Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Bowie, Maryland

Established in the 1870s around a railroad junction, Bowie is situated approximately midway between Washington, D.C. and Chesapeake Bay, renowned for its diversity and high quality of life. The city experienced rapid development during the 1970s and 1990s; thus, much of the architectural landscape is modern. However, noteworthy historical sites, such as the Bowie Train Station Museum, provide a glimpse into this railroad heritage.

Another historic landmark is Belair Mansion, which has been recognized since the mid-18th century and is considered the origin of thoroughbred horse racing in the “New World.”

Visitors can explore the mansion for enriching insights into the Woodward family, who were prominent bankers and horsemen, while the story of Belair Stud is narrated at the nearby grand stable building.

1. Six Flags America

Located on the southern part of Bowie, Six Flags America is among the premier theme parks in the Washington area, featuring over 50 attractions across a 500-acre site. The park’s rides and shows are categorized into six themed areas, drawing inspiration from America’s history, geographic extremes, and popular culture.

These themed areas are Main Street 1776, Chesapeake, Looney Tunes Movie Town, Mardi Gras, Gotham City, and Coyote Creek. Noteworthy rides include the historic wooden roller coaster, The Wild One (1917), alongside contemporary rides such as the Joker’s Jinx, which accelerates to 60 mph in just over three seconds.

Younger guests can enjoy Looney Tunes Movie Town and Whistlestop Park, which are packed with kid-friendly rides. Furthermore, entry to the Hurricane Harbor water park is complimentary, which boasts one of the largest wave pools in the world.

2. Belair Mansion

Managed by the City of Bowie since the 1960s, Belair Mansion was once the centerpiece of a Georgian colonial estate covering over 2,200 acres. This exquisite Palladian house, dating back to approximately 1745, underwent several expansions, particularly by the notable Woodward family during the early 20th century.

Belair is acknowledged as the birthplace of American thoroughbred racing, with the practice of breeding racehorses originating as early as the mid-18th century and reaching its pinnacle at this estate under William Woodward Sr. (1876-1953).

Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the stories of the enslaved African Americans who constructed the plantation, the tumultuous lives of the Woodward family, and view family silver, furniture, and artwork, including privately issued prints of celebrated Belair Stud Thoroughbreds.

3. Belair Stable Museum

The tradition of thoroughbred horse breeding at Belair is as old as the mansion itself, with this aspect of the property’s legacy detailed at the Belair Stable Museum. Featuring a U-shaped design, the ornate stable building was constructed from sandstone in 1907 for distinguished horseman James T. Woodward (1837-1910) and is located approximately 1,000 feet down the slope northeast of the mansion.

At the museum, visitors can immerse themselves in over 200 years of equestrian history at Belair, highlighted by the achievements of Gallant Fox (1930) and Omaha (1935), the only father-son duo to win the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.

The museum houses decades of horse racing memorabilia and has preserved the stable master’s apartment as it appeared in 1923.

4. Allen Pond Park

Bowie’s principal public park spans 85 acres and boasts exceptional facilities. Among these is Opportunity Park, a playground designed with fully accessible equipment tailored for preschool and school-aged children.

Additionally, the park features the Bowie Ice Arena, detailed below, the stocked 10-acre Allen Pond, and the Robert V. Setera Amphitheater, which hosts Bowie’s Sunday Summer concerts from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

A delightful way to experience the park’s scenery is to rent a paddle boat from the boathouse, available in 30-minute intervals during the summer months.

5. Prince George’s Stadium

For a dose of professional baseball, visitors can head to this 10,000-seat stadium, home to the Bowie Baysox. Established in 1993, the Baysox serve as the Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, competing in Minor League Baseball’s Eastern League.

As of the latest update, 200 Baysox players have progressed to Major League Baseball, many of whom made their way through the Orioles. Recent notable names include Manny Machado, Cedric Mullins, Trey Mancini, and Nick Markakis.

Visitors can expect affordable family-oriented games at Prince George’s Stadium, featuring interstitial entertainment, a children’s play area, unique promotions, and fireworks displays.

6. Bowie Train Station Museum

As Bowie emerged around a Baltimore & Potomac Railroad station, this cluster of modest buildings in the Huntington neighborhood allows visitors to step back into the city’s formative years.

Shortly after the conclusion of the Civil War, plans materialized for the B&P to construct a line that would reach Washington, leading to the station’s opening in 1872. It became a junction a year later when the Pope’s Creek line to southern Maryland opened.

A fire in 1910 destroyed the original station buildings; however, they were reconstructed shortly thereafter and relocated to their current site near the tracks in 1991. The museum is complimentary and comprises a freight shed, a depot with a bay window, a signal tower, a caboose from 1923, and a historical marker that chronicles the buildings’ history.

7. Watkins Regional Park

Located a short distance from Six Flags America, this expansive area of hardwood forest and open fields offers a variety of family attractions. Key highlights include the historic Gustav Dentzel Carousel, built around 1905 and adorned with a colorful array of horses, bison, donkeys, and rabbits. There is also a miniature train and an 18-hole miniature golf course within the park.

