Redland - Derwood, MD Area Guide

The Agricultural History Farm Park allows visitors to explore the past, present and future of Montgomery County farming. The county has a rich farming heritage, which can be relived through the 455-acre complex featuring a historic farm site and a modern farming activity center. The historic site takes guests back to a typical early 20th-century Montgomery County farm, including the original farmhouse, bank barn and several outbuildings.

AHFP also host many annual events such as the steam engine show every April, bluegrass on the farm every September, the annual harvest festival in October, the blacksmiths and friends traditional arts show every November, and Christmas on the farm in December. Just south of Redland, the VisArts at Rockville building also hosts many art events, galleries as well as classes.

Two of the neighborhood's best restaurants sit along Muncaster Mill Road on the east end of the neighborhood.

One of these restaurants appropriately calls itself Greatest American Hot Dogs. Far from hyperbole, this place is the real deal. This small joint cooks up authentic Chicago-style hot dogs. Order the G.A.H.D.father Italian sausage with the famous whirly fries topped with chili cheese for a mouth-bursting, albeit artery clogging, lunch. You also can't go wrong with the egg with bacon wrapped Florida dog.

For a slightly classier affair, head to Biscotti Italiano Ristorante just a few doors down. The restaurant has a cozy and romantic ambiance, perfect for a date night. The linguini pescatore highlights the classic Italian menu. Of course, if you're worried about red sauce ruining your date night get up, you can't go wrong with the chicken alfredo or the penne alla vodka.

If hookah is your thing, head to Elite Hookah Lounge on Redland Road. This has become an extremely popular local club. The lounge creates an excellent atmosphere with music played at just the right level and always friendly service.

For more traditional bar seekers, Outta the Way Cafe, also on Redland Road, fits the bill. Live music and open mic nights make this a great community spot where locals mingle and share a drink or two. The casual vibe, funky wall art and very reasonable prices make this the go-to spot for many.

Much of Redland remains largely car-dependant, although there are a few public transportation options. The Shady Grove Metro Station at the southwest end of the neighborhood serves as the last stop of D.C.-based metro red line. Once here, riders can get into the District and Northern Virginia via rail.

Maryland's Ride On bus system also runs through the neighborhood. These buses charge $1.75 for a one-way trip, although those transferring from a metro train receive a $0.50 discount. Senior citizens and the disabled ride for free on weekdays between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., and all other times at a discounted fare of $0.85. Pick up a reloadable SmarTrip card for the most convenience on both of these systems.

The neighborhood's expanses make walking not very ideal, although you can bike fairly safely, especially along Shady Grove Road where there are designated bike lanes.

Drivers do have the advantage, however, of having great access to two major interstates. I-370 cuts right through the middle of the neighborhood and links up with I-270 just to the west of Redland. Parking along the cul-de-sac filled streets generally proves to be no problem as well.

If nothing else, you could also call for an Uber cab. The company's vehicle's service the greater DMV area and charge comparable rates to regular metered cabs.

Many residents spend the weekends outside at one of the many neighborhood parks.

Head to Rock Creek Regional Park to take advantage of the multiple hiking trails or rent a boat to head out onto the lake. Kids love the playground here as well. Adventures seekers should pay a visit to Go Ape Zip Line & Treetop Adventure within the park. Here you can explore the forest canopy via a treetop rope course. Swinging like Tarzan on Obstacle 6 ends up being the highlight for many.

At the north end, Mill Creek Towne Park provides a nice baseball diamond for all sort of activities. Youth leagues play here as well as local pickup games of soccer and flag football.

No annual events take place in Redland parks, but the many features provide year-round fun for the whole family, kids and dogs included.

Rental prices in Redland fall slightly below the Maryland averages. A one-bedroom apartment in this neighborhood goes for an average of $1,067 per month. This comes in around 9 percent less than the $1,172 monthly average for all of Maryland.

Locals pay a little bit more at the pump than most people across the country. Gas prices come in at 7 percent higher than national averages.

Public transportation rides start at $1.75 on both the bus and metro, but metro rates rise to $5.90 depending on far you commute and during what time of the day. When heading to a decent restaurant, you can expect to pay around $15 for an entrée and $5 for a regular-priced beer, although many locals will wait for happy hour specials.

Most neighborhood residents head into Gaithersburg to do their major retail shopping. Here, stores such as Target for everything under the sun, Ten Thousand Villages for home furnishings and Nordstrom Rack for discounted clothing sit alongside many others.

Smaller boutique shops have made a name for themselves within Redland, however. Two vintage stores selling second-hand items keep bringing in locals looking for great deals. Kaboodle Home Gallery sells a lot of high-quality furniture at consignment prices, while Boomerang's Comeback Consignment does the same for women's clothing.

In the same shopping center as those two stores, Giant Food serves the neighborhood's grocery needs, although European Market and Spice Lanka next door to Outta the Way Cafe carry a nice supply of specialty items.

Find the closest farmers market at Shady Grove Farmers' Market. Despite the name matching that of the metro station, the two are not very close. It's a 10-minute drive to get here from the neighborhood, but it's worth checking out on Wednesday afternoons.