Planet Word, Washington DC

 When I first told my child about a new museum that was all about words, she was not having any part of it. However, after a series of negotiations, she finally acquiesced. Upon arrival to Planet Word, we were greeted by a whimsical “Speaking Willow” tree installation. As you walk under the bell shaped speakers on each branch, the visitor is able to hear a different language coming out of each speaker. It gives a very cool melting pot vibe to those interacting with the tree.

Once you enter, you will have 3 floors worth of fantastic exhibits to explore. This museum is great for kids of all ages as well as adults. You can learn about the origin of words, how to compose lyrics to make songs, start learning a new language and even practice giving famous speeches. The participant can then email the speech that they recorded to themselves as a cool souvenir. Other fun activities include exploring humor, creating your own advertisements using the power of words, a library that has 3D elements, a virtual painting wall, and even some wordplay signs to pose with for a picture. These are only a few of the many areas that we loved exploring.

By the time we had to go, my daughter didn’t want to leave and asked if we could come back again. The best part is that this museum is free (with a suggested donation). Just make sure that you reserve your tickets online ahead of time.

Website: https://planetwordmuseum.org/

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Cunningham Falls State Park, Thurmont, MD

 Located in Thurmont, Maryland, Cunningham Falls State Park is a really nice park to spend the day. If you want a short hike, you can park and walk roughly a mile and get to the scenic falls. They also offer longer hikes up to 7.5 miles if you want a more intense challenge. Additionally, if you do not feel like walking to the falls or taking a long hike, you can also park and hang out by the lake.

The lake offers a large beach area which has lifeguards on duty at specific hours. There is a roped off section for swimming which is great for the kids, and they can also build sand castles on the shore. Additionally, there is great boating, and fishing options for those looking for other recreational opportunities. We also really appreciated the nice picnic benches and the clean bathrooms that were right near the lake. Overall, this was a really enjoyable place to hike, and we would go back again in the future.

Website: https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/western/cunningham.aspx

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O Street Museum, Washington DC

For years, I have been thinking about going to the O Street Mansion in Washington DC. However, something always came up. Finally, we decided to go, and we are so happy that we did. Nestled on an unassuming street, passersby would never even know that this Museum exists. Yet, if you are lucky enough to stumble upon it (or read about it on my blog), you will have unearthed a true hidden gem! 

This series of rowhouses have been converted into a mansion that is open to tours throughout the year. We chose to do the secret door tour. With over 70 secret doors, we were fully immersed in the activity for several hours and didn't come close to finding all of the doors. There were so many unique rooms to see and each one was more fun and wacky than the next. Even the bathrooms offered such clever decor, that we found ourselves excited to see how each restroom was designed. 

Additionally, there is a tremendous amount of history in this experiential museum as it also functions as an active hotel. Guests can actually be staying there while you are touring, so you may end up striking up a conversation with some pretty interesting people! Each room in the hotel is themed and the objects that cover every inch of the mansion are all for sale and have been donated by the famous people that have stayed there! Be careful (and remind the kids to do so as well) as they have a strict, "you break it, you buy it" policy. While there, you will find items donated by celebrities such as The Beatles, Elvis Pressley, Rosa Parks, and others!

I can't think of any place like this, and highly recommend a visit when going into DC. Make sure to purchase your tickets in advance, and ask them which times of day are the least busy. We went without our children, but plenty of our friends went with kids of all ages and said the kids had a ton of fun as well! Who knows what you may end up finding/buying!?!

Website: https://www.omuseum.org/

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Laurel Skating Center, Laurel Maryland

The Laurel Skating Center has been a staple of the area for decades! This may not be the most modern skating rink, but it offers a sense of nostalgia that harkens back to the days when skating was the best option on a rainy day. Their hours of operation vary depending on the day, but they have family times, adult skating, and senior hours. They also offer skating classes and are available for birthday parties. There is a concession stand as well. I recommend sparing your feet by doubling your socks as the skates are a little bit old school. 

Website: https://laurelskatingcenter.com/

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Jug Bay Wetland Sanctuary, Lothian, MD

 Fresh air, great exercise, and beautiful and unique nature. What more could you ask for? Not much. Jug Bay Wetland Sanctuary offers an enjoyable and unique outdoor experience for all ages. Located in Lothian, Maryland this nature preserve offers a beautiful view of marshes from many different boardwalks built into the water. On the Patuxent River, there are many different paths that you can take with various offshoots that allow you to see the freshwater, beautiful fauna, and wonderful wildlife. Our favorite part was enjoying the 1-mile walk along a peninsula that had several views of the water and large birds. We enjoyed feeling like we were in an aquatic field of dreams, with many areas snaking through thick brush on either side of the path. There are maps at the visitor center and the hike contained a mix of sun and shade.

