Gaithersburg, MD

Gaithersburg is a pleasant and intriguing town that grew in the 19th century along with the historic B&O Railroad. It is known for its diverse shopping options and vast parks and as the site of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Snap photos of quaint townhouses and enjoy the town’s charming ambiance.

Browse the stores spread across two levels of the Lakeforest Mall. Enjoy meals in bars and restaurants or the mall’s food court. Bring your kids to the Adventure Kids Club at Lakeforest Mall. Other shopping centers in the town include the RIO Washingtonian Center and Gaithersburg Square. Wander down the lively commercial street of Downtown Crown for its shops, restaurants and small parks.

Understand the importance of the railroad to the town at Gaithersburg Community Museum, housed in the restored redbrick 1884 B&O Railroad Station. Use the interactive displays that showcase an old schoolroom and a bank. You can also see some of the trains that used these tracks, including a 1918 Buffalo Creek and a Gauley #14 Steam Locomotive.

Aside from those rainy day activities, Gaithersburg has a range of parks and lakes that are ideal for its hot and humid summers. Hike along the paths of the Lake Bernard Frank Trail and delight the family with a trip to the slides and pools of the Water Park at Bohrer Park. In the western suburbs, you’ll find the 6,300-acre (2,500-hectare) Seneca Creek State Park, where much of The Blair Witch Project was filmed. Rent canoes and paddle boats to take out on Clopper Lake.

The town is in the northwestern outskirts of Washington D.C. in the heart of Montgomery County. Drive northwest from the nation’s capital for 22 miles (35 kilometers) and get here in about 45 minutes. You can also arrive via a combination of the metro system and buses. Get around the main sights of the city by car.

Gaithersburg is a shopping haven with fascinating links to its railroad past.