The 2026 Care Farming Network National Conference takes place in beautiful Montgomery County–Maryland’s Cultural Capital. Explore the cultural delights, rich history, and international communities of the region on the Visit Montgomery website.
Dozens of restaurants and other businesses are a short walk or spin away from the conference venue on Lake Rio (Gaithersburg, MD). Browse the Rio Lakefront Directory for a complete list. Four complementary parking garages are located throughout the center.
Washington D.C. is short ride from Gaithersburg. Use the filters in this Washington D.C. guide to find arts and cultural events, restaurants, nightlife, museums and monuments, waterfront activities, and more.
Below are recommendations from our local experts–the Red Wiggler Care Farm team!
Within walking distance: Lake Rio
Montgomery County
Beyond Lake Rio, Montgomery County offers fantastic restaurants, gardens, shopping opportunities, and community-centered organizations to explore.
Thanks to Gabrielle (CFN Social Media and Accessibility Consultant), Becca (Red Wiggler Program Manager), and Andrea (CFN Co-Director) for their recommendations below:
Founded in 2017, Main Street (Rockville Town Center) is the first community-oriented, affordable, accessible housing solution to redefine the concept of inclusion through membership and programming for people of all abilities. Programming membership is also open to non-residents.
Main Street is offering an optional tour for conference attendees on Monday, Feb 9th at 9:30am! Register here.
Powered by Main Street Connect, The Soulfull Cafe (Rockville Town Center) hires people of all abilities through a deep-rooted commitment to diversity, dignity and excellence. They serve a natural, hearty selection of foods in an inclusive gathering space. Learn more and view the menu on their website.
Sunflower Bakery (Rockville) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing skilled job training and employment opportunities in the baking and hospitality industries for adults 18+ with learning differences. Programs include Pastry Arts Training, Hospitality Employment Training Program and Teen Exposure Programs. Find their retail location and hours on their website.
Brookside Gardens is Montgomery County’s award-winning 50-acre public display garden within Wheaton Regional Park. Admission is free, and the grounds are open from sunrise to sunset. Brookside Gardens features two conservatories for year-round enjoyment.
Andrea shares: “I love visiting Brookside Gardens and taking a walk through their Japanese gardens. They also have a native plant area that I like to stroll through to get suggestions for my own garden.”
Kensington’s Antique Row is the D.C. metropolitan area’s largest and oldest antiquing district. You’ll find an eclectic array of merchandise—antique, vintage and new. Antique Row boasts individual antiques and specialty shops, a multi-dealer antiques market, a design center, art gallery and several cafes and restaurants. Parking is free!
Celebrate your antique finds at Frankly…Pizza! or BabyCat Brewery.
Washington D.C.
From Lake Rio, drive 5 miles to Shady Grove Metro Station and park. Take the red line into the city and you’ll find plenty to explore!
Below are recommendations from Becca, Program Manager at Red Wiggler:
Hop off the Red Line at the Van Ness/UDC stop. Grab a bite at Bread Furst bakery, open from 8 am to 7 pm daily. They offer a diverse assortment of pastries, breads, savory foods and a curated selection of culinary delights.
From Bread Furst, amble over to Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens (about a 20 minute walk). Explore the pristine mansion, dine at Merriweather Café, and enjoy the beautiful gardens. Orchids bring color to the greenhouse in the winter!
From the Red Line, hop off at the Woodley Park/Adams Morgan stop to stroll through Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. Admission is free! Get your pass and download a map on the website.
On your way, stop at Rose Ave Bakery, an Asian-American bakery offering pastries that are fun, inventive, and delicious.
From the Woodley Park/Adams Morgan stop, walk in the opposite direction of the zoo to explore the shops, restaurants, and bars of the Adams Morgan neighborhood.
Becca’s favorites: Lapis (Afghan bistro), Lost City Books, Green Zone (Middle Eastern cocktails), and Soleluna (coffee and pastries).
Hop off the Red Line at Dupont Circle and check out the neighborhood’s shops, restaurants, and one-of-a-kind museums.
In addition to presenting modern and contemporary art, The Phillips Collection (art museum) offers award-winning education and community engagement programs for audiences of all ages and backgrounds, including initiatives at its satellite campus Phillips@THEARC.
Also in the Dupont Circle area is O Museum in the Mansion, where you’ll walk “in the footsteps of presidents and freedom fighters, historians and authors, artists and musicians, athletes and scientists, scholars and more.” Make your way through immersive exhibits and traverse 80+ secret doors.
Around the corner, The Heurich House Museum honestly explores the American Experience through the legacy of German immigrant Christian Heurich and his Washington, D.C. brewery, while creating an equitable path to success for local small-scale businesses. Check out the calendar for events and tour times.
The U.S. National Arboretum is less conveniently located on the northeast side of the city, but it’s worth the trip. Becca shares: “In the winter, I love to go to the Bonsai Museum onsite.”
If you’re on that side of the city, check out Union Market District, a revitalized industrial area with two large food halls (Union Market and La Cosecha), plus lots of restaurants, shops, bakeries, bars, and other activities.
Explore Beyond D.C.:
Longwood Gardens (Kennett Square, PA) is a longer day trip that’s well worth the drive. Wander through 200 acres of formal gardens, open meadows, and winding paths to breathtaking Brandywine Valley vistas. Your admission also supports their conservation research efforts.
Andrea shares: “I try to go each season–and the winter walk is nice!”
