Discover College Park

College Park offers several points of interest to consider when planning your trip: aviation history, performing arts, walking and cycling trails, and garden and environmental education. First, think about which themes you want to shape your stay and which activities matter for your travel dates. This will help you tailor your hotel search to your plans.

Aviation history at College Park Airport

The College Park Aviation Museum is located on the grounds of College Park Airport. The airport has been in continuous operation since 1909 and is the oldest airport in the world. At the museum, you can see historic and replica aircraft connected with the history of the airfield. Here, the history of the site and the aircraft on display come together—a clear focus for anyone interested in aviation.

The museum also offers hands-on activities and interpretive areas for children of all ages. If you’re traveling with children, you can take this program focus into account when planning. The aviation exhibition and children’s activities are two distinct aspects of a museum visit: one introduces the history of the airfield, while the other offers hands-on and explanatory content.

Performances and academic programs at The Clarice

Hundreds of performances by students, faculty, and independent artists take place at The Clarice each year. The center includes the University of Maryland’s School of Music and School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies. If you’d like to include a performance in your stay, factor the specific event dates into your travel plans: the wide range of annual programming does not indicate which performance will coincide with your travel dates.

Visitor information for The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center includes details on getting there, parking, and accessible facilities. If these details are important to your plans, review the visitor information before your visit. This will help you include the information most relevant to you in your preparations.

Garden education and environmental learning

The Community Learning Garden teaches visitors about environmental protection, sustainable agriculture, physical activity, and balanced nutrition. Visitors can also take a self-guided tour. Hands-on volunteer events offer additional opportunities to get involved. The garden focuses both on exploring its topics independently and on opportunities for practical participation.

The University of Maryland Arboretum and Botanical Garden has a different focus. The University of Maryland College Park campus has grown to 1,250 acres and provides the setting for the arboretum’s trees, shrubs, and flowers. Educational signs help raise visitors’ awareness of environmental protection and sustainable practices. While the Community Learning Garden teaches specific topics such as sustainable agriculture and balanced nutrition, the arboretum focuses on the campus plants and environmental education through educational signs.

The Trolley Trail for walks and bike rides

The Trolley Trail is a 3.8-mile hiking and biking trail. It follows the route of the former streetcar line toward the District and connects with several other hiking and biking trails, including the Indian Creek Trail and the Paint Branch Trail. Its historic route and connections to these two trails give it a different character from the garden and cultural attractions: here, the route itself is the main focus.

When planning, you can therefore choose between different priorities: aviation history at the airport, performances at The Clarice, environmental and garden education, or a route for walking and cycling. If a performance is essential to your trip, factor in the specific event dates. When looking for a hotel in College Park, compare your plans with the actual details provided for each attraction.

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