This program is sold out.Call us at (202) 633-3030 to get on the Wait List.Don’t miss out on future programs like this.As a Smithsonian Associates member, you will receive ticket-buying priority.Join today Finding Paradise in Montgomery County Sugarloaf Mountain and the Montgomery County Agricultural ReserveAll-Day Tour Friday, June 7, 2019 - 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Code: 1ND028 Tickets Resize text remove add A summer day in Western Montgomery County’s Agriculture Reserve farmland Did you know there is rural beauty nearby to Washington that rivals the English countryside or Provence? Spend a June day exploring the verdant rolling hills of Montgomery County’s scenic 93,000 acre Agricultural Reserve and nearby Sugarloaf Mountain. Melanie Choukas-Bradley, a longtime resident of the reserve and author of two books about Sugarloaf, serves as guide and introduces some of her favorite places in this close-in slice of paradise bordering the Frederick County line. Along the way, she covers two remarkable preservation stories: Gordon Strong’s lifelong mission to save Sugarloaf Mountain from development and keep it open for public enjoyment and education; and Montgomery County’s innovative farmland preservation program, which has served as a model for agricultural areas throughout the country and the world. Visit lushly landscaped historic farms and meet farmers who offer a view of the progressive methods they employ to bring fresh strawberries, peaches, apples, and a myriad of vegetables to local markets. Step into an artist’s studio, explore historic sites, and take a short walk along one of the shaded and inviting trails of Sugarloaf Mountain. Lunch is at Bassett’s Restaurant in Poolesville. Enjoy wine, cheese, and fresh strawberries at a local farm at the end of the day. Fringe stop at about 9:10 a.m. This tour includes lunch and afternoon refreshments; the tour involves walking and standing at most sites. Departs Mayflower Hotel, DeSales St side1127 Conn. Ave NW; Fringe: I-270, Exit 6BBest Western Rockville 1251 W Montgomery Ave