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For
additional Tour possibilities, check our
Historic Sites & Museum and Nature, Parks
& EcoTours pages. For details on these and
other tour itinerary suggestions, contact
the Conference & Visitors Bureau.
Tour
Itinerary Suggestions
AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH CENTER/BARC (Beltsville)
BARC
is the home of the holiday turkey, the modern
blueberry and strawberry, the lean hog,
the "bug bomb," the human calorimeter, and
the world's largest cloned orchard. BARC
is the 7,200-acre headquarters for the nationwide
laboratories of the Agricultural Research
Service -- the science agency of the U.
S. Department of Agriculture. This facility
has been in operation for 80 years. Guided
tours are available by appointment from
the National Visitor Center in a historic
Log Lodge on Powder Mill Road. Exhibits
at the Log Lodge are open Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-4:30
p.m. Allow 1 1/2-2 hrs. for tour. Free.
(301) 504-9403. (From I-95, take Exit 23
(toward Greenbelt), Edmonston Rd.; turn
right on Powder Mill Rd.; or Exit 25A, U.
S. Rt. 1 North; turn right on Powder Mill
Rd.)
GREENBELT
MUSEUM (Greenbelt)
The
museum is an original restored home in the
National Historic Landmark community of
Greenbelt. Greenbelt is a thoroughly planned
community designed and built by the Federal
Government as a New Deal project during
the Great Depression. It is one of only
three federal "greentowns' every built.
This restored house features original WPA
designed furniture. Tours are available
on Sundays, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Other tour dates
are by appointment. The museum is located
at 10-B Crescent Road. There is a $3 donation
required. 301-507-6582. (From I-95, take
Exit 23; bare right onto Kenilworth Ave;
turn right onto Crescent Rd.)
OXON
HILL FARM (Oxon Hill)
Draft
horses still pull the plow at Oxon Hill
Farm, a steam-powered thresher separates
the wheat, and the visitors help shuck corn
and pick apples. This is a working farm,
part modern and part turn-of-the-century,
open to the public year round. A National
Park site since 1967, its rolling 485 acres
overlook the Potomac River on the Maryland
side. Open daily; 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Mar.-Nov.;
8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Dec.-Feb. Allow 1 1/2
hrs. for tour. Free. (301) 839-1177. (From
I-95, take Exit 3A, and bear right onto
Oxon Hill Road; take first right to Farm
entrance.)
NATIONAL
AQUARIUM IN BALTIMORE
At
the National Aquarium, you can see 14,000
of the most fascinating and exotic creatures
on Earth. The catch - they're under water.
From the Amazon River Forest to the Arctic.
And visit the new and exciting "Seahorse"
exhibit. Group tours are welcome. National
Aquarium is a CVB member facility. For information
and directions, 410-576-3800.
NATIONAL
COLONIAL FARM (Accokeek)
A
living history museum project of the Accokeek
Foundation, the farm provides an appropriate
setting of the exhibition and demonstration
of agricultural methods, crops and livestock
of a modest Tidewater farm of the mid-18th
century. Open Tue.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Allow 1-2 hrs. for tour. Nominal fee. (301)
283-2113. (From I-95, take Exit 3A, follow
MD 210 South for 10 miles; turn right at
Bryan Point Rd., farm entrance.)
NASA/GODDARD
SPACE FLIGHT CENTER & VISITOR CENTER (Greenbelt)
The
hub of all NASA tracking activities, Goddard
also is responsible for the development
of unmanned sounding rockets in basic and
applied science. Open daily, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.,
except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.
Allow 1 1/2-2 hrs. for tour. Free. (301)
286-8981. (From I-95, take Exit 22A, Greenbelt
Rd.; turn left on Soil Conservation Rd.,
and left again to entrance.)
COLLEGE
PARK AIRPORT & AVIATION MUSEUM (College
Park)
College
Park Airport, the world's oldest continuously
operating airport, is perhaps second only
in importance to Kitty Hawk in the first
25 years of American aviation history. In
1909, Orville Wright trained the first Army
officer how to fly here, and between 1909
and 1934, many aviation first took place
here. Open Wed.-Sun., 12 noon-4 p.m. Closed
Jan.-Feb. Allow 45 min.-1 hr. for tour.
Free. 864-6029 (Museum Hours), (301) 779-2011
(Weekdays), 864-5844 (Airport Operations).
(From I-95, Exit 23 (towards Bladensburg);
turn right onto Calvert Rd., and follow
signs to Airport entrance.)
MERKLE
WILDLIFE SANCTUARY & VISITORS CENTER (Upper
Marlboro)
Started
in 1932 as a breeding and nesting ground
for Canada Geese, a new visitor center interpretive
programs have made this one of the most
unique and beautiful wildlife and environmental
attractions in the State of Maryland. Open
Tues.-Sun., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Allow 45
min.-1 hr. for tour. (301) 888-1410. (From
I-95, take Exit 11B (Pa. Ave.) to Rt. 301
South; from Rt. 301 turn left on Croom Rd.
(MD 382); follow to St. Thomas Church Rd.,
bear left, follow to Fenno Rd. and Visitor
Center entrance.)
