All Montgomery County Recreation trips will depart from the Olney Manor Park . Participants park near field #1. Busses will load near the skate park and field #1.

SOAR is Montgomery County Recreation's "Senior Outdoor Adventures in Recreation" program. It is a program designed for active adults, age 55 and over. Each activity or trip requires a substantial amount of walking and/or physical exertion. Program participants should be in good physical condition and consult with their physician if they have any concerns before registering or participating in an activity.

Also, since these programs are held rain or shine, participants should plan to dress accordingly. Every effort will be made to accommodate individuals with disabilities on each trip. However, due to the historic nature and outdoor adventure components of many trips, this might not always be possible. Please call the SOAR trip coordinator at 240-777-4926 to discuss your individual needs and concerns.

View the current SOAR brochure online

New Tour! Experience the Wyeth History! Be guided through the Andrew Wyeth Studio, a 19th Century school house where the artist lived from 1940 until 1961 and continued to work until he died. The studio opened to the public in 2012 for the first time since his death in 2009. Andrew was known as "America's Artist" because of his prodigious work for seven decades. We'll also tour the house and studio at NC Wyeth, the great illustrator who died in 1945 when he and a grandchild were struck by a train. A visit to the Brandywine Museum which houses a permanent collection of Wyeth's works is also part of the tour. Lunch at the Brandywine River Museum

A New Tour! We,ll begin with a walking tour of Ellicott City, which was founded in 1772 by three Quaker brothers from Bucks County, PA. They chose this picturesque wildness, upriver from Elkridge Landing (Elkridge, MD today) to establish Ellicott Mills (Ellicott City today), which became one of the largest milling and manufacturing towns in the East. It was designated as an historic district in 1973, and serves as County seat for Howard County. Ellicott City was ravaged by floods more than once. We will also tour the Baltimore and Ohio ailroad Museum: Ellicott City Station which is the oldest surviving railroad station in America, and was the original terminus of the first 13 miles of commercial railroad in the country. We,ll end up at the Shrine of St. Anthony, home to Franciscan Friars for over 70 years. Lunch is included at The Old Country Buffet.

A New Tour! We will be guided by our Pennsylvania authority, Sheldon, who you enjoyed on our trips to Harrisburg. York, PA is known as the White Rose City. It is the county seat and was founded in 1741 by German and Scotch Irish settlers, York served as temporary capital of the Continental Congress in 1777. The Articles of Confederation were drafted and adopted here in 1781. York was occupied by the Confederate Army in 1863. We will tour the Harley-Davidson Motorcyle Factory, the Colonial Complex, Martin,s Potato Chip Factory, and the Agriculture and Industrial Museum. Lunch at the Roosevelt Tavern is included.

A New Tour! We will be guided by our Pennsylvania authority, Sheldon, who you enjoyed on our trips to Harrisburg. York, PA is known as the White Rose City. It is the county seat and was founded in 1741 by German and Scotch Irish settlers, York Served as temporary capital of the Continental Congress in 1777. The Articles of Confederation were drafted and adopted here in 1781. York was occupied by the Confederate Army in 1863. We will extensively tour the Historic Colonial Complex, Martin's Potato Chip Factory, and the Agriculture and Industrial Museum. Lunch at the Roosevelt Tavern is included. Please note we will not tour the Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Factory on April 23.

Experience colonial history with a local guide who will narrate a 1 and 1/2 hour riding tour of historic Old Town. Be ntertained with anecdotes and gossip from the 18th and 19th Centuries. Founded in 1749 as a port for area planters, Alexandria was laid out by a young surveyor named George Washington. In the streets of Alexandria, history lives. Entire city blocks evoke a time long ago. Also, browse the Torpedo Factory Art Galleries. Lunch, on own, at a local restaurant or at Gadsby,s Tavern.

New Tour! Experience the Wyeth History! Be guided through the Andrew Wyeth Studio, a 19th Century school house where the artist lived from 1940 until 1961 and continued to work until he died. The studio opened to the public in 2012 for the first time since his death in 2009. Andrew was known as "America's Artist" because of his prodigious work for seven decades. We,ll also tour the house and studio at NC Wyeth, the great illustrator who died in 1945 when he and a grandchild were struck by a train. A visit to the Brandywine Museum which houses a permanent collection of Wyeth,s works is also part of the tour. Lunch at the Brandywine River Museum

This popular two and half-hour rafting trip on the Shenandoah River is being offered again this year. An expert guide in each raft will lead our group through White Horse Rapids, down the famed Shenandoah Staircase and over Bull Falls (rated class II-III, which are easy to moderate in difficulty). Recommended attire is shorts, t-shirt, and sneakers. No hard-soled shoes. No experience required. Bring sunscreen, a towel, and a change of clothes. A delicious fried chicken lunch is included.

