On our way to nearby Rocklands Farm Winery, we met another family at Riley's Lock for the kids to…read moreget more energy out. There's a parking lot near the historic lock and aqueduct. Along the C&O Trail, there's green space near the Potomac River to play (or camp).

Great place to walk or bike on the canal or boat on the river. Picnic area, plenty of parking, port…read morea potties, and boat ramp. Beautiful view across the river and cute lock house.

Kyacking here over the summer was amazing. The water clear and clean. Never crowded and an…read moreenjoyable day with beautiful views!

This is the largest lake in Montgomery County. It is one of my favorite places to go out on my…read morekayak. Being as large as it is, there is quite a lot to see. There are two canoe trails (suitable for kayaks as well!). The shoreline is full of interesting birds. Down at the spot where Ten Mile Creek flows into the lake, I have floated right over the top of some enormous snapping turtles. During the summer, this is quite a popular place to be. There is a concession that rents boats for only $8 per hour. But the lake is big enough that it does not seem crowded. My boat is a bit tight for two people, so I often use this concession when I want to take a friend with me. Boaters should beware and make certain they have a permit attached to their boat. You can get a daily permit for $5 at either of the two boat launch sites. You can buy a seasonal pass at the visitor's center. Also beware if you own an inflatable boat (like I do). Your boat must have at least three separate air chambers or it is not allowed on the lake. This lake has probably become my favorite paddling spot. Unlike Clopper Lake, I have not yet found this lake's secret turtle hiding spot. But the sheer size of the lake makes it hard to get tired of Little Seneca Lake.

If you're looking for a riding camp, look elsewhere. I paid the extra fee for an extra hour of…read moreriding per day, for a total of 2 riding hours per day. My son never received 2 riding sessions, only 1 per day and they canceled a day, which equals out to only 3 total hours of riding for the week (no riding Wednesday). I paid for 8. Even with that ripoff, my son said he only got to ride 10 minutes each day because the time is split between the kids. I asked them for an explanation and refund for the riding lessons that were not provided and they never responded to my email or voicemail. The kids all describe it as a swimming camp that dumps the kids at the pool all day. They didn't even ask if my son could swim. It is run by foreigners with thick accents that are very difficult for children to understand. Some kids like it because there are tons of kids going here, but if you're looking for a riding camp, this is the worst one. Don't let the nicer facilities deceive you, your kid will not learn to ride, and will not enjoy riding after this experience.

My daughter stopped in for a horseback riding lesson with her daisy toop and I went along to…read morefulfill my inner horse girl dreams. Camp Olympia is a horseback riding center, nursery school, and summer camp located only a few minutes outside the District. There is lots of parking and tons of green space to run around. It's an absolute beautiful space to send your children to. Our instructor greeted us and introduced us to the horses. The girls were able to learn different horse facts and were taught how to properly groom the horses and spend quality 1:1 time with them. All the horses were well cared for and were super sweet with the children. Afterwards, each child was taught how to mount and dismount a horse and was led around the track. It was such a special experience and we are already so excited to go back!

What a diamond in the woods (see what I did there?). This place has quickly become a family…read morefavorite with our boys old enough to enjoy 4 & 2. The options of what they can do here is plentiful and it's all free. Want to hear more? Good I thought you would. First of all, the staff is great with the kids and want them to have an enjoyable time, so they do this by providing them with endless unique opportunities. What unique opportunities, great question, here are the opportunities provided. You've got the cave (kids get to crawl in a man made cave and escape via a slide). Legacy of the land to the play area in the Legacy of the people (see what life was like and play house from the time before electricity). Curiosity corner (games, books, replies & snakes all in a themed room) or the Raptor Walkway (see the bald eagle Orion, or a hawk, vulture or owl) to the really cool outdoor play area that is not your typical playground, but very nature minded. There are endless programs during the week, you even get a chance to feed the raptors every Saturday. look here: https://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/rock-creek-regional-park/meadowside-nature-center/programs/, this place has so much more than you would ever expect. The boys can't stop talking about going back.

