Learn more about Maryland

Second Presbyterian Church is located in the heart of Baltimore, a mid-sized city in the Mid-Atlantic. Known for its summertime crabs and Orioles baseball team, Baltimore also has plenty to offer in the winter time.   Our Inner Harbor has the National Aquarium, an Imax theatre, ice skating, and shopping. Areas in and around Baltimore offer opportunities to admire Christmas Decorations.   Since December weather is unpredictable from 25 F to 50 F, we have plenty of indoor and outdoor options.

The closest airport is Baltimore International (BW1) with bus and train transportation also available.

We look forward to hosting you this Christmas and showing you the sights of Baltimore.

Other Maryland Programs

Gaithersburg CIH
Gaithersburg, MD

Christmas International House was started in Gaithersburg in 1979 by Eleanor Munch with members of the Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church and friends in this area.  Since that time, our program has hosted over 400 students.  Mrs. Munch has been a strong supporter of our CIH and takes special effort to get to know each and every one of the students each year.  Over the years more area churches have become involved in our program and have helped our program grow.  Many lasting friendships have been made over the years. 

 We are located just outside our nation’s Capitol.  We provide several days of touring museums, monuments and memorials as well as visiting the Kennedy Center for the Arts, the Capitol, in years past the White House, and the National Cathedral.  Some days we go to Washington, DC by Metro Rail and a couple days we go with our church bus.  We have very seasoned volunteer guides giving their time to escort you on the scheduled tours. You may take an excursion on your own or as a small group on a couple days when nothing is planned taking into consideration consultation with hosts in regards to special family events.  We like to keep a schedule with get-togethers but also leave time for students to get to know their host families and explore the area.  Our host families open their homes to you during this very special time of the year with hopes for world peace and to share the good cheer of the season.

 Our first night getting together is Monday, December 19^th where we get acquainted with all the host families and as well as the students.  We have an International Dinner where everyone brings food and we listen to what the International students have to tell us.  This is always a fun night.  On the last day all of the students get together and make pizzas, and exchange final farewells and take lots of pictures and get addresses if we haven’t earlier.  You are welcome to come by bus to Silver Springs, MD; plane to BWI or Reagan National Airport; or train to the Union Train Station in Washington, DC.   We hope you will visit us!

See the comments from one of our former students.

 Other Maryland Programs

10/01/05