Family Activities In Chevy Chase – Top Ten

The Capital Crescent Trail runs through the heart of Chevy Chase and is perfect for biking, jogging, and walking.  The Capital Crescent Trail follows an abandoned railroad right of way and extends from Georgetown to Silver Spring in Montgomery County.   The trail is one of 500 rail-to-trail projects in the country.  The Capital Crescent Trail is a source of great joy to locals and visitors alike! Bike into Georgetown and have a lovely lunch and then bike back!  You will be able to eat as much as you want after all that exercise!

This is a great place to walk your dog and then stop by Paul’s restaurant for a cup of hot chocolate or a delicious pastry.

Take in a concert at the Strathmore Music Center: A beautiful venue for live music and theater performances, with a variety of shows and events throughout the year, this is the location for visits by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.  This is one of the best family activities in Chevy Chase for a musical family or one that wants to introduce their children to classical music and more.

Be inspired by the flower displays at Brookside Gardens. This beautiful 50-acre garden features a variety of stunning flowers and plants, as well as several ponds and walking paths. Included in the gardens are several distinct areas: Aquatic Garden, Azalea Garden, Butterfly Garden, Children’s Garden, Rose Garden, Japanese Style Garden, Trial Garden, Rain Garden, and the Woodland Walk. The Formal Gardens areas include a Perennial Garden, Yew Garden, the Maple Terrace, and Fragrance Garden. Brookside Gardens also features two conservatories for year-round enjoyment. Admission to the gardens is free.

Stroll or bike along the C&O Canal and burn off some of that excess energy! The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park runs from Washington, D.C. to Cumberland, Maryland. You can walk or bike along the towpath and see historic lockhouses, bridges, and aqueducts.  Be sure to look for turtles sunning themselves on a rock in the canal or pairs of ducks paddling downstream.  There are lots of activities to do along the C&O canal in every season, making it one of the best family activities in Chevy Chase.   If you want to explore more of the DC Metro area, click here for some other seasonal activities. 

Visit the Clara Barton National Historic Site.  This historic site is the former home of Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross, and offers tours and exhibits about her life and work.   The Clara Barton home is a perfect choice for family activities in Chevy Chase because it gives a bit of Civil War history, the story of a dynamic woman, and it can be visited in about an hour.  Afterwards, you can explore Glen Echo, the C&O Canal and the Irish Inn at Glen Echo.  

One of the most popular family activities in Chevy Chase is no doubt shopping and dining on Bethesda Row.  Downtown Bethesda offers a trendy and upscale shopping district with a variety of stores and restaurants.  Check out Mon Ami Gabi for a delicious French dinner or brunch at Silver and then take in a movie on Bethesda Ave.  On Sunday, visit the Farmers Market at Bethesda Elementary!  Don’t forget to try a delicious gelato at Dolcezza or get a cookie at Levain.

Cabin John Park is one of the best family activities in Chevy Chase because of its many choices.  The little ones will love to ride the train at Cabin John Park through the woods with the whistle blowing and the bell ringing.  There are over 5 miles of trails, tennis courts, ball fields, tot lots, and the ice skating rinks that are open year round.  Bring Fido along for the dog park, separated by big and little dog sizes.  Take ice skating lessons at the ice rink or watch a baseball game with the local teams.

Discover your inner artist at the Glen Echo Park. There is on-going art instruction for artists of all ages, a historic carousel that runs in the warm weather months and a year round children’s theater.  The Glen Echo Park has dancing in the Spanish Ballroom, food available for purchase and it is also next to the Irish Inn at Glen Echo and the Clara Barton House.  Glen Echo Park has lots of festivals and celebrations to keep you coming back, making it a go to for family activities and a perfect birthday venue.

Go to the Great Falls Park on the Maryland side.  Great Falls Park offers stunning views of the Potomac River and hiking trails for all skill levels. The Billy Goat Trail and Olmstead Island offer scenic views of the Great Falls.  There is a small museum here and you can picnic or ride on the canal barge for a small fee.

Take riding lessons at Meadowbrook Stables just off East West Highway.  Meadowbrook offers riding and horsemanship lessons in hunters, hunt seat equitation, and jumpers to riders of all levels, ages 6 to adult.  They also offer a range of summer camp programs, as well as boarding, leasing and showing opportunities.

As you can see, Chevy Chase is a family friendly place to live.  There are great schools here like Bethesda Chevy Chase High School with its international baccalaureate program, easy transportation with the metro running downtown and out to Gaithersburg, and world class medical research facilities like NIH and the Howard Hughes center.  We have great restaurants to choose from and the airports are easily accessible.  If Chevy Chase seems like the place you want to live, just click here to start your search.