This place so such a treasure for kids. We really loved the outdoor play space, the indoor wildlife…read morehabitat exhibit complete with cave and slide, and the pioneer exhibit. My kids played for a long time with all the early American toys. I do wish they would keep things like the indoor wildlife exhibit up a bit more. I'm sad the turtle habitat has been abandoned for traditional aquaria. It added a real wow factor to that exhibit that complemented the taxidermy. Still they have some great terraria with reptiles. The bird feeders definitely needed filling up too, but we did get to see a beautiful Cooper's hawk perched in a tree while we checked out the raptor exhibit. This place is a bit of a hidden gem. If you have children between 2 and 10 you should definitely pay this place a visit. Older kids will love it too if they are into nature. Thanks Meadowside. We'll be back!

This was my first time visiting this horse trial, and my coaches first time visiting in 10 years…read more So it was a relatively new experience for the group of us. I was very pleasantly surprised how beautiful the cross country course is. Lots of room to gallop, and some friendly, but tall jumps. The dressage rings and Stadium jumping ring were absolutely fabulous, and beautifully cared for. I do wish that they had some more selection for food. A few more healthy options for those who are competing would have been great. Being stabled at The White Barn was initially quite challenging to find, the directions were not super clear. The beer garden is a surefire way to keep non-horse friends and relatives entertained. There's only one bathroom with indoor plumbing in the whole facility. And it's a hike away from where most people are stabled. I would love to come back again.

Made a reservation and brought our own picnic. The beer was wonderful and the service was great. I…read morereally like how they had a flag for when you were needing refills. Lovely scenery!

It located off the Democracy Blvd, and shared the same parking lots with the tennis center. Walked…read morepassed the main entrance and a bridge. The visitor center located on the left hand side, which offers the guide map. There were some outdoor seatings behind the building. There were a few bird feeders as well. The habitat hike was a relaxing walk.

Super cool place hiding out. Lived here for many years and I did not know it existed. Highly…read morerecommend you come here with your family. If you guys love the outdoors, there's even a cool river with a mini swimming area if you don't mind swimming in the river, it's pretty clean it's not downstream from anything I wouldn't wanna swim in. Get outside and get some fresh air!! Take a hike!

Before attending Valley Milk Kayak School, I was lost. I would float in my kayak and splish the…read morewater with my paddle aimlessly. If I had a fright I would tip over and soak my trousers. Eventually I had no more dry trousers and I decided it was time to make a change. I decided to take a class with Valley Mill Kayak School, and my life has never been the same since. The instructors were highly-skilled, handsome, dexterous, and professional. After several unforgettable lessons, I have seen dramatic improvements in my kayaking ability and personality. I am now a highly skilled kayaker (able to spin in both directions with ease), I have built long-lasting self-confidence, I am happily married, and I have a newfound passion that brings me closer to nature and my best self. I would highly recommend the Valley Mill Kayak School to anyone seeking to improve their kayak skills, have some fun, and find spiritual fulfillment. It was the best choice I ever made.

If you're looking for a phenomenal kayak lesson, this is it. The Valley Mill Kayak skill's…read moreencouraging, patient and skilled instructors are the reason I have gone from a hesitant kayaker to a much more confident paddler with rolls, better kayaking technique, and a much better understanding of kayaking as a whole. The community is great for any age, any level of experience. If you're thinking about taking a lesson, your money will be well worth it, and you'll want to keep coming back for more. Thank you Valley Mill!!

If you've been thinking about trying horseback riding but feel a little nervous, I highly recommend…read moreHunt View Riding Academy. Our first family trail ride was peaceful, relaxing, and so much fun. A special thank you to our trail guides, Linda Gamboa and Alberto Gamboa. They were patient, welcoming, and explained everything before we started, making us feel comfortable from the very beginning. As a Spanish speaker, I especially appreciated having bilingual instructors who could guide us in our own language. If you're looking for a unique family experience or a way to disconnect from the stress of everyday life, this is the perfect place. We can't wait to come back!

We went for horse back riding in the trails guided by Alberto. He patiently explained to us how to…read morebond with horses before our ride. Horses were calm and well trained and the trail was nice ! Thank you Alberto for the amazing experience and the great photos and videos you took from us !