Alongside the miniature train tracks lies the Old Maryland Farm, providing an educational glimpse into traditional agriculture, featuring vintage equipment, display gardens, and domesticated animals such as sheep, chickens, cows, and goats.

Further enriching the experience, the Watkins Nature Center presents additional live animal exhibits, interactive displays, and a range of programs throughout the year, including crafts, camps, presentations, guided hikes, and campfires.

8. Bowie Center for the Performing Arts

Presenting high-caliber live music, theater, comedy, dance, family entertainment, and more, this 800-seat, state-of-the-art venue is located within the same complex as Bowie High School. The programming at the BCPA reflects the diversity of the Bowie community, boasting an array of offerings suitable for guests of all ages.

Aspiring performers are encouraged to participate in the Broadway Bound summer camp, which is for children aged 8-12. As a multifaceted facility, the BCPA also hosts numerous school concerts, events, and musical productions throughout the year.

9. National Capital Radio & Television Museum

Open from Friday to Sunday, this private museum chronicles the evolution of electronic media across seven galleries. Visitors will find an overview of the development of radio and television, commencing with wireless telegraphy in the 1890s, extending through early broadcasting, the zenith of radio entertainment, and the expansion of television during the latter half of the 20th century.

The museum showcases various preserved technologies from each era, including cathedral radios from the 1930s, crystal sets, and “French Fry” transistors. One of the most enlightening exhibits consists of sound effects equipment utilized for the Joy Boys, an improvisational radio comedy show that aired from 1955 to 1974.

10. Bowie Ice Arena

A fixture in the community since 1971, the Bowie Ice Arena remains open year-round, with only a brief closure for maintenance each May and June. This venue serves as the home ice for various local figure skating and ice hockey organizations, including the Bowie Hockey Club, Bowie Figure Skating Club, Bowie ISI Figure Skating Team, and Bowie High School Ice Dogs.

Regular public skate sessions are available, with skate rentals offered from toddler size 6 to adult size 14, and hockey skates available up to size 10. On Fridays, the atmosphere transforms into a disco scene with a DJ on the decks. Moreover, avid skaters can take advantage of the Frequent Skater Card for discounted admissions.

11. Bowie International Festival

Bowie’s vibrant cultural diversity stands as one of the city’s significant strengths, celebrated each October through a one-day festival at Allen Pond Park. Two performance stages feature entertainment from various global cultures, including Caribbean steel drums, Korean dance, Bharatanatyam (Indian classical dance), Mariachi, Reggae, European folk music, and more.

The festival offers a unique journey of discovery for children, who can obtain a passport to participate in various international activities, such as creating Native American dreamcatchers, martial arts demonstrations, and writing their names in Hebrew.

The event also comprises numerous craft booths alongside a diverse array of culinary offerings, including jerk chicken, curry goat, teriyaki, pad thai, and BBQ.

12. Bowie Playhouse Theater

Set within the lush surroundings of Whitemarsh Park, the Bowie Playhouse is an intimate 150-seat theater that hosts two theater companies, producing shows throughout the year. The venue, originally founded in the 1970s as The Theater in the Woods, is home to the Bowie Community Theater, established in the mid-1960s, and the all-volunteer 2nd Star Productions, founded in 1996.

Productions typically run for three weeks at a time, with notable performances from the season including One Slight Hitch, Wait Until Dark, and All My Sons (BCT), alongside Something Rotten! and The Sound of Music (2nd Star).

13. Bowie Farmers’ Market

Every Saturday morning from May through October, a bustling farmers’ market takes place in the Bowie High School parking lot, typically featuring over 20 vendors offering a tantalizing selection of goods. Offerings may include seasonal fruits and vegetables, microgreens, houseplants, grass-fed meats, fresh seafood from Chesapeake Bay, honey, sauces, baked goods, teas, handcrafted skincare items, candles, relishes, jams, and diverse crafts.

All vendors are independent and local, allowing community members to support small-scale producers and artisans.

14. Bowie Golf Club

Under new management since 2021, this municipal golf course has been in operation for over 60 years, initially opening as the Belair Golf & Country Club in 1959. The course has been available to the public since the early 1980s, with its history tracing back to the 18th century as part of a vast horse farm named Peachtree Estates.

Today, the course is well-suited to beginners and intermediate players, featuring wide, forgiving fairways and no water hazards. The greens are consistently well-maintained, and there is a comprehensive practice facility that includes a driving range and putting green.

15. Y Worry Farm

Just east of Bowie lies Y Worry Farm, a family-run establishment that typically remains low-key until fall, when it becomes a popular destination for family outings. Every weekend in October, Y Worry Farm features a pumpkin patch, corn maze, and friendly farm animals, alongside favorite autumn delights available at the snack shack.

For those interested in pumpkins, wagons are provided to assist in transporting these large items back from the patch. The farm also opens in December, offering Douglas and Fraser fir trees as well as handmade wreaths and garland decorations.