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Census-designated place in Maryland, United States
Photo: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Olney, along with its smaller neighbors Sandy Spring and Brookeville, lies in the northeast of Montgomery County, Maryland. All three are quiet, wealthy towns and exurbs of Washington, D.C., home to a good-sized Quaker population, and with a more rural, slower-paced character than other suburbs of D.C.
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Designed after the fashion of an eighteenth century Sandy Spring farmhouse, the museum is charming, with exhibits on local history, space for catered events and meetings, and frequent events (especially in the summer), largely jazz and classical performances, art shows, and lectures. The museum shop is neat, with an assortment of locally made crafts and art.
Zip lines, rope rigs, and wooden bridges of various difficulties, located in a forest setting. Good for children and adults.
Public park with an indoor pool, dog park, skate park, racketball court, and tennis courts.
Olney is lucky to have such a nice theater, specializing in 20th-century American theater, but also featuring from time to time contemporary works, concerts, and a Shakespeare summer festival.
A living history museum on a historic site of an African-American community that lived here from emancipation to the 20th century.
If you have ever wondered what Quakerism is about, attending a meeting couldn't be easier. The best Meeting for Worship for a visitor is on Sundays at 11AM (except the first Sunday of the month). Just go in a few minutes beforehand, take a seat, and be prepared to sit for about a half hour in silent reflection. (Quakers do not dress up for worship, so it is fine to come as you are.) The locals are a friendly bunch who are more than happy to answer any questions you have afterward. The Meeting House itself is a pretty, historic, brick building dating back to 1817.
Imagine that it is 1850, and slavery is still legal in Maryland and elsewhere, although the Quakers of Maryland had prohibited its members from owning enslaved people back in 1777. Meanwhile there are some locals who patrol the area looking to catch enslaved people who had escaped from their owners. In Sandy Spring, where many Quakers live, there are people who quietly help the Underground Railroad, helping these escapees to safety. Through this self-guided walking trail, you will learn more about the experiences of these escapees as they seek safety and freedom.
Many different types of steak and cheese subs and a large selection of local beers.
Many different flavors of Italian ice, almost too many to choose from!
Comfortable steak and seafood restaurant with a popular bar, outdoor seating, and a Sunday brunch. Their black bean burger is a delicious choice for both vegetarians and omnivores.
Upscale restaurant located in a historic mansion.
A local institution with the "feel of a traditional Irish pub and the historic American roadhouse." A great place for a casual dinner or some great sandwiches and a couple beers.
Some of the best bagels in the area. Their cookies and pastries are also excellent.
Tasty breakfast and creative sandwiches for lunch in a quaint building, with outdoor seating available.
Local brewery that uses ingredients it grows on-site in its beer. Sit indoors or sit at one of their many picnic tables out on their large lawn. Serves light snacks and pizza, and food trucks occasionally visit on weekends.
Fruits, vegetables, and crafts. Limited parking is available next door at the Olney Professional Park.
Antique store jam-packed with interesting items.
By bus
A few bus routes will get you here from D.C., but you will likely need someone to pick you up by car once you get there.
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