Brookside Nature Center

Ample parking, restrooms, handful of things to look at throughout the center and one playroom. Kid friendly trails around. Favorite trail is Pine Lake Trail. You’re able to enter from the parking lot and loop around, seeing the lake and walking a bit around the garden, back into the parking lot. My 2 and 4 year old are able to complete the loop without a stroller!

It was a beautiful experience. Went with my kids and they had fun. Nice and friendly staff. Walked the trail.... you dont have to worry about getting lost cause there are signs. Went to the pond, fed the ducks. It's family friendly. Visit with your loved ones.

Great place to go on a hike, chill by a a cozy fire and take pictures. Super friendly staff.

My daughter and I were there for Trail buddies, which is a great way for you and your child to learn about nature first hand. It also teaches science in nature and they learn some grammar teaching them new words and a bit how to read. I suggest this for any parent with a preschooler it's practically an outdoor hour and a half preschool class for $6 a pair (one child and parent) every Tuesday or Wednesday.

Fantastic gardens, wide variety of plants and tons of flowering plants as well. Conservatory too. Laid out very well. 👍

Great for kids to learn a lot especially get exercise because we took the hiking trail from Wheaton Regional Park.

Enjoyed the Maple Syrup guided tour. We'll worth $12 per person.

Really a great nature center. It can be hard to find as you have to go past two entrances to the brookside gardens, but worth a visit with kids. The indoor area has a play room and a good number of animals to see. Outdoor has some hiking space including a pond. There is a trail from the parking lot to brookside gardens.

Nice trails for a quick walk through the forest. Has a large dog run and a beautiful pond.

I've loved the nature center and the trails it backs on since I was a very small child. It offers a wealth of fun and educational experiences for all ages and real care put into the surrounding grounds.

I personally love to pause in the meadow, or contemplate the life of the family that packed themselves into the one small cabin transported onto the grounds for preservation.

Great place for a nature walk. For the whole family.

We love the observation room!! There's a live display of a beehive!!! Awesome! There are some very attentive animals.

It's a great spot in the woods for a walk. Here's a picture of the original house around 1951 that became the Nature Center, built from trees on the property.

Looking to picnic? Avoid frustration/confusion by going straight to the Shorefield Area (address: Wheaton Regional Park, 2000 Shorefield Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20902) and not to Brookside Nature Center or Botanical Garden. You cannot picnic in the gardens themselves, and Shorefield is the only reliable picnicking spot from what I was told when I visited.

Great place to see all the different blooms!

Butterflies and mindfulness. Spent almost 3 hours there. The nature center is cool , with a great birdwatching window. The butterfly exhibit is fun. Try to go on a cloudy day as it gets toasty in the conservatory in summer. Wonderful plants. A relaxing place in a hectic county.

nice place, recommend visit.autumn you can see all colors of tree, and I wait for winter and day after snow ,is wonderful.

I volunteered at the nature center for many years through middle and high school. I returned to bring my daughter in for the experience. This place is great and always has been. A few changes have been made for the better but it's still a great place to bring your kids and learn about the environment and the species that inhabit it!

This is a great park right outside of the city. It has a nature center, beautiful lake with gardens around it. Different kinds of nature events. Like a butterfly exhibit. I’d take my kids there every day. Actually I did for a while when we lived there. We had birthday parties and just good family Sunday’s.

The visitors center here is fantastic! So many engaging and interesting Hands-On things for kids. Grown ups learned a lot too! We also walked around some of the trails, the boardwalk sound the lake, the Pioneer cabin, and exploration playground. Wonderful, and free!