 Summertime Fun in Bethesda
and beyond
July/August 2011 |
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Sticky summer heat has arrived!
Mary J. Murphy has just the fix for sweltering
days and steamy nights. Stay cool and
entertained with these local secrets. |
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 Take a trip back in time and hop on a canal boat to cruise the C&O canal! You can ride in a boat pulled by mules as you hear park rangers in period costume describe what life was like way back when...this is a history lesson your kids won't soon forget. For prices, schedules and reservations, visit www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/publicboatrides.htm. This is a great activity when those in-laws come to visit and want a slightly less-active activity.
|  Hit the deck - and the water - at neighborhood pools. Our area offers a wealth of choices, including the always-popular Old Georgetown Club (but there is a waiting list, so put your name on it now if you like this one), the Bethesda Outdoor Pool, Wildwood Manor, Seven Locks Pool, and the Bethesda-Chevy Chase YMCA. All will cool you off, and chances are you will run into friends almost daily! Possibly the best-kept pool secret in the area is the Rockville Outdoor Pool. This gem offers several indoor and outdoor pools and a fitness center, diving boards, a waterslide, an interactive playground and a "sprayground" plus the all-important snack bar! |
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 During the month of July, get your groove on at free outdoor dance concerts in downtown Bethesda (www.bethesda.org/bethesda/dance-concert). These shows are put on from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm every Friday night. Bring the kids, throw in dinner and ice cream and you've got a summer memory you'll never forget.
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Strathmore, an incredible concert hall right in our own back yard, also offers free concerts at 7:00 pm on Wednesday nights throughout the summer. Visit dc.about.com/od/concerts/a/StrathSumCon.htm for the schedule and get ready to boogie under the stars! |
There are a lot of options in the area for splash parks and water parks. A favorite for little kids is the South Germantown Splash Playground (www.montgomeryparks.org/facilities/south_germantown/index.shtm#splash_golf).  What's great about this place is that it's adjacent to a putt-putt golf range, so a full day of fun is guaranteed. Two pieces of advice: pool shoes and snacks. Your kids will be running on concrete so you want their toes protected, and the only food up there comes out of vending machines. If you've also got older kids and want to get wetter than a splash park will allow, head to the Water Mine Family Swimmin' Hole in Virginia. Really, this place is fun. It's pretty relaxing for you to float along the Rattlesnake River, which circles the park, and it's pretty exhausting for your kids to jump, dive, slide and splash in the rest of the park. See www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/rec/watermine. |  If you're not already a golf widow, don't tell your husband about this...but local golf courses offer plenty of opportunities for men to have temper tantrums in public. The Falls Road Golf Course and Needwood Golf Course are favorites, and you can find other nice Montgomery County golf courses at www.montgomerycountygolf.com. |
Are you bowled over by those excellent final grades? Bowl America (www.bowl-america.com/) wants to see the report cards! For every academic subject in which your student got a final grade of A or B, he or she will be rewarded with ten free games. And the certificates can be redeemed through Labor Day, so you can save them for a rainy day! AMF (www.amf.com/home) also has a great "Summer Unplugged" promotion in which you get email coupons for kids 16 & younger to bowl free. | | Rain, rain, don't go away quite yet, because we've got a great plan for those dreary days with hyper kids: The Play With Me Playseum (www.playseum.com) on Wisconsin Avenue. This place is all about letting your imagination run wild! This is probably best for little tykes who will love pretending to serve ice cream or go grocery shopping. |
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 Lovers of farmers markets, rejoice! You now have choices in downtown Bethesda! The Bethesda Central Farm Market is a local favorite, and now the Bethesda Fresh Farm Market is back for a second season. Happy shopping, happy cooking and healthy eating - what could be better?
|  Road trips rule! If you're looking to get away but don't necessarily want to spend the night somewhere, head to Hershey Park (www.hersheypark.com). You don't have to like chocolate, but if you do, this place will let you get your fill. The vending machines dole out full-size candy bars, the hotels check you in with Hershey Bars and the tours practically throw minis at you. Don't eat too much of anything, though, if you plan to tackle the death-defying roller coasters, or you'll be sorry. There is also a fantastic water park and lots of entertainment for every age. |
 Remember Mr. Toad, Mole, Ratty and Mr. Badger? If these old friends bring back lovely childhood memories, you'll enjoy sharing The Wind in the Willows with your own children. Bethesda's Imagination Stage (www.imaginationstage.org) offers performances throughout July and August. |  For a little more theater, you can't miss Charlotte's Web, playing at Adventure Theater (www.adventuretheatre.org). Follow Charlotte and Wilbur as they outsmart the Zuckermans and keep Wilbur safe! And, of course, hop on the Dentzel Carousel (www.glenechopark.org/node/48) after the show. This historic, colorful ride is a treat for anyone...diapers to dentures! |
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Mary J. Murphy Allied Realty Corp.
301-656-8600
301-717-8372 direct
7605 Arlington Road, Suite 100
Bethesda, MD 20814
mjmurphy@alliedrealtycorp.com
Mary's Current Listings
5909 Melvern Drive Bethesda - Wyngate
7 BR/5.5 BA, 4 finished levels
2009 Craftsman Dream Home!
$1,375,000
OPEN July 5, 11:30A - 1:30P
Please Click Here for virtual tour and more information
5706 English Court
Bethesda
6 BR/4.5 BA, 3 finished levels
Huge Addition - Unique Home!
$1,299,000
Please click here for virtual tour and more information
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The advice contained in this newsletter is the result of three
very opinionated Bethesda
moms getting together over
coffee. We don't get paid, these
aren't advertisements; these are
the same great ideas and tips we
share with our friends. Enjoy!
Allied Realty Corp.
301-656-8600
301-717-8372 direct
7605 Arlington Road, Suite 100
Bethesda, MD 20814
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