The College Park Aviation Museum is located on the grounds of College Park Airport. The airport has been in continuous operation since 1909 and is the oldest continuously operating airport in the world. A look into aviation history therefore leads directly to a place that is itself part of that history.
Aviation and Deep Earth History
The museum showcases ten unique aircraft and objects relating to the history of early aviation at College Park Airport. Tours last about 90 minutes and include interactive time in the Flight School area and instructions on using the Paper Plane Launcher. Those interested in aircraft can experience exhibits and hands-on activities as part of the same museum visit.
Dinosaur Park offers a very different glimpse into the past. The fossils found there are 115 million years old and date to the Early Cretaceous. Visitors can collect fossils at the ground surface with the help of paleontologists. The park also preserves remnants of a river and wetland landscape from that era: the finds point not only to individual animals, but also to a landscape fundamentally different from today's.
History, Everyday Life and the Performing Arts
Riversdale Historic Site & Museum is a former 19th-century plantation site in Maryland and is interpreted as a National Historic Landmark. The site's history also includes its kitchen: members of the Riversdale Kitchen Guild give demonstrations of open-hearth cooking, using historic recipes and traditional food-preparation techniques. This connects the interpretation of a historic estate with tangible insights into food culture of the past.
At the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, six venues provide stages for the performing arts. The Clarice hosts about 1,000 events across a range of disciplines each year. Science and technology take center stage at the Goddard Visitor Center, where work in Earth and planetary science, astrophysics, heliophysics, engineering, communications and technology development is presented. Both places offer further ways to explore culture and knowledge, but with very different focuses.
Rivers, Trails and Nature
Year-round guided birdwatching tours are offered in the Jug Bay area of Patuxent River Park. There are also seven access points along the river where canoes and kayaks can be launched. In the same park, tours of the six buildings of the Patuxent Rural Life Museums are offered year-round. Nature watching, water access and the exploration of rural history are different options available here.
The Oxon Cove Trail takes hikers and cyclists through forest and meadow ecosystems along Oxon Cove to the waterfront. The trail is 3.5 miles long; since trail conditions can change, it is worth checking the latest status before setting out. The Anacostia Tributary Trail System offers another way to experience the landscape: it encompasses a continuous greenway through forests, open fields and wetlands and is part of the coast-to-coast American Discovery Trail.
Those who want to get out on the water can find a free public boat ramp at Bladensburg Waterfront Park. Bicycles, canoes, kayaks, pedal boats and rowboats are also available for rent. Free interpretive pontoon rides travel along the Anacostia River. These offerings differ from the access points on the Patuxent River: here, visitors can also choose from rental boats and guided river trips.
Camping, Wildlife and Family Experiences
Greenbelt Park has 172 campsites with showers and restrooms. Check operating conditions before your trip. Watkins Nature Center offers nature-focused programs for children, families and adults. The Wonderful World of Watkins Amusement Complex includes a replica of the C. P. Huntington miniature train and the historic Gustav Dentzel Carousel.
At Old Maryland Farm, visitors can enjoy agricultural exhibits, farm animals and display gardens. Paved, level paths lead to all areas of the farm. Those seeking nature in a largely undeveloped park setting instead of a farm visit will find extensive areas in a natural, undeveloped state at Cosca Regional Park. Clearwater Nature Center complements this focus with interpretive programs led by park naturalists. Animals living there include mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds of prey, including a bald eagle.
Wine is also among the possible discoveries: the Legacy Wine Trail includes Romano Vineyard & Winery, Janemark Winery & Vineyard, Gemeny Winery & Vineyards, Two Lions Vineyards and Robin Hill Farm & Vineyards. Alongside the museums, river landscapes and nature experiences, these attractions make this a destination with experiences ranging from aviation and Earth history to wildlife, performing arts and wine.
Discover more destinations: Temple Hills, Upper Marlboro, College Park, Beltsville, Hyattsville, Laurel, Morningside, Brandywine, Fort Washington, Largo, Greenbelt, Oxon Hill, Clinton, Capitol Heights, Bowie, Cheverly, Forestville, Lanham-Seabrook, Landover Hills, New Carrollton, Hillcrest Heights, Riverdale Park, Bladensburg.
For the broader travel overview: Maryland.
