Things to do in Charles County, Maryland

I heard someone complaining recently that there is nothing to do in Charles County, Maryland. While I agree that we are a small-ish county (population 140,000), One of the reasons I love living here is because you can still get that small-town feel and not sacrifice quality of life features.

I put together a quick list of 20 things you can do, right here in Charles County, that does NOT include shopping or going to the movie theater. For a county as small as ours, I think we’ve got quite a bit to offer! So here they are, in no particular order:

1. 
   The Capitol Clubhouse- They’ve got Ice rinks, gym classes, rock climbing walls and a variety of organized youth and family activities in Waldorf
2. The Regency Furniture Stadium- Not only does Charles County
   have it’s own hometown baseball team now, but they have concerts,
   events, bumper boats and a playground for the kiddies
3. Numerous Stables- There are several horse farms in the area
   that offer lessons, riding time, and boarding for people interested in
   equestrian activities
4. Port Tobacco Playhouse- an active community theatre that is
   constantly offering locally produced theatre that ANYONE can audition
   for, located in downtown La Plata, MD
5. The Indian Head Black-Box Theatre- Another excellent local theatre that is sponsoring plays, festivals, etc.
6. Hawthorne Green Country Club- A very nice 18 hole- Golf Course in La Plata
7. Swan Point Golf Club- It’s a par 72 course, and the most challenging rated course in the ENTIRE STATE
8. White Plans Regional Golf Course- 18 holes, and for $15 I
   can play the entire course on their twilight rate (they also have a
   junior program that offers kids lessons!)
9. White Plains Park Skate Park- Right next to the golf course
   is a completely paved, 17,000 s.f. skate park, and it’s open every day
   till dusk. It’s $5 for kids or $110 for a 1 year pass. It’s cheaper
   than going to the movies!
10. Charles County Youth League- CCYL offers every sport you can imagine, and is designed to encourage kids to get away from the TV and outside!
11. 2 public dog parks- They’re FREE, and open every day but holidays
12. Tennis Courts- The courts at Southern Park and White Plains
    Park are FREE, first come, first serve. The public is also welcome to
    use the courts at the local schools during non-school hours.
13. Fishing- You can go fishing at Gilbert Run Park- It’s a
    catch and release site, and the park there has a very nice walking
    trail in addition to playground and sports fields
14. Public Libraries- There are several libraries, and a new one being built very close to the mall. Try taking your kids there instead.
15. Indian Head Rail Trail- The county is spending money
    converting a 13 mile railroad trail to a hiking/biking path through the
    county. 13 miles long, and the ribbon cutting was early December. I’ve
    been out there jogging it twice, and thoroughly enjoyed it!
16. Miniature Golf- Right on 301, between white plains and La Plata, at Fun Haven Golf. They also have a nice driving range, and batting cages!!!
17. Bowling Alley- Right there on 301 in Waldorf, next to Lowes Hardware. I’ve heard they even have bowling leagues you can join.
18. Roller Rink- There is one, right off post office road, not far from where the old rink was on Rt. 5
19. Hard Times Cafe- For adults, they’ve got a ton of pool
    tables, karaoke nights, poker nights, and it’s a well lit bar/cafe/pool
    hall. It’s a huge improvement over the former local standards for such
    fare.
20. Maryland International Raceway- The drag strip on the Charles County/St. Mary’s County line offers races and events throughout the summer. It’s a lot of fun to go out and see the cars and races!

~Jonathan Benya- Realtor
Century 21 New Millennium
9405-A Chesapeake St
La Plata, MD 20646
301-609-9000
301-653-8116
Southern Maryland Real Estate Blog