It was just ok for my littles…read more There was a groupon offer for $12.75 (regular $15 admission pp) so I took advantage. There's not a lot of guidance here so if your kids aren't self starters they may find themselves bored. Even when entering each room no one is guiding you on what the activity is and how to participate. Instead you're kid just does there on thing. Neither bad nor good just an observation. Outside of that there are 4 areas that are pretty intuitive. Making a beat - where kids can add layers to music to create new sounds. Circuit activity - create a pathway by connecting wrenches which turn on a light. - my son (8) thoroughly enjoyed this. Tipsy table - using 3 different pulleys you could guide balls into different outputs. This requires at least 2-3 people. Light play - using lasers to make imprints on moving disks. I could see myself coming back for more purposeful play but free play I wouldn't bother.

Fun place for kids and adults. Very clean and well maintained. My young companions (8 and 10)…read morecouldn't eat the pizza. And my sandwich was disappointing

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.

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)

This is a great museum! The second you walk inside, you instantly feel relaxed and at peace. I…read moreinitially came here several years ago when they were at their old location in the heart of Downtown Silver Spring. I did a tour of the museum and was very impressed. Most recently, I came to their new location in Forest Glen to take one of their free weekly "Learn to Meditate" classes. The instructor told us a little about himself and his history with the museum. We then did some exercises that taught us some best practices on how to meditate. The instructor was extremely helpful, and being surrounded by other like-minded people made the experience that much more enjoyable. The meditation class is every Saturday from 11am-12pm. They also have classes on vegan/vegetarian cooking, soul/body awareness, self-confidence and self-respect, relaxation techniques, and much much more. The classes are free of charge, but they do take voluntary donations. This is a great place for people looking to tap into their spirituality. I look forward to attending more of their events in the future.

The meditation museum is unlike any other museum or place that I have been to. I feel peaceful the…read moreminute I walk through the door and each and every workshop fills me with so much hope and enlightenment. I have learned so much about myself and about life and am happy that we have this wonderful resource in our community.

Beautiful museum with an impressive collection of Impressionist and Spanish art, tucked away in a…read morequaint DC neighborhood. Once the residence of the Kreeger family (founders of GEICO), this place punches well above its weight in their offerings of impressionist art such as Monet and Bonnard. With art offerings covering two floors of a very large house plus an impressive outdoor sculpture garden, this place offers a great place to enjoy the art leisurely indoors and then make your way outside to enjoy the sculptures in the beautifully manicured back yard. We went during the time in which they also allowed for picnics in their sculpture garden for free and it was an idyllic setting for both art and nature to be enjoyed. Even in this case, it was not overcrowded and as you would guess surrounded by the DC locals. Also on display was their impressive collection from Miro. An entire room dedicated to his work. If you are looking for a very relaxing way to spend a few hours in DC, this is your place.

DC has a lot of museums. I know. I get it. Here is the thing...not every great museum is nestled in…read morethe heart of the Federal District. Some museums are a little off the main thoroughfare and are nonetheless worth a visit. Such is The Kreeger Museum. I randomly came across the Kreeger while on YouTube of all places. It intrigued me that there was a museum nestled in a residential neighborhood. Okay..neighborhood, in this case, deserves some air quotes. We are in seven to eight digital home values in this "neighborhood." When you see the artwork, it all begins to make sense. The Kreeger family was a husband wife dynamo that collected modern and impressionist artwork in an exciting and approachable way. Yes, to the detractors - the couple was known to ONLY collect the works of male artists. Since their passing, the conservatorship has invested in acquiring works from female artists that blend harmoniously with the existing collection. Parking is easy, whether you Uber or drive yourself. I very much hope to go back to see the collection again as well as to walk their sculpture garden. Museum well, my friends.

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!!!

Another yelper worded it just right: so so. Didn't hate it, didn't love it. It's a fun time with…read morekids. Definitely not worth the cost of the full ticket. There's approximately 8-10 rooms of separate themes, it's psychoeducational. But the interactive parts of this place looked and felt overused. So, make sure you wash your hands when you're done.

My Bestie and I took a random trip and found this cool little spot. It's kinda hard to find, but we…read moreparked in the hotel underneath it around the corner. If you can find the cheesecake factory, it's technically next-door. It almost looks hidden though because they turned to the basement area and into this pop-up style event It's really cool. There's a ball pit and really unique interactive rooms. Lots of selfie spots and each room is steamed based off of some sort of dopamine receptor. It was a really cool experience. Definitely recommend going.

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.