Things to do in Montgomery County
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Top 10 attractions in Montgomery County
Washington Monument
The Washington Monument stands in the center of the National Mall. Built to commemorate George Washington, the first president of the United States, it is an obelisk approximately 169 meters tall, standing out prominently in the predominantly low-rise urban landscape of Washington, D.C. Construction began in 1848, but was halted for over twenty years due to funding shortages. The federal government then took over the project, and construction was finally completed in 1884. Because the two sections of stone were sourced from different periods and locations, their varying degrees of weathering have resulted in a distinct color dividing line on the monument, a clear marker of this turbulent construction history. The monument is entirely simple, devoid of elaborate carvings, and tapers to a four-sided pyramidal apex at the top. The tower is hollow inside, with nearly two hundred commemorative stones embedded in its inner walls, donated by various states, cities, organizations, and countries across the United States. One particularly special stone is a Chinese inscription donated by a person from Ningbo during the Qing Dynasty. The inscription is taken from a passage praising Washington in *Yinghuan Zhilue*, a work by Xu Jiyu, a renowned official of the late Qing Dynasty, and is the only Chinese inscription among these commemorative stones. Inside the tower, there are nearly nine hundred spiral steps, but these are not open to visitors. The only way to reach the top is by elevator, which takes about 70 seconds to reach the observation deck at a height of approximately 150 meters. While downhill ride the elevator, pay attention to the commemorative stones flashing by on the inner walls. The observation deck has two viewing windows in each of the four directions: east to the U.S. Capitol Building, west to the Lincoln Memorial, south to the Jefferson Memorial and the Tidal Basin, and north to the White House. Daily access to the tower is limited, so advance reservations are recommended.Washington D.C. · 34.4 km from Montgomery County
The White House
The White House is the office and residence of every U.S. president, and since John Adams became its first resident in 1800, the building has been closely linked to the executive power of the United States. It was designed by Irish-born architect James Hoban in a neoclassical style, partially inspired by Leinster House in Dublin. The first president, Washington, personally participated in the selection of the architectural design and chose the final plan. The exterior walls were built of sandstone, and in 1798, craftsmen applied a lime-based white wash to the exterior walls to protect the porous sandstone from moisture erosion. During the conflict between Britain and the United States in 1814, British troops set fire to the interior of the building, leaving only the exterior walls standing, and post-war reconstruction began immediately. Today, the complex includes the main building, the West Wing, and the East Wing, with the Oval Office located in the West Wing. The building features an Ionic portico on the north side and a semicircular portico on the south side. It has a representative long-standing tradition of public tours — a tradition that began during the term of the third president, Jefferson, and has continued ever since, except during special periods such as wars. Visitors can enter the East Wing and some of the state floors.Washington D.C. · 33.6 km from Montgomery County
Brookside Gardens
Wheaton-Glenmont · 521m from downtown
United States Capitol
United States Capitol is an iconic building in Washington D.C. The iconic cast-iron dome was designed by architect Thomas U. Walter, and is topped by the bronze Statue of Freedom created by Thomas Crawford. The entire building features a neoclassical style. Its core interior spaces include the Rotunda, the Crypt, and the National Statuary Hall. The Rotunda is located directly beneath the dome. At the center of the dome is the fresco "The Apotheosis of Washington," painted by Italian-born artist Constantino Brumidi in 1865. The painting hangs approx. 55 m above the floor, featuring a grand composition of allegorical figures surrounding George Washington. Above the walls of the hall is a "Frieze of American History," which depicts important historical scenes in a continuous sequence, from Columbus's arrival in America to the Wright brothers' first flight. Directly beneath the Rotunda is the Crypt, which displays a portion of the statue collection from various states. Next is the National Statuary Hall, a semicircular hall that once served as the meeting place for the House of Representatives. Its curved ceiling once caused a significant whispering gallery effect, where a whisper on one side could be clearly heard on the other, though this was later reduced through renovations. Today, the hall displays statues of historical figures contributed by each state. The entire collection consists of two statues per state, but as they are distributed throughout the building, only a portion is displayed here. The visitor entrance is located at The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. Emancipation Hall, located within, displays the original plaster model of the Statue of Freedom, and the exhibition hall features interactive exhibits that tell the history of Congress and the building.Washington D.C. · 35.6 km from Montgomery County
National Mall
