seek adult beverages as well which is nice and I was able to get my unsalted popcorn which was awesome but it did come in a smaller portion size than what I'm used to. The movie was a lot better than I had expected and I loved they had Christy and the screen writers there. What an awesome opportunity this was.

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.

Along the Takoma-Brightwood border in Northwest DC is one of the country's smallest national…read morecemeteries on one acre of land. It was created and dedicated by Abraham Lincoln himself after the Battle at Fort Stevens. It was there that the Union stopped the attack on Washington, DC and the only time Lincoln came under direct fire from the Confederacy. 41 Union soldiers gave their lives that day and this cemetery honors them. The cemetery is easy to miss, but once you're through the gate, you won't soon forget it. Take time to read the signs about its history and walk through the grass remembering the soldiers who defended Washington, DC at Fort Stevens nearby. The cemetery is run by the National Park Service so entry is free.

One of America's smallest national cemeteries, specially commissioned by President Lincoln for…read moreUnion soldiers who fought at the Battle of Fort Stevens - the battle that saved Washington. 41 soldiers were eventually buried here; the last veteran was interred in 1936. The cemetery really is tiny; you'd never know it was here unless you happened to see it while driving on Georgia Ave. It's well maintained, although picnicking is discouraged. Fort Stevens - one of 68 Civil War forts that once surrounded the District - is only a short drive away, and worth a visit as well. In July 1864, these soldiers held the fort against a surprise attack from Jubal Early, who was hoping to scare General Grant enough to abandon the Union siege of Petersburg and rush to defend Washington. Early's plan didn't work, in no small part to their sacrifice. What's poignant about the casualties is some of them weren't 'combat' soldiers; Grant pulled most of Washington's garrison away from 'easy duty' guarding the forts into the Army of the Potomac, which was suffering heavy casualties. All that were left to defend the city were trainees, semi-invalids, and a small number of veterans, augmented at the last minute with reinforcements sent by Grant. Despite that, they fought off a larger enemy force. Had Early even temporarily captured Washington, it potentially could have caused Grant to end his siege, scared the northern public enough to sue for peace, and ended Lincoln's hopes for reelection. US history would have been different. So...respect.