There’s always something happening in Downtown Silver Spring! Located in Montgomery County, just 25 minutes north of D.C., making it the perfect higher-end commuter city of over 80,000 residents. Like many D.C. suburb areas, Silver Spring gets overlooked for the more exciting downtown D.C. or Baltimore areas.
However, when you need to find a family-friendly activity, something to do after work, or a chance to explore all these lively neighborhood offers, you’ll find it here. Check out our list of the best things to do in Downtown Silver Spring, and start planning your next visit!
Visit the Gateway to NOAA, Silver Spring, Maryland
This permanent exhibit was designed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It showcases how the organization “takes the pulse” of the planet daily and protects and manages ocean and coastal resources. The exhibit is interesting and informative and is divided up into five different sections:
- NOAA in the News, featuring an interactive display for exploring the ocean
- Water, highlighting marine processes
- Weather and Climate, which focuses on NOAA’s role in the climate process and weather forecasts
- Earth Observations that share methods for gathering information
- NOAA Heritage. You can visit Gateway to NOAA any day from Monday to Friday.
This exhibit is worth stopping by for its cool and interactive exhibits.
Visit the National Museum of Health and Medicine
The National Museum of Health and Medicine is a great place to learn about the history and practice of medicine. The museum has a large collection of archival materials, anatomical and pathological specimens, medical instruments and artifacts, and microscope slide-based medical research collections. The museum focuses on American medicine, military medicine, and current medical research issues. It’s a fascinating place to visit if you love history and medicine.
Head over to the Silver Spring Stage
The Silver Spring Stage is a community theater in the Washington, D.C. area that’s perfect for drama lovers who want to support the local community effort. Despite its amateur status, the stage has been running for 40 years and is ranked as one of the top theaters in the area.
The stage is located in a small shopping center and is a hidden gem that requires you to walk through a storefront and down a set of stairs – but the lovely theatrical world you’ll encounter is well worth the effort! It hosts festivals such as the One Act Festival, an annual summer tradition that takes place over two weekends in August and presents plays ranging from comedies whose characters range from rag dolls to a man who talks to his cats. The variety the ten playwrights provide is sure to entertain!
Go biking and Hiking at the Matthew Henson State Park.
Matthew Henson State Park is the perfect spot for all nature lovers. The Park has biking and hiking trails that are perfect for outdoor days. Matthew Henson State Park is a greenway along the Turkey Branch, Montgomery County’s Rock Creek tributary.
There are numerous recreational opportunities, including cycling and trekking on the Matthew Henson Trail. This enchanting trail is roughly 4.5 miles long and eight feet wide and curves from the picturesque Rock Creek Hiker-Biker Trail to Alderton Road. If you prefer to relax, take a picnic and use the tables and grills with friends and family!
Discover the National Park College
This college was formerly the National Park Seminary and is a historic site near the Sligo Creek Parkway in Silver Spring, Maryland. The college began as a women’s finishing school in 1894, providing a classical education to young women to become accomplished ladies.
Expect to see elaborate, classically-inspired architecture created using the Chicago World’s Fair plans. To date, it has remained unique and eccentric because the design of the houses includes a Japanese pagoda, a Dutch windmill, a Swiss chalet, an Italian villa, and an English castle, in addition to different Victorian styles.
The Save Seminary Group provides guided tours of the grounds and inside a few buildings once a month. Try to make it for these interesting, unique tours.
Visit the General Getty Neighborhood Park
The Park is a small but lovely place directly adjacent to Georgia Avenue. This Park was completed in 1998 and featured several amenities for families. The amenities include playgrounds, tennis courts, a picnic area, a gazebo, and a semicircular trellis around garden beds, the Park’s unique feature.
The Park has large grassy areas and paved roads that are ideal for running or learning to ride a bike. You can also try your hand in an outdoor game-table area and play chess, checkers, and other tabletop games. General Getty Neighborhood Park has two important play structures for older children and beginner climbers so that all users are safe and entertained.
The pirate ship attraction is as incredible as it appears and contains a modest upper deck space where children can steer the ship with a lovely play area. Moreover, this Park is pet-friendly and has a paved pedestrian route around the playground’s perimeter for dog strolling and it has a unique doggy drinking fountain.
Attend a Concert at the Fillmore Silver Spring
The Fillmore Silver Spring is the ultimate live music venue in the heart of downtown Silver Spring, Maryland. This state-of-the-art theater was opened in October 2011 and has hosted various musical acts, comedy shows, and other special events. For over a decade, the Fillmore Silver Spring has provided dynamic, first-class music and entertainment to Silver Spring’s Arts & Entertainment District.
The Fillmore Silver Spring Concert also features a combination of traditional and cutting-edge original hand-painted murals, classic rock posters, beautiful hardwood floors, and stunning crystal chandeliers.
Conclusion
Are you looking for a fun day trip or a weekend getaway? Silver Spring is a vibrant community with plenty of things to do for its residents and visitors. It offers everything from arts and culture to parks and trails to shopping and dining. Consider adding Silver Spring to your list of places to visit.