Things to do in the Maryland suburbs

Rockville, Bethesda and Gaithersburg are residential Montgomery County suburbs, not standalone attractions, and it helps to set expectations that way: there is no monument, no major historic site and no waterfront here, unlike the Chesapeake Bay towns further east.

What they offer is a varied restaurant scene, quiet neighborhoods and a Metro Red Line connection into downtown DC in roughly 20-35 minutes depending on the station. They work best as a base for travelers who want a calmer, often cheaper place to sleep than the National Mall area, or as an evening stop after a day of sightseeing downtown.

Bethesda in particular has a dense concentration of restaurants within walking distance of its Metro stop.