SILVER SPRING, MD—With gas and food prices soaring, families might consider spending this summer a little closer to home. Today, the Montgomery County Department of Parks offers its top 10 list of affordable summer solutions in the county’s parks system for families making summer vacation plans this year on a budget.
“Families can still ‘get away from it all’ this summer right here in Montgomery Parks,” said Director of Parks Mary Bradford. “And it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg!”
The Department of Parks top 10 list of affordable summer getaways:
- Camp at Little Bennett Campground: The campground at Little Bennett Regional Park offers 91 private, wooded campsites. Tent sites are only $21 per night and electric sites are $29 per night. Activities for all registered campers include FREE family film nights, hayrides, ice cream socials and more. “Camper-ready” camping for first time or novice campers is also available—for just $25 per night (two-night minimum) plus the site fee, campground staff will set up your campsite with a four-person tent, two camp chairs, propane stove and lantern. See www.LittleBennettCampground.com.
- Spend Summer on the Lakes: At Lake Needwood at Rock Creek Regional Park and Little Seneca Lake at Black Hill Regional Park, rent canoes, kayaks, rowboats and pedal boats; take guided nature tours on pontoon boats; and fish for bass, catfish, bluegill, crappie or trout. Most boat rentals are $7 per hour or $24 for the day, plus tax. See www.BlackHillBoats.com and www.LakeNeedwoodBoats.com.
- Swing and Splash at South Germantown Recreational Park: The South Germantown Splash Playground is the place or kids of all ages all summer long with a 36-foot, computer-choreographed water maze, massive waterfall, splashing animals and more. Admission is just $4.50 for the day. There are also two championship 18-hole miniature golf courses, with putting greens, challenging sand traps, rough turf and natural obstacles. Mini-golf is $4.50 per round per person. Group rates and birthday party rentals are also available. For more, check out www.SplashandGolf.com.
- Send the Kids to Camp: The Department of Parks offers dozens of summer camps at its nature facilities, ice skating rinks, tennis facilities and public gardens, including the signature Week in the Park summer day camp at Wheaton Regional Park. New camps this summer include Camping Camp and Outdoor Adventure Camp at Little Bennett Regional Park, Tennis and Ice Skating Camp at Cabin John Regional Park and Yesterday and Today on the Farm camp at the Agricultural History Farm Park. Quantity discounts, for multiple children or multiple weeks are available for all these new parks summer camps and Week in the Park. Visit www.ParkPASS.org for more and to register.
- Go Wild in Montgomery: A countywide program, Wild Montgomery, identifies 14 of the county’s great green getaways, including Black Hill Regional Park (great butterfly watching); McKee Beshers Wildlife Area (the place to go see wildlife); and Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park (a great urban surprise with its network of trails). FREE Wild Montgomery-themed classes and programs are also being offered this summer through the department’s four nature centers. Visit www.WildMontgomery.org for a map of the county’s great green getaways and for more on the summer nature center programs.
- Summer Concerts in the Gardens: Brookside Gardens offers FREE summer twilight concerts in its beautiful Gude Garden, Tuesday evenings in June from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm. Visitors can bring chairs or blankets to enjoy this summer’s artists: the Maryland Community Band, Ruthie & the Wranglers, LEA and Incendio. Visit www.BrooksideGardens.org for more.
- Hit the Trail! Hikers, bikers and equestrians will enjoy more than 200 miles of paved and natural surface trails in the county’s parks this summer. Hikers and history buffs alike can take the FREE 2-mile natural surface guided Underground Railroad Experience Trail hike every Saturday at 10:00 am now and through November 3. The Saturday hikes begin at the stone barn at Woodlawn Manor Park. Discover all the trails this summer, visit www.MontgomeryTrails.org.
- Explore the Past: Several of the department’s historic sites, including the Bussard Farm at the Agricultural History Farm Park, Woodlawn Manor House and Oakley Cabin will be open FREE of charge during the county’s Heritage Days weekend this summer, June 28 and 29 from 12:00 noon – 4:00 pm. Visit www.ParksCulturalResources.org for a complete listing of all the historic sites in the county’s parks and more.
- All Aboard! The Cabin John Miniature Train opens daily May 24 and the Wheaton Miniature Train and Carousel is open daily now. Hop aboard for a ride through either park for only $1.50. Both parks feature plenty of other amenities to make a day of it. Visit www.CabinJohnTrain.com and www.WheatonTrainandCarousel.com.
- Give a Helping Hand: The department’s Volunteer Services Office just launched a new interactive user-friendly website for current and potential parks volunteers to learn how to start volunteering in the parks, check for openings, apply online and track volunteer activity. There are dozens of summer volunteer opportunities in parks to earn Student Service Learning hours, develop new skills, network and make new friends. Check out www.ParksVolunteers.org to get involved.
“For additional cost savings, we offer qualifying county residents a 50 percent fee reduction for several of our facilities and programs,” added Bradford. “Just call our ParkPASS Help Desk at 301-495-2580 or visit us online at www.ParkPASS.org to find out if you’re eligible.”
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Contact:
Kelli Holsendolph
Media Relations Manager
Montgomery County Department of Parks
301-650-2866