The steep descent on the Dupont Circle escalator is almost a rite of passage for college students in Washington, D.C. From there, everyone’s taken the Red line, whether to Farragut North for an internship or to Union Station for a trip home.

But few have ventured all the way to Wheaton, Md., the Red line’s penultimate northeastern stop — home to shopping venues characteristic of urban sprawl and chock-full of useful merchandise that’s rarely as available, or affordable, at malls inside the District.

A Welcome Change of Pace

The half-hour ride from Dupont Circle to the far reaches of the Red line is a scenic journey into suburbia. The Metro surfaces several times, offering a glimpse of the colorful, mosque-like dome of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the urban lights of Silver Spring, Md. As the train crosses into Maryland, strip malls and grocery stores appear in the distance.

The Metro stop before Wheaton, Forest Glen, hints that the urban sprawl may be nearing its end, but upon leaving the station at Wheaton, it’s impossible to escape parking garages, parking lots and bus stops. But don’t fret — amid the bustle of suburbia lies a forest oasis for students wishing to escape the fast pace of the city.

The Grass Truly is Greener

A 10-minute walk heading north will lead you to a park you could only dream of as a child. Wheaton Regional Park features everything from horseback riding to ice skating. For $9, students can pay for admission and rent skates at the Wheaton Ice Arena, or fork over $35 for a horse ride along roughly two miles of trails in the park. Terrified of real horses? Then just hop on the park’s restored 1915 carousel. Originally housed on the National Mall, the carousel was moved to Wheaton in the early 1980s and remains a popular amusement ride.

No matter what time of year, students can also explore Brookside Gardens, a 50-acre conservatory at the park that always has a wide array of plants in bloom. Other services offered by the park’s nature center include tours, self-guided nature walks and wildlife viewing areas. The park is a welcome change from the concrete and cobblestone jungle students are faced with every day on the Hilltop.

Snacking and Shopping to Remember

On the way back to the station, follow the signs to the Wheaton Plaza, for a shopping experience that will take you back to your hometown suburbia.

While at least one step grungier than the Georgetown Park Mall or the Fashion Center at Pentagon City, Wheaton Plaza offers a smattering of useful stores that seem hard to otherwise access by Metro within the District.

Although the mall contains over 200 stores, including M Street favorites like American Eagle Outfitters and Ann Taylor Loft, Wheaton Plaza has a small-town feel and the shopping experience lacks some of the high-end, high-pressure urban sophistication found in other District shopping areas.

Make sure to grab something to eat at one of the 98 restaurants within a one-mile radius of the Wheaton metro stop. With everything from expensive Chinese food to cheap Mexican cuisine, Wheaton is the perfect place to spend a day away from the city.

Wheaton may lack some of the business-attire pretense found within the Beltway, but this in itself makes it a worthwhile destination for those seeking a break from the District, without ever leaving the familiarity of the Red line.

And don’t forget to take the escalator, an attraction in itself: it’s the longest in the Western Hemisphere.