NATIONAL
WILDLIFE VISITOR CENTER (Laurel)
The
Center is designed to provide visitors with
knowledge and appreciation of the role of
wildlife research in preserving the earth's
vital resources. Interactive exhibits focus
on global environmental issues, migratory
bird routes, wildlife habitats, and endangered
species recovery efforts. Nature trails/guided
tram tours are available. Daily, 10 a.m.-5:30
p.m. Allow 2 1/2 hrs. for tour. Free, nominal
fee for tram rides. (301) 497-5760. (From
I-95, take Exit 23 (toward Greenbelt), Edmonston
Rd.; turn right on Powder Mill Rd.; or Exit
25A, U. S. Rt. 1 North; turn right on Powder
Mill Rd.; turn off Powder Mill on to Scarlet
Tanager Loop.)
MONTPELIER
MANSION & CULTURAL ARTS CENTER (Laurel)
This
was the 18th century home of the Snowden
family. It was most likely built by Major
Thomas Snowden between 1770-1785. In addition
to its architecture, Montpelier is also
significant for the many famous Americans
who have visited it. Visitors included George
Washington, Abigail Adams and Franklin Roosevelt.
Tours are conducted on Sun., 12 noon-4 p.m.
Special tours may be scheduled in advance
and there is a special Luncheon-tour for
groups of 20 or more. The Mansion is closed
Jan.-Feb. Tour duration is1-1 1/4 hrs. Nominal
fee; group fees available. (301) 953-1376.
The Montpelier Cultural Arts Center, Prince
George's first multifaceted arts facility,
is located on grounds of Montpelier Mansion.
The Center houses galleries and studio space
for printmakers, sculptors, painters and
crafts people. Tours are available to see
the artists at work, daily from 10 a.m.-5
p.m., except holidays. Allow 45 min.-1 hr.
for tour. Free. (301) 953-1993. (From I-95,
take Exit 22A (Balto./Wash. Pkwy.) to Rt.
197; North on Rt. 197 to Muirkirk Rd., turn
left, and then turn right into entrance.)
FORT
WASHINGTON PARK (Fort Washington)
The
fort, built between 1814 and 1824, was constructed
to replace the earlier Fort Warburton. Fort
Warburton was destroyed during the War of
1812. The fort displays cannons, ramparts,
earthworks, a drawbridge, and interpretive
history tours. Open daily; Park, 7:30 a.m.-sunset;
Visitor's Center, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Historic
Fort, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Closed Christmas and
New Year's Day. Allow 1 hr. for tour. Free.
(301) 763-4600. (From I-95, take Exit 3A
(Rt. 210 South) to Fort Washington Rd.;
turn right and follow to Park entrance.)
SURRATT
HOUSE MUSEUM (Clinton)
After
the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in
April 1865, John Wilkes Booth and David
Herold stopped here before proceeding to
the home of Dr. Samuel Mudd, where Booth
received medical attention for his broken
leg. Because of this incident and prior
visits made by Booth to Mrs. Mary Surratt's
rooming house in Washington, she was charged
as a conspirator in the plot to assassinate
the President. She was tried by a military
court and subsequently hanged. This structure,
now restored, has served as both a tavern
and post office for the community. Open
Thurs.-Fri., 11a.m.-3 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 12
noon-4p.m. Open mid-January thru December.
Group tours by appointment. Allow 1-1/2
hrs. for tour. Nominal fee. (301) 868-1121.
(From I-95, take Exit 7A (Branch Ave.) to
Woodyard Rd. (MD 223); turn right, and then
turn left at light at Brandywine Rd.; Visitor
Center is on the left.)
ROSECROFT
RACEWAY (Oxon Hill)
One
of the finest harness racing facilities
on the East Coast, Rosecroft features an
attractive grandstand, clubhouse and dining
room, with special rates for groups. Post
times vary according to season. Allow 3
1/2 hrs. for evening racing card. (301)
567-4000. (From I-95, take Exit 4A, and
follow signs to entrance.)
UNIVERSITY
OF MARYLAND (College Park)
The
University offers sporting and cultural
events year round. (301) 314-7070 (Sports)
or (301) 405-2201 (Cultural). Time allotted
depends on type of event. Also on the campus
is the Rossborough Inn, a historic inn dating
to 1798. The inn is open for lunch during
the calendar school year (301-314-8014).
(From I-95, take Exit 25B, Rt. 1 South to
Campus Dr.)
SIX
FLAGS AMERICA (Largo)
Family
amusement/water theme park, home of Maryland's
tallest wooden roller coaster, the all new
Batwing, Superman-Ride of Steel and the
Joker's Jinx. Six Flags also feature the
latest in water-related entertainment, including
the "Monsoon Lagoon." Special events are
held throughout the season. Open daily,
Memorial Day-Labor Day, with some blackout
days. Call to verify hrs. Allow 1/2 day-full
day for this park. Admission, group rates
available. (301) 249-1500. (From I-95, take
Exit 15A (Rt. 214E), and follow to Park
entrance.)
ITINERARY
SAMPLER
TOUR PACKAGES
TOUR SUGGESTIONS
GROUP ACCOMMODATIONS
TOUR SERVICES &
SUPPORT
Prince George's County, Maryland Conference
& Visitors Bureau, Inc.
9200 Basil Court, Suite 101 • Largo,
Maryland 20774
Tel: 301.925.8300 or 888.925.8300 •
Fax: 301.925.2053
E-mail: visitorinfo@co.pg.md.us
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