The National Mall is a green park in the center of Washington D.C., stretching approx. 3 km east to west, extending from the Lincoln Memorial in the west to the United States Capitol in the east, and is often called America's Front Yard. This rectangular area is lined with numerous Smithsonian museums, as well as cultural institutions such as the National Gallery of Art and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The most iconic structure on the mall is the Washington Monument, standing in the center. To the west of the monument, a long reflecting pool leads to the Lincoln Memorial, and to the east is the dome of the United States Capitol. The World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and many other commemorative facilities are scattered throughout, which, together with hundreds of monuments and sculptures in the surrounding area, form a memorial axis that encapsulates the historical memory of the United States.Washington D.C. · 34.6 km from Montgomery County
The Fillmore Silver Spring
The Fillmore Silver Spring, located in Maryland, United States, is a prominent and iconic live music venue in the area. This venue blends the passion of rock with architectural elegance, providing an excellent space for audiences to experience music. In terms of venue design and interior environment, it showcases a unique vintage industrial aesthetic. The venue features beautiful hardwood floors, paired with deep red velvet curtains extending from floor to ceiling, industrial-style fixtures, and sparkling crystal chandeliers, while the walls are adorned with classic rock posters and original hand-painted murals. This atmosphere, where the classic and the avant-garde intertwine, leaves a deep impression on every guest who steps inside. The venue's open design provides high flexibility, allowing for easy configuration into various layouts, ranging from theater-style and cabaret-style to exhibition-style. With its unique charm, it has become an indispensable cultural landmark in the area.Silver Spring · 765m from downtown
Wheaton Regional Park
Wheaton-Glenmont · 1 km from downtown
Hyper Kidz Rockville
Derwood · 1.6 km from downtown
Big Escape Rooms
Silver Spring · 624m from downtown
The Square at Rockville
Rockville Town Center, also known as Rockville Town Square, is a mixed-use commercial and residential complex that includes apartments, retail stores, restaurants, the Rockville Library, and the Rockville Arts and Innovation Center . The revitalization of the area by the City of Rockville has created a walker-friendly gathering place and public events, where farmers markets, concerts and community festivals are often held.Rockville · 284m from downtown
Experiences you can't miss in Montgomery County
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Free things to do in Montgomery County
The White House
Washington D.C. · 33.6 km from Montgomery CountyUnited States Capitol
Washington D.C. · 35.6 km from Montgomery CountyNational Mall
Washington D.C. · 34.6 km from Montgomery County
Lincoln Memorial
Washington D.C. · 33.8 km from Montgomery County
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Washington D.C. · 34.7 km from Montgomery County
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Washington D.C. · 35.2 km from Montgomery County
What travellers say about Montgomery County
YoYo_1I8Q7O5OJuly 1, 2026
5.0
The Washington Monument looked like a giant pencil stuck in the ground, blindingly white. We queued to go in and take the elevator; my ears were ringing as I went up. Looking out the window, the plaza's pool and Lincoln Hall looked like tiny squares. An old lady pointed into the distance, saying that was her state, but I couldn't really see anything. My legs were a little weak as I came down; walking around the base, I noticed the stone's color varied from top to bottom, darker above the waist. People were lying on the lawn sunbathing, and kites floated gently in the sky.
Washington Monument
Grace_cytAugust 14, 2024
4.0
The White House is a three-story flat-roofed house. It is called the White House because the outer walls are painted white. It is where the president of the United States works and lives. If you want to visit, you need to apply to the embassy in advance, but it is said that after the 9/11 attacks, foreigners are no longer allowed to visit. When we went there, we watched from a distance through the fence and lawn outside.
The White House
E34***11December 14, 2021
5.0
I love Brookside Gardens, I went twice this year. over the summer I took one of my nieces and we enjoyed the walking through the beautiful and looking at the different flowers and plants. Then I went back to the walk through lights. The lights were beautiful as usual.
Brookside Gardens
Flora_GuSeptember 3, 2026
5.0
The Capitol Building is a magnificent structure with a massive white cast-iron dome topped by the Statue of Liberty. It houses the offices of the U.S. legislature (Senate and House of Representatives), and many laws that have influenced the United States and the world were enacted here. Visiting the interior requires advance booking through the official website. We found the visitor center; security was very strict, and liquids were prohibited, so we had to discard all the hot water in our thermos flasks. Inside, we first watched a 10-minute historical documentary in a small theater, then were divided into groups and given headphones for guided tours. The interior was filled with ornate paintings, exquisite reliefs, and numerous statues of historical figures. The guides enthusiastically explained the furnishings and stories of the historical figures, and we also toured the Senate and House meeting rooms and members' offices.
United States Capitol
泰迪小熊December 7, 2024
5.0
Came here on September 21, 2017.
Between Capitol Hill and the Washington Monument, there is a long and narrow green space, which is the National Mall of the United States. There are many national museums and memorials around the square. Each venue is very interesting and you can spend half a day visiting a single place.
If you don't have enough time, it's also good to take pictures. These buildings have different shapes, and taking pictures and checking in are very photogenic.
National Mall
Kimiko TabooFebruary 15, 2021
5.0
I love the Filmore!! Definitely was the spot to be got the greatest shows before Covid.
The Fillmore Silver Spring
