Awesome place!! My climbing buddy and I came to the Boulder Yard after all of our friends kept…read moresaying "Just go!!!" So we made a day trip of it. First, Steve, the owner, is great. He chatted with us for a really long time, asking about what we were interested in, why we popped in, and on and on. He also told us his own history and the Boulder Yard's history. He gave us a few specific suggestions and ideas, including that his sets are a bit different than most (they are) and, more important, his floor cushioning is very different than most other gyms. It is. It is much MUCH softer than most which is good but he suggested taking a few falls before we went too high just to get used to the feel. It's also like walking on the beach --- walking from one side of the room to the other will wear out your legs. His walls are not textured (mostly) so if you're planning to smear a lot --- well, you won't. But it is more realistic this way. The majority of the place is boulders but he's also got two workout areas with equipment, two separate rooms that he uses to teach some martial arts (didn't catch what kind), and, for the helluvit, a Nintendo/Playstation/whatever setup for, I guess, if you're tired and just want to zone a bit. We'll absolutely be back. We paid $54 for two day passes; quite reasonable I think. Oh, and he does his own woodworking (as do my partner and I). Took a pic of the large benches in the front of his shop. Hand-made from some trees that he grabbed from his own yard. That was cool!!!

Tucked away in the back of an industrial park, this gym offers some great bouldering. Clean, quaint…read moreand a cozy vibe for the experienced and new climber alike.

Loved this experience. The place was spacious ... clean... lots of staff constantly walking around…read moreassisting climbers. We came for a birthday party. Very easy. They also have a regular play area for kids to run around in.

First off, the phone numbers listed on both their Yelp and Instagram don't even work. Second, the…read morestaff had zero customer service skills. Third, the bathroom sinks are literally falling apart. And why is it SO hot inside this place? They seriously need to turn up the AC. With all the kids and adults climbing around, it gets extremely hot and humid inside. On top of that, the floors were filthy and there was trash everywhere. Overall, the facility was poorly maintained and the experience was very disappointing. Would not recommend this place.

Great climbing gym here in NOVA. The Sterling location has plenty of bouldering walls alongside…read morewith Top Rope/Lead and Auto-Belay. The Sterling location isn't as big as some of the other climbing gyms, but it is plenty for a climbing session. I will say, the one issue of this location is that since it's a little small, the bouldering section is a little cramped in spacing compared to their other location in Alexandria. Not a a big problem at all, but can be during peak hours. Their staff here are very nice and friendly as well. Always a good group of people being welcoming to new guests and members. The facility itself is also well kept and clean.

I tell myself that I come here because it's good for me. That it's far more fun than just going to…read morea regular boring gym to move around some heavy plates of metal or to set myself up like a rodent on a wheel and go absolutely nowhere really fast for an hour. I tell myself that making time and partnering up is better motivation and will ensure that I actually make the time to work on my fitness. Forget all that. I come for the eye candy. Plus, I lie to myself and imagine that if I keep up with climbing, I'll also have a ridiculously ripped, lean, toned body with a perfect V-shaped torso. No, don't burst my little dream bubble. Fair warning. Until you obtain a membership card (which took us roughly three weeks from signing up), you'll have to deal with the stench by the front desk. Our suspicious: the stack of rental climbing shoes that have been worn by countless people. Fortunately, I can now hold my breath or breathe through my mouth as I navigate past the worst of it. Once you're back into the main part of the gym, it's much easier to breathe. With plenty of bouldering, huge tall walls for belay climbing or top roping (which I still haven't experienced myself), and a couple of auto-belays, there has always been ample room to find a wall to climb. Plus, membership benefits include free yoga classes, a significant discount on climbing gear (which, believe me, I looked... it's never on sale anywhere), and a huge benefit on pricing for classes. The staff here seem well-informed and helpful, and it's always been easy enough to hunt someone down for questions about the gym, equipment, or suggestions on how to improve. After about a month, I can legitimately say that I'm pretty addicted. Whether it's on the climbing itself, or the view... well, jury's still out.

Great Views. Short hike. This is on the AT. Go North from parking area on the trail. 1 mile to…read morefirst rock top view. Theres a sign at a small trail intersection. Go straight for the rock top view. Then back track to the sign and follow another mile to a cliff hang out. Amazing. So then my red flags started going off. I was the only car in the lot. Im hiking all alone......I started to frak myself out a little due to the trail after the views becoming thin and obviously less traveled. Big rocks fit for wild cats and lots of berry trees for bears.... even worse, I thought about bad humans...Sadly but smartly I turned around and hiked back to the car. Listen to your red flag feelings people. Instincts matter.

Love this place!!! Everyone is so friendly and helpful. They change up sections of the walls every…read morefew weeks so there's always something new to try. I've only gone about 5 times so I'm pretty new to it but the prices are fair. There is also a weightlifting gym and yoga studio.

A yoga instructor attending a yoga class disciplined by 11 year old for laughing when the…read moreparticipating instructor farted multiple times in class. Ridiculous! If you fart in public, people may laugh. So not kid friendly and expensive.

