Germantown, Maryland, a planned but unincorporated community that is governed by Montgomery County, lies between Little Seneca Creek and Little Seneca Lake to the north and Great Seneca Creek to the south. First settled in the late 1700s, the Germantown region was a mostly rural farming area until the 1970s but is now a bustling place with plenty to do for all ages, including historic, recreational and cultural attractions.
Down on the Farm
- Button Farm, which lies just inside the entrance to Seneca Creek State Park, is one big interactive history lesson set on a site that was used for agriculture as early as 1767. The farm includes a circa-1901 farmhouse, Civil War-era barn, livestock pens, a museum garden and slave cemetery. Living-history demonstrations tell the story of the Underground Railroad and provide visitors with examples of what life was like for farmers and enslaved workers on a 19th-century plantation. The King Barn Dairy MOOseum at South Germantown Recreational Park has interactive exhibits and collections set in a former working dairy barn with silos. Among the draws are a Holstein bull, a herd of milking cows -- including one that visitors can attempt to milk -- and a 19th-century milk delivery wagon.
Park Pleasures
- Seneca Creek State Park, set along the banks of the namesake creek, is home to boating and fishing on Clopper Lake, a disc golf course and more than 50 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. In addition to Button Farm, the state park also includes other historic sites such as Black Rock Mill and the restored 19th-century Seneca Schoolhouse. At Black Hill Regional Park in nearby Boyds, take a pontoon boat tour or rent a rowboat, canoe or kayak for your own trip around Little Seneca Lake. The park also has picnic shelters and volleyball courts. The Hoyles Mill Trail, a 6-mile multi-use trail, connects Black Hill Regional Park to Seneca Creek State Park, winding through Hoyles Mill Conservation Park and South Germantown Recreation Park along the way.
Aquatic Adventures
- The 60,000-square-foot Germantown Indoor Swim Center at South Germantown Recreational Park has a large indoor pool with diving platforms, a water slide and two hydrotherapy pools for year-round enjoyment. During warmer months, you can make a splash in the Germantown Outdoor Pool. The facility includes a large main pool with eight swimming lanes, a leisure pool with two water slides, a toddler pool, concessions and bathhouse. The Water Park at Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg, about 7 miles southeast of Germantown, has a tropical-themed pool with zero-depth entry, artificial palm trees, a 250-foot double water slide, children's splash pool and a large tipping bucket that dumps water. Both outdoor facilities are open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day.
Evening Entertainment
- If you're looking for a night out, BlackRock Center for the Arts plays host to frequent cultural events such as independent films, concerts, ballets, plays and other live performances. Catch a recent release at one of Regal Germantown Stadium's 14 movie theaters or participate in a family-friendly laser showdown among the ramps, bridges and towers of the mist-enshrouded arena at ShadowLand Laser Adventures in Gaithersburg, less than 5 miles from Germantown.
