Rockville, MD: Local legends, outdoor escapes, and community flavor

Fed by Rock Creek, Lake Needwood, is a 75-acre reservoir in Derwood in the eastern part of Montgomery County that was created by damming Rock Creek in 1965. Located east of Rockville, the lake offers a wide variety of outdoor and recreational activities such as fishing, boating, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, photography, and pedal boating. Fishing is permitted at both Lake Needwood and Lake Frank, and boat rentals and permits can be obtained from the Boat House. Visitors can take pontoon boat tours of the lake on the Needwood Queen, which operates on weekends and holidays between Memorial Day and Labor Day and provides the opportunity to see birds, turtles, and other wildlife on the lake.

Address: The Boat House: 15700 Needwood Lake Circle, Rockville, MD 20855, Phone: 301-563-7540

Glenview Mansion is a historic home surrounded by 65 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and grounds in Rockville. Resting at the heart of the Civic Center overlooking 28 acres of exquisite grounds with ornamental gardens, the Glenview Mansion is an elegant, Neo-Classical Revival home that was designed and built in 1926 by prominent Washington, D.C., architects Lochie and Porter and considered a local historic landmark. Listed on the National Registry for Historic Places, the mansion was a popular destination for Washington's socialites and boasts breathtaking interiors with marble floors, soaring ceilings, and a six-room art gallery overlooking manicured formal gardens with holding fountains.

Address: Glenview Mansion, 603 Edmonston Dr, Rockville, MD 20851, Phone: 240-314-8660

Located in the heart of Montgomery County, 7 Locks Brewing is a locally-owned and operated independent brewery and craft beer destination that produces delicious beer from regionally sourced ingredients. Housed in a 15-barrel brewhouse, 7 Locks Brewing produces traditional beers using well-balanced malt and hops with an added twist, along with some seasonal and limited edition styles, and a rotating selection of 10 craft beers on taps like the Redland Lager, the Blockhouse Point Stout, and the famous Surrender Dorothy RyePA.

Address: 7 Locks Brewing , 12227 Wilkins Ave, Rockville, MD 20852, Phone: 301-841-7123

What to do if you are traveling with kids:

Nestled on 120 acres of forests and meadow land, the Croydon Creek Nature Center is conveniently located just a short distance from downtown Rockville. At the heart of the preserve there is a winding creek which provides the perfect habitat for a wide variety of birds and wildlife. There are 3 miles of marked trails to explore on foot and the center hosts a selection of educational programs for both adults and children to encourage them to become more conscious of nature and conservation. The good news is that the center is open to anyone, free of charge. However, some of the guided activities do require payment.

Address: 852 Avery Rd, Rockville, MD 20851, Phone: 240 314 8770

Built in 1873, the Rockville B&O Railroad Station was once a simple country outpost along the route between Washington’s Union Station and Point of Rocks. Designed by Ephraim Francis Baldwin in the Victorian Gothic style with Eastlake detailing, the historic station still boasts the colored roof tiles and woodworking details at each gable that were characteristic of the era. Although the Rockville B&O Railroad Station contributed to Rockville’s early growth, the development of the modern railroad would later threaten its existence. The 400-ton station was relocated and refurbished to its former glory in 1981 and today houses the law firm of Gill and Sippel, who remain committed to preserving this significant building in Rockville’s history.

Address: Rockville B&O Railroad Station, 98 Church St, Rockville, MD 20850-4123

The Historical Society of Montgomery County was established to preserve, interpret and encourage an interest in the rich history of Montgomery County. Founded in 1944 by Lilly Stone, the Historical Society of Montgomery County is located at the Beall-Dawson Historical Park in Rockville, which it manages and runs as a historic house museum that is open to the public. The Beall-Dawson grounds are also home to the Stonestreet Museum of 19th Century Medicine and the Sween Research Library and Special Collections, which act as a library and archival resource for genealogists and local historians, and an administrative complex for the Society.

Activities and Attractions for Couples:

The Beall-Dawson House is a historic house museum and the headquarters of the Montgomery County Historical Society. Managed by the Society as an early 19th-century period historic house museum, the Beall–Dawson House is a beautifully preserved two-and-a-half-story Federal house built in 1815 with a Flemish bond brick front façade and several original outbuildings. The house features two rooms filled with rotating exhibits and indoor slave quarters, and other buildings on the property include the Stonestreet Museum of 19th Century Medicine with a variety of medical and pharmaceutical tools, furniture, and books from the 19th and 20th century on display. The Beall–Dawson House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Address: The Beall-Dawson House, 103 W Montgomery Ave, Rockville, MD 20850, Phone: 301-762-1492

Surrounding two beautiful lakes, the Rock Creek Regional Park covers 1,800 acres, packed with recreational facilities. Lake Needwood and Lake Frank offer good fishing and boating and visitors can hire canoes, kayaks and pontoons at the Lake Needwood Boat Shop. Hikers have 13 miles of scenic hiking trails to explore and there is also a multi-use paved hiking and biking trail for visitors to enjoy. Picnic shelters can be booked in advance. Other activities include the Go Ape Ropes Course, the Archery Range and the Needwood Golf Course. The Meadowside Nature Center is also worth a visit to see various nature exhibits or to join guided nature activities.

Address: 6700 Needwood Rd, Derwood, MD 20855, 301 495 2595

The Rockville Ice Arena is the region’s premier hockey and ice skating facility with three full-size rinks on which figure skating, ice hockey, and community skating activities can be enjoyed. Rockville Ice Arena offers a variety of in-house programs, such as skating lessons to skaters of all levels and beginner hockey instruction through the Hockey Initiation Program. The arena is home to three hockey teams, namely the Bullis Bulldogs, St. John's Cadets, and the MAPHL champion Landon Bears, and hosts a variety of high caliber youth hockey programs. League and championship games are played on two of the three rinks, which have ample bleacher seating and twelve locker rooms. The Rockville Ice Arena has an onsite restaurant that serves delicious food and drinks and has a private dining area for birthday parties and other events.

Address: Rockville Ice Arena, 50 Southlawn Ct, Rockville, MD 20850, Phone: 301-315-5650