Meadowside Nature Center

Although the nature center was closed due to COVID, there were very nice areas for kids to play nearby. The trails were well shaded and very scenic along the creeks and around the lake. Not too many bugs either. Well maintained, but still lots of roots and slight elevation changes.

Well marked trails. Good parking and port-o-potties while Nature Center Closed

Such a wonderful place! There’s a lot to do for kids- several indoor interactive exhibits (more like play areas), a cool crawl-through cave, bird watching areas, and a really neat outdoor play area. There are several really easy hiking trails- we love to walk down to the pond to see if we can see the turtles and frogs. It’s such a beautiful area! We’ve been several times & still have more to explore.

Very cute lodge with neat cave and crawspace for kids. Well maintained trails for short nature walks.

Great location for kids birthday parties - - kids love running around the front area and have a great time with the various activities that they offer.

I've been going to Meadowside Nature Center since I was as old as my kids are now. It's a fun place to go, with lots of interactive, engaging exhibits. There is an indoor fake cave (currently without the water in their water features, something I hope they're in the process of fixing, not removing). There is a small area devoted to the olden time residents- both the Native Americans and settlers. There are many easy, fun hiking trails. There are outdoor exhibits and play areas. There are interesting animals. Staff is always friendly, helpful, and eager to share their knowledge. They also host fun, free events throughout the year.

Volunteered for the raptor fest and had a great time.

The one review says simple but enjoyable, but honestly having taken my kid to three other centers, this one is has the most. It has an indoor model spelunking area (nothing too fancy but for children under 8 it's very intense and exciting), they have a small collection of dress up and colonel themed play area. They also have a discovery area with blocks, crayons, puzzles, magnets and aquariums with turtles and other reptiles.
I grew up coming here and now I bring a two year old here all the time. Best nature center I've been to and it's all free!

The nature center was closed the Sunday we visited but the kids loved the pond which is full of turtles, tadpoles and frogs!

It's a great for kids and the public in general, great place to appreciate nature and birds, they have magnificent birds in exhibit like the bald eagle, an owl (dont know which kind) and several others. Kids have a lot of fun in this place, they even have a cave to go into, so if you happen to be in the area, just stop by and you won't regret the detour.

Raptor Festival held on Saturday was a great event with the event being presented extremely well and organized. The Nature Center itself is a fun place to visit full of birds, trees, rabbits and deer. There are many trails to walk and you can bring dogs here as long as they are leashed. Great place to enjoy nature and a great place for photography as well.

This is one of the best nature centers in Montgomery County. The indoor "cave" is very popular for young children, and the Curiosity Corner playroom is a great place for young families to take a break after exploring outside. The staff is easy to approach and ready to answer questions

Although the event was for adults, they didn't mind my toddler crafting her own hiking stick. 😅

A nice nature center and they host kids birthday party, there are some trails surrounding the nature center building, lots of trees, shade and a nice super fun nature playground. I just had my son birthday party there and everyone had a blast, do the birthday naturally! I would recommend.

I've been coming here for 20 years and absolutely adore it. It's a great place and a great resource. The nature center is very informative about the history of the area and the local wildlife. Lots of great trails around the nature center that can take you around Lake Frank and back again.

We love Meadowside! My kids love the cave and we always learn something new about the birds. The outdoor play area is lots of fun and there are some great hiking trails around it.

The kids room is very nice, colorful and tidy with several animals displayed in aquariums. Puppets, puzzles, toys and books make for a good time. There is a lot of bird action out the window as well.

Meadowside is great place to take young kids, and has trails and party facilities appropriate for elementary school and preschool age kids.
The grounds include a few natural play elements made from logs, a garden featuring native plants, and some rescued birds of prey in large cages.
Inside, there are some hands-on exhibits on Native American culture, European settlers, and a reptile room. At the time of writing this, the forest exhibit room and artificial cave are being renovated. Call the information desk for status.

Really outstanding educational facility and excellent free and low cost programs that are great for moms like myself who homeschool my kids. I have been coming here for decades and I love that their indoor facilities and their outdoor nature center (including the tree house) is still the same fun place I have always remembered and come to really appreciate.

A great place to take kids with both indoor and outdoor fun to be had. Outside is a cluster of picnic tables and a bunch of natural elements to climb over and in and through. Inside the center is a forest replica, complete with cave and tunnel. There is also an early life in MoCo exhibit with bed, kitchen implements, and wooden toys the kids can touch and interact with. I didn't even go in one room, despite the intriguing title of "Curiosity Corner." Accessed from the back of the center are predatory birds who are recovering from injuries. It was a full morning of fun for us that ended with the perfect picnic lunch. We'll be back again.