Sailing Trip out of Annapolis. 4 hours under sail on a 76 foot-long sailboat with a professional captain and crew. A picnic lunch on board is included.

A costumed guide will narrate and lead a 2-3 hour tour through the charming historic streets of Old Town Annapolis, the historic State Capitol, St. Johns College, and the exteriors of famous mansions. Complete the day with a narrated cruise on the Harbor Queen. Lunch, on own, in City Dock area. Wear comfortable walking shoes.

See 22 acres of flower gardens, whose crowning glory is the topiary - trees and shrubs trained and trimmed into ornamental shapes. An exciting balance of topiary and natural plants, water, architecture and sculpture provides an extraordinary horticultural perception. We,ll be guided through the spectacular Ladew Mansion, exquisitely decorated with English antiques, paintings and fox hunting memorabilia. Included is a lunch consisting of a Classic Boars Head turkey breast sandwich, provolone cheese, and cranberry mayonnaise, house dessert, iced tea or soft drink.)

We,ll begin the tour at Ford,s Theater, the site of Lincoln,s Assassination, and continue on the escape trail to Surratt House, to the home of Dr. Samuel Mudd, and on to Rich Hill, to the pine thicket where Booth hid, to Port Royal, and ending at Garrett Barn. Hear the story and legends as only Ed Bearss can tell it. A delicious crab cake lunch at Captain Billy,s is included.

We,ll begin the tour at Ford,s Theater, the site of Lincoln,s Assassination, and continue on the escape trail to Surratt House, to the home of Dr. Samuel Mudd, and on to Rich Hill, to the pine thicket where Booth hid, to Port Royal, and ending at Garrett Barn. Hear the story and legends as only Ed Bearss can tell it. A delicious crab cake lunch at Captain Billy,s is included.

Experience colonial history with a local guide who will narrate a 1 and 1/2 hour riding tour of historic Old Town. Be entertained with anecdotes and gossip from the 18th and 19th Centuries. Founded in 1749 as a port for area planters, Alexandria was laid out by a young surveyor named George Washington. In the streets of Alexandria, history lives. Entire city blocks evoke a time long ago. Also, browse the Torpedo Factory Art Galleries. Lunch, on own, at a local restaurant or at Gadsby,s Tavern.

In the splendor of the Virginia countryside, experience the rediscovery of the mind and the man who forged the framework of our nation, who created the Constitutional harter that defines our democracy, our thinking, and our society. Be guided through the mansion which was restored to the way it looked when James and Dolley Madison lived in it. Stand in the library where Madison first envisioned the Constitution. Walk in the woods where he contemplated representative democracy. Walk the grounds on your own. A box lunch, included, in a cafeteria on the grounds.

A New Tour! Albert Barnes assembled one of the world's most important holdings of post-impressiionist and early modern artropean artists such as: Matisse, Picasso and Van Gogh to anme a few. Also be guided on a tour of the National Museum of Amewrican Jewish History. A box lunch at the Museum of American Jewish History is included.

A New Tour!@ Albert Barnes assembled one of the world's most important holdings of post-impressionist and early modern artropean artists such as: Matisse, Picasso and Van Gogh to name a few. Also be guided on a tour of the National Museum of American Jewish History. A box lunch at the Museum of American Jewish History is included.

We'll begin our day by cruising along the Potomac River and enjoying a relaxing lunch (included) on the Spirit Cruise Line as we enjoy the sights of Washington with the Cherry Blossoms in bloom. The captain will narrate the many historic sites as we sail down the Potomac River. There will also be light entertainment by the crew who will sing and dance (along with those who would like to participate).

A New Tour! We,ll begin with a walking tour of Ellicott City, which was founded in 1772 by three Quaker brothers from Bucks County, PA. They chose this picturesque wildness, upriver from Elkridge Landing (Elkridge, MD today) to establish Ellicott Mills (Ellicott City today), which became one of the largest milling and manufacturing towns in the East. It was designated as an historic district in 1973, and serves as County seat for Howard County. Ellicott City was ravaged by floods more than once. We will also tour the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum: Ellicott City Station which is the oldest surviving railroad station in America, and was the original terminus of the first 13 miles of commercial railroad in the country. We,ll end up at the Shrine of St. Anthony, home to Franciscan Friars for over 70 years. Lunch is included at The Old Country Buffet.