A, B, Cs (Arts, Brunch, Cocktails) Outside of DC

Experience unique art museums, craft spirits, and accommodations framing the DC area.

Start: Potomac

Finish: National Harbor

Distance: 2 days, 4 stops, 49 miles

STOP 1

Glenstone Museum

12100 Glen Rd, Potomac, MD 20854

To start your road trip, grab a map and explore the sprawling 300-acre grounds of Glenstone. With exhibit pavilions, paths, trails, streams, and forests; it looks more like a theme park map than a museum. Glenstone invites visitors to discover how nature and art can coexist and augment the interpretation of one another, culminating in a uniquely stimulating experience.

Prepare for your trip with “Glenstone: Maryland’s Most Serene (and Hidden) Art Experience” by Gina Chen.

STOP 2

The Mansion At Strathmore

10701 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852

Pull up to the Mansion at Strathmore for more art appreciation. Start with a stroll around the outside of the mansion to find sculpture gardens and a gazebo. Then head inside for a self-guided tour. Once inside the mansion, the galleries span two floors and multiple rooms. The exhibitions change, so there is often something new to experience; make sure you check the schedule before visiting to see what is on display.

Need more art recommendations throughout Maryland? Check out “Clear Eyes, Full Art, Can’t Lose” by Yelena Trepetin.

STOP 3

Shmidt Spirits

10360 Southard Dr, Beltsville, MD 20705

A quick hop over to Beltsville, and you’ll find Shmidt Spirits—a homage to a college friendship blended with an engineer’s eye for fine spirits. Shmidt Spirits offers three distilled creations, including the “most curious spirit, the one where fans might point to as the thing that we do that no one else would dare.” Shmidt Spirits offers tours of their facility and tastings in their tasting room, with open-air seating available.

Looking for more boozy options in the area? Here are a few other local Distilleries Just Outside D.C.

STOP 4

Succotash

186 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, MD 20745

Spend the night in National Harbor with the grand accommodations found at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. This stunning hotel offers the perfect night’s stay to explore more of National Harbor. Just a short walk away is SUCCOTASH, the best brunch spot in town. Their award-winning chef brings his Korean roots and Southern repertoire to a soulful Southern menu. All the brunch dishes are delicious, but the “Taste The South” family-style meal is the way to go for the table.

Lead Photo: Glenstone