We are grateful for the sponsor of this guide: Vassar Broermann Group. This is an expert realtor group for this area. Please be sure to check out through details about their practice below. We are thankful for their sponsorship, which allows us to continue to bring DC Area Moms resources like this.
What is your favorite thing about raising kids in the Silver Spring area?
Silver Spring really feels like city living with all the luxuries of the suburbs. We love being minutes away from tons of places to eat, explore, play, relax, and still be minutes away from downtown DC. Tired of going to the same playground? There’s another option just a few blocks away. Tired of the same coffee shop? We have tons of options with some of the best coffee around. We love that we can walk to everything and still teach our son to ride a bike on the back roads of the neighborhood.
If you haven’t looked at a map of Silver Spring, go check out how enormous this city really is. We live very close to downtown Silver Spring which gives us so much walking access. But if you’re looking for more space between houses, this city has it!
What makes Silver Spring family-friendly and unique?
“You have a baby, in a bar …”- Melanie Carmichael (Sweet Home Alabama)
While it might have seemed weird to see a baby in a bar during the early 2000s, Silver Spring has tons of options for families to relax and play together. Silver Branch Brewing Company, Denizens Brewing Company, and Third Hill Brewing are just a few of the local breweries that welcome families. Kids can play shuffleboard, board games, or just be themselves while parents enjoy a local drink.
What community events or local attractions are there?
The weekly farmer’s market located in the center of downtown is filled with local vendors selling fruits, vegetables, honey, flowers, clothing, and more. Throughout the year, Silver Spring is home to so many different events, such as the Arts & Crafts Fair. There are also film, music, and cultural festivals happening almost monthly.
The library has many events (read to a dog, STEM and coding, homework help, etc.) for all ages. In the children’s section, you’ll find a large area for kids to move around and play pretend. Their storytimes are always full; get there early! Adults can have fun, too, with free yoga, movie screenings, and visits from local experts (such as the Master Gardeners).
Why would you recommend Silver Spring to families?
The diversity that can be found on any street corner or in any restaurant is amazing. Families from all backgrounds, cultures, and makeups come together to splash in fountains or ice skate in the town center (depending on the season). Deciding on just one place to eat or just one cuisine will be a fun problem with so many delicious options nearby.
What nearby schools or childcare places do kids go to?
Most residents are zoned for either Woodlin Elementary, Sligo Creek Elementary, East Silver Spring Elementary, or Montgomery Knolls Elementary, just to name a few.
Older children could attend Francis Scott Key Middle, Silver Spring International Middle, Sligo Middle School, Montgomery Blair High, or Northwood High School.
Younger children may attend Woodlin Child Development Center, Silver Spring Child Care Center, Silver Spring YMCA, Acorn Hill Waldorf Kindergarten and Nursery, or Silver Spring Day School.
Where are your favorite places to shop in Silver Spring?
Downtown Silver Spring has everything you could need from DSW to H&M to Michaels Craft Store, anything you could think of is here. One of my favorite smaller stores is Stronsniders Hardware Store. Besides getting any home/garden items, this store gives a neighborly feel while co-existing in the larger shopping area. All of this is in the area just steps from the Maryland Youth Ballet School. One additional unique location for this area is Joe’s Record Paradise, a buy/sell old-school record store.
What are some of your favorite places to eat?
How do you summarize everything Silver Spring has to offer? One of our favorites is Amina Thai. They can create their tasty dishes with no spice to burn-your-mouth levels of flavor! We also love spending hours watching fresh tortillas being made in Mi Rancho. If you’re looking for a fancier setting with amazing seafood, check out All Set Restaurant and Bar.
Choosing just one Ethiopian restaurant in the area was a difficult choice with so many options. We loved not only trying new foods but also learning how the meal is prepared, the traditional Ethiopian culture, and how to eat the food at Bete Ethiopian Cuisine and Cafe properly. But hands down, as a New York transplant, we LOVE living so close to Goldberg’s New York Bagels. Yum!
What places make Silver Spring feel kid-friendly?
The playground is one of our favorite things to do with the little guy. And Silver Spring is full of great options! Woodside Urban Park has climbing sections for all sizes, swings, shuffleboard courts, basketball courts, and a full-size skate park. When we want to head out with the whole family (ahem, the dog-human), we love going to Ellsworth Urban Dog Park. Puppy loves the huge area full of hills to run and chase her newest friends, while my little guy loves to explore the enormous climbing structure in the kid’s area.
The library is another one of our favorite places to spend hours together. From storytimes to special events to the SCORE small business center to the many services they offer, we find lots of ways to learn in addition to reading their endless selection of books.
What advice would you give to families who are new to Silver Spring?
Check out the Source of the Spring website for hyper-local news and events happening in the area. Join the listserv, “MOMS of Silver Spring,” for more kid-related selling/buying, events, information, and ways to connect with local families. The more time you spend around town, you’ll surely meet new families. This could happen at a family-friendly bar, a playground, a farmer’s market, or one of the many events happening downtown.
If someone was visiting for a day, what would you recommend they do?
I would start my day with a stretch at one of the many local yoga studios. Then I would get a bagel from my favorite location south of NY. A few hours at the park with the whole family would follow. Once the kids (and puppies) are ready for a break, head downtown for any type of cuisine. After the meal, you could jump in the splash fountains or go ice skating (depending on the season!) You could spend a few more hours shopping in the local, unique stores, play more games at Dave and Buster’s, or catch a movie in either of the two theaters downtown. Enjoy every minute together!
Expert, experienced Realtor Group for Silver Spring, MD:
Vassar Broermann Group
Integrity is the hallmark of Todd and Eric’s client-focused real estate services, serving the DC Metro region. Their professionalism, creative negotiation, and unwavering drive to satisfy their clients are what set them apart from other agents. Todd and Eric have a genuine concern for their client’s best interests and work tirelessly to ensure they are satisfied with their service before, during, and after closing. Both have been consistently recognized by the Washingtonian as among the Top 100 Best Agents and Top Producers. Todd’s legal background and Eric’s military background have provided them with a unique perspective on what the role of an effective real estate agent should be: trustworthy, accessible, and professional. Todd and Eric are committed to understanding your goals and helping you reach them. Todd is a resident of Woodley Park, and Eric is a resident of 16th St Heights. Contact Eric or Todd at [email protected] or at 202-813-9339. Visit their website at www.thevbgroup.com, and be sure to check them out on Facebook and Instagram, too.
