//
Unincorporated community in Maryland, United States
Photo: Caseyjonz, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Silver Spring is an unincorporated community in Montgomery County, Maryland. It is considered to be an "edge city". It sits next door to Washington, DC, and had about 82,000 residents in 2018. It has redeveloped its downtown district with an outdoor shopping plaza called "Downtown Silver Spring", and is criss-crossed by four creeks that are the basis for parks offering hiking trails, playgrounds, picnic areas, and tennis courts.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Dating back to 1887, this site, formerly a finishing school for girls and resort community, is odd. Inspired by the 1893 World Fair in Chicago, the Seminary owner decided to build 10 buildings of styles around the world including a Greek theater, a Japanese pagoda, and a Dutch windmill. Following the Great Depression and World War II, the Seminary could barely make ends meet, and the entire property was commandeered by the U.S. Army's Walter Reed Medical Hospital in 1942. The military demolished historic property and generally neglected the beautiful exotic and Victorian buildings. Gaining official historic status saved many of the buildings from demolition, but the neglect continued, allowing the elements and vandals to take their toll. In the 1980s, the "Save Our Seminary" group formed to protect what was left, and did an admirable job. The Army returned the historic Seminary properties to private hands and they were restored.
A restored railroad station from 1945.
Museum of the history of military medicine.
Bust of Norman Lane, a beloved local resident who lived in the nearby alley.
A 1937 New Deal-era post office mural.
Erected in 1792, this stone represents the northernmost point of Washington D.C. One of the oldest federal monuments.
A 1938 theater, now restored and home to the American Film Institute and Shopping Center.
Outdoor water sprinklers where children play during the summer.
A spacious music venue and bar that features big-name acts.
Outdoor ice skating during the winter. Reservations are required.
Acorn Park
The 12-acre Acorn Park sits on the site of the spring the surrounding area was named after. While small, its acorn-shaped gazebo and grotto are hard to miss.
Playground for children, tennis courts, and dog park.
24-acre park with a children's playground, softball field, lighted baseball field, two lighted tennis courts, and a picnic area.
10.2-mile (16-km) hard-surface trail through the park along Sligo Creek. Popular for walking, running, and bicycling.
Small park with a children's playground, tennis courts, and a 3,500-square-foot skating area.
Ghar-E-Kabab (The House of Kabab) serves traditional Indian and Nepalese cuisine -- much of it vegetarian.
Best New York-style bagels in Silver Spring. Kosher. Closed Saturdays. Long lines Sunday mornings. Arrive when they open in the morning for the freshest bagels.
Tasty Lebanese fare.
While the restaurant's ambiance may not lend itself to fine cuisine, Mandalay offers some of the best Burmese fare in the Washington area -- a mix of Indian, Chinese, and Thai cuisines.
Authentic Japanese teppanyaki style cooking, with sushi, noodle and vegetable dishes prepared table-side.
Fresh Tex-Mex at reasonable prices, with both indoor and outdoor seating, an extensive selection of Margaritas, and house-made chips and salsa.
Small-batch, locally sourced gourmet ice cream. Creative, unconventional flavors. Indoor and outdoor seating is available.
One of Washington area's most well-known New York-style delicatessens. The attached restaurant is frequently busy on Saturday mornings, owing to the area's large Jewish community. (Not Kosher.)
Caribbean food. Good DJs.
Traditional Italian dishes in a historic general store.
One of the most popular Ethiopian restaurants in Silver Spring's Little Ethiopia. Basic decor belies an expansive menu with regional specialties, many vegetarian options.
Laid-back, long-running staple for West and Central African dishes, with a focus on Cameroon and Nigeria. Goat, fried and roasted fish, fufu and stews, jollof rice.
Original location of beloved local pupuseria chain, with breakfast and smoothie options and market selling Central American goods.
Lively Irish pub with live music and a good whiskey selection.
This bar has been a neighborhood staple for over 70 years. At first glance it's just a friendly looking dive bar, but upon further inspection it reveals itself as something of a gastropub—the food is heads and shoulders above usual bar fare (fried pickles are a must), and they have a great, long list of Belgian beers! Live bands on weekends and a weekly Rockabilly night Sa.
Local brewery with indoor and outdoor seating in a courtyard. Also known for their large pretzels.
Local brewery with several different selections available. Light food is also served.
Locally made wine, beer, and spirits.
Coffee, espresso, tea, frappes, smoothies, sandwiches, salads, and soup. All coffee beans come from Ethiopia.
Sweet and savory crepes and espresso prepared to order in a cozy environment.
Comfortable cafe for strong coffee, espresso, as well as tea and pastries. Lovely roof-top seating.
A quaint cafe and art gallery owned and operated by two Ethiopian sisters. Serves coffee, pastries, sandwiches, salads, and soups.
Free breakfast, fitness center, and on-site parking.
Free WiFi, gym, restaurant, lounge, coffee bar in lobby. Three blocks to Metro, two miles to D.C. border.
Outdoor pool, 24-hour fitness center, 24-hour business center, free wifi, meeting space, restaurant.
Record store with a variety of music available.
Locally owned bookstore, specializing in a diverse assortment of books.
Art supplies for creative people, whether amateur or a professional.
By bus
Van Go Shuttle is a free purple bus that offers frequent service around Silver Spring M-Th from 7AM-midnight and F Sa from 7AM-2AM.
By bicycle
For information on bike-sharing programs in the Washington, DC area, see Washington DC#Get_around.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Washington · International · DCA
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Silver Spring and United States.
Nature & adventureHow to use the America the Beautiful pass, navigate timed-entry reservations and win hiking permits across America's top national parks.
7 min read
Travel tipsHow to master the NYC subway with OMNY contactless pay, dodge airport transfer traps and explore iconic Manhattan and Brooklyn neighborhoods.
7 min read
ItinerariesHow to plan the classic California Highway 1 road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles, navigating Big Sur closures, coastal stops and vehicle tips.
6 min read
Travel tipsSplitting a city stay between two hotels can cut costs, save hours of travel and buy you a night of luxury. Here is how to do it well.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.