Field Trip Fairy made me another offer I couldn't refuse: a glorious fall day spent on the idyllic…read morecampus of Madeira School in Great Falls, ziplining down a hillside and watching 6th graders try to figure out how to ring a tractor tire around a 15-foot pole sticking straight up in the air? Yes, please. Sign me up. Inner Quest is an awesome little adventure-learning company based out of Purcellville, but with various sites and programs around the Virginia/West Virginia/Maryland area. Their challenge course at Madeira is huge and elaborate, encompassing several acres in the woods. Elements range from freakishly hard to anxiety-inducing heights to deceptively simple team-building. This was my second time undertaking the Madeira challenge course with Inner Quest: the first was 17 years ago as a scared-witless high school freshman. We'd moved from Texas that summer, and I was friendless since school hadn't started yet. Ma O. thought an Inner Quest program would be a great way for me to make friends. A random group of 12 of us spent a day on the challenge course, and the next 5 days hiking the Appalachian Trail in VA and MD, schlepping our packs, pitching our tents, cooking our food, and digging our own latrines. Ma O. was right: Inner Quest *was* a great way to make friends. Nothing bonds you quicker than mole-skinning blisters and burying your TP with strangers. I still remember our counselors, too -- unkempt adventurers with the nicest, most soothing, and helpfully instructive demeanors. Today's counselors were equally patient and kind with our kiddos. Our guys enjoyed themselves tremendously at Inner Quest, as did the adults (hello, zipline, I feel like a kid again!). Teamwork, pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone, taking calculated risks, trusting others -- these are life lessons you just can't teach in the classroom.

Inner Quest has been maintaining our low ropes course at are summer camp facility for as long as I…read morecan remember and they have always done a professional job. They insure that are obstacles are up to code and safe. They also train our Ropes Instructors each summer and they are very patient with our counselors and really take pride in making sure that everyone knows what they are doing. Keep up the good work and we will see you this summer. Camp Moss Hollow Butch

Great place for a kids birthday celebration! Staff is very helpful and friendly. They work well…read morewith younger kids.

My husband and I love VR. We had never rock climbed until we walked in the door this past June and…read moresince then we have been hooked. It's very family-friendly, we climb with our son who just turned 5 two weeks ago and we also sneak over occasionally to climb with just the 2 of us. They keep things fresh by updating the walls often. The staff is friendly and very helpful. We now not only have a family membership but we all own our own gear since we go there so often. Highly recommend!

Excellent climbing gym not far from York and Hanover. Friendly staff, wide variety of routes from…read morebeginner to elite, and a well-equipped fitness area. Highly recommend!

From the owner: Although we are not open yet, We are running private tours of the facility. Call us to schedule a…read moretour today!

Movement facilities never disappoint! I've been to several Denver and Chicago gyms,but this was my…read morefirst visit to a Maryland location. My main complaint/regret is that they close at 6pm on Sundays. Secondary gripe is that it's in the middle of a business complex not very walkable to anything- normally that's not an issue but I took a Lyft here and then needed to find somewhere else to wait a couple hours without a ride. I arrived at 4:30pm and already had the waiver filled out so check in was a breeze. I only bouldered today but I took a peek at the fitness area and ropes sections. There are tons of cardio equipment, weights, and heavy lifting/squat stations. Also appreciate the availability of dumbbells in 7.5, 12.5 lb options- you don't find those everywhere. The boulders were challenging and fun, I maxed out at v5 today; I'm always more cautious at new gyms, but I enjoyed my short session. Some v4 climbs stumped me! The locker/restrooms are amazing too. Spacious, tons of lockers/storage, showers, and even a foot wash station. Looks like they have a robust yoga/fitness class schedule as well. I'm not sure when I'll be back in the Baltimore area again, but I will definitely revisit this gym next time! @azfitfoodfun

I came for an intro to top rope climbing class here and had an exceptional time. A few friends and…read moreI booked the intro class ahead of time- which was free- and came ready to learn. Our instructor, Thomas, was fantastic. He's super knowledgeable and passionate and very focused on safety. I felt comfortable the whole time and like I had plenty of time to learn at my own pace and ask questions. He was encouraging and kind. I didn't expect to learn so much in this class. By the end we were able to belay and climb. The course focused on tying onto a rope, belaying someone safely, and catching falls. Again, Thomas was focused on safety and explained common mistakes people make, why they're unsafe, and how to avoid them. After the class, we were able to explore the gym and do some climbing and bouldering on our own. That essentially means that the class came with a free day pass and set of rentals- a great value! If you're looking to get into the hobby, the classes at Movement seem really worth it.

Overall, we had a great experience. Scott checked us in quickly and was pleasant to talk with. We…read morewere lucky enough to have the mountaintop camping site to ourselves since no one else booked for this week( likely due to the extreme heat and 4th of July holiday). The bathhouse was clean and had hot water. Most campsites only have lukewarm or cold water. There were also an abundance of toilet facilities and they were well maintained/cleaned. The view of the Potomac was breathtaking and the only downfall was that the camping sites are relatively close to each other both on the mountain and at the river's edge. I do recommend this center, however, and we will likely return when back in the area!

Wonderful afternoon rafting down the Potomac with Harper's Ferry Adventure Center and our awesome…read moreguide Wolfgang!!!