The Seasons of Sligo Creek

It’s probably expected that my first blog post would be on a foreign destination. Sure I can’t wait to share experiences of me splashing in crystal clear waters and munching on tasty exotic cuisines, but I have a different perspective to share. The pandemic made alot of us appreciate where we were forced to stay in during the lockdown. Many of us rediscovered and appreciated home as a destination. Therefore, I’m not going to just present my hometown to you as a travel destination, but as an intimate space.

Silver Spring, Maryland can be defined in a mixture of ways. There’s diversity, history, and expansion here that is impossible to ignore. On a typical morning, you may be awoken by the smell of Ethiopian coffee coming from your neighbor, mothers on the sidewalk chatting in Spanish as they send their kids to school, and loud barking as dog owners walk their dogs down what became my favorite part of the neighborhood; Sligo Creek. My bedroom had the perfect view of this trail, which had an enticing ability to cause me to forget that I was living in an urban area, as opposed to a rural utopia. This may be the only reason why I could call it home. It reminded me of the type of environment I truly wanted to live in. I wanted to be completely surrounded by the luscious nature that Sligo Creek embodied. That obviously wasn’t reality, but nonetheless, I enjoyed what I had.

All four seasons are experienced here which offered a whole new backdrop by my window about every three months. Summer by far seems to be everyone’s favorite. The leafy deciduous trees are sure to incite some magic into the dullest of people. Green canopies of glowing leaves hover above Sligo, caused by the golden beams of sunlight that shine through. Longer brighter days bring in barbecue-ready families, retired couples strolling after sunrise or sunset, and kids that can’t help but take a dip in the shallow creek with their friends. However, intense summer storms are sure to flood the creek enough to block several roads. My youngest summer memories on this trail as a kid include reading the information stations about the Native Americans. I wondered how the area may have appeared centuries before any outsiders arrived, before roads ran alongside, and buildings surrounded it.

Fall would inevitably turn those green canopies into a warm array of red, orange, and yellow. This season’s the most nostalgic time for me. As soon as those leaves turned orange I knew what time it was; trail walks while sipping on hot chocolate, fall foliage, trick or treating… Need I say more?! Who can forget diving on a pile of leaves after school and getting home filthy? Well, the number of leaves on Sligo Creek seemed infinite and our leaf piles were plenty. Dim evening walks on the trail after high school dance practices consisted of me praying I wouldn’t see big antlers crossing my path…Good times!

Winter, my least favorite time of the year, drastically empties and becomes a quiet and windy area. The creek became a place that I ceased to frequent once the temperature dropped, and I’d just observe from afar in my warm bedroom instead. Bright full moons that appear earlier in the night as the days shorten, glisten upon the stream of water, bringing a sense of stillness and peace. There’d surely be a drastic difference in ambiance when coming home from a festive night out in DC and returning to Silver Spring with the sounds of a flowing creek and wandering deer rustling on the fallen dry leaves. In the morning, daily mourning dove coo’s I’d confuse as owl hoots routinely greet residents.

As annoyingly unpredictable as spring weather can be here, it sure does enliven everyone as we eagerly feel the temperatures rise again. Although the cherry blossom festival is a short drive away from here, there are clusters of cherry blossom trees planted in Silver Spring. Sligo Creek is a secret alternative to snap some pics amongst those pastel pink flowers, away from crowds.

The intricate ways in which Sligo Creek brings people together are meaningful because it ignites a love for nature. From bird watchers with binoculars to science students testing the waters, and volunteer cleanup crews, they’re always willing to answer one’s curious questions. The scenic views here are not just inspiring for me. Katherine Peterson’s, (writer of Bridge to Terabithia) memories of her son’s childhood adventures in Sligo Creek partially inspired her novel. I challenge visitors to get as enthralled in this trail as I do, enough to be completely oblivious to the loud Ride-On buses and evening traffic that inevitably passes by.

Even post-pandemic there are many who will not have the privilege to travel to exotic destinations. What I hope is to inspire a sense of connection and wonder to any location you’re in and avert the need to go to a destination just to say one was there.