Website: https://jugbay.org/

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Assateague Adventure, Ocean City, MD

 M.R. Ducks offers a wide array of options for getting out on the water in the Ocean City, MD area. Their options include riding on the Duckaneer (a pirate ship experience), OC Rocket (a speedboat experience), adventure cruises on the Assateague Adventure Cruise I and II, as well as fishing trips on the Happy Hooker. While in Ocean City, we chose to do the Assateague adventure cruise, which was easy to book online with one days’ notice.

Upon arrival to the dock, we showed our electronic tickets and they set us up with our paper tickets. The dock was clean with their restaurant and bathrooms on site, and the boat arrived from the previous tour group on time. Once they cleaned up, they allowed us entry and we promptly set off on the boat. The guide was welcoming and throughout the 80 minute tour, shared lots of information about the boats in the harbor and the history of the area. The ride was smooth and comfortable, and they drove us out to Assateague Island where we got to see wild ponies roaming freely. They explained how they got there and the difference between the ponies on the MD and VA sides of the island.

Shortly after seeing the ponies, they boated us a little further up to small island area, where we were able to get off the boat. They gave us nets and we were able to dredge for hermit crabs (we caught 5 or 6) and could try catching other marine life. We had about 20 minutes or so to enjoy that experience, and then we got back on the boat. For the drive back, they showed us different marine life from their live touch tanks. They asked for volunteers, and my children got to each bring one of the featured creatures around for everyone to see. They had large snails, horseshoe crabs, and regular crabs.

Overall, this was a fun experience, and we would certainly come back and try one of their other rides/experiences in the future.

Website: http://www.mrducks.com/talbotstreetwatersports.html

Keeping busy during a pandemic

Here are places that we have been going to or plan to go to during the pandemic. If it is more than a trail, I recommend calling ahead first to see if they have space limits, bathroom options, etc.... I hope this helps.

Places to go:

• Jug Bay Wetland Sanctuary
• Woodlawn Manor Cultural Center (Underground Railroad Trail)
• Matthew Henson Trail
• Northwest Branch Trail
• Billy Goat Trail
• Pine Lake
• Roosevelt Island
• Croydon Creek
• Cunningham Falls
• Calvert Cliffs
• Sandy Point Beach
• Greenbrier State park
• Shenandoah State Park
• Sligo Creek (walking path)
• Kilgore Falls
• Sugarloaf Mountains
• Luray Caverns
• Fairland Recreational Park
• Centennial Lake (nice lake to walk on a paved path)
• Green Meadows Farm (petting zoo) (big open place, not a lot of people when we went, but people also didn't necessarily keep 6 feet away and not everyone was wearing masks)
• Go Kart Track (Bladensburg)
• Foot Golf at Sligo Creek Golf Course (must make a reservation and bring your own soccer ball)
• Rocky Gorge (batting cages, mini golf, and driving range)
• Lake Needwood (Boating) 
• Vertical Rock (indoor rock climbing)
• Sandy Spring Adventure Park (ropes course)
• Larriland Farm and Butler's Orchard (fruit picking)
• Capital SUP (stand up paddleboarding)
• Drive-in movie theater (there are a few in the area)

Fun Activities:

• Geocaching (there is an app, but start by looking on geocaching.com and watching the video).
• Dance Party
• Write letters to athletes, politicians, actors, musicians, artists, etc. (I suggest reading an article first on TTM (through the mail) autograph seeking. https://www.beckett.com/news/mail-call-how-to-get-started-collecting-autographs-through-the-mail/
• Draw (lots of great you tube tutorials), paint, sculpt, etc...
• Play sports in the yard or at a local field
• Pick up an instrument
• Water play in the yard (water balloons, sprinkler, slip n' slide, etc...)
• lots of good yard games like corn hole, ladder toss, travel ping pong (we've been using the dining room table), horseshoes, bocce, etc.
• Don't forget the classics like sidewalk chalk, bubbles, playing in the rain, catching fireflies, etc...
• As a child in the late 80's/early 90's, I taught my kids how to make a paper football, and we have been playing a lot of this game.
• Bike riding, fishing, boating
• Reading books
• Car wash
• virtual museum tours
• lots of free coding, video game making, and animation videos
• hackeysack, hoola hoop, jump rope
• board games, puzzles, diamond art, tie dye, knitting, crocheting, 
• baking/cooking
• Let each kid have a week of planning meals (takes the pressure off of you, keeps them busy, and gives them some control in an uncontrollable time)
• play in a local stream

Stumpy's Hatchet House, Columbia MD

While this place doesn't quite fit the label of "Family Fun" as you must be 18 years old to enter, Stumpy's Hatchet House is an awesome new axe throwing place that just opened up a few weeks ago! The location was great as they had plenty of parking, and the process for either walk-ins or making reservations was very easy and customer friendly. We chose to go on a weeknight, and found the place to have lots of other participants, but spacious enough that it almost felt like a private event! The vibe was very chill, and the employees were incredibly friendly as they registered us, walked us through the instructions, and checked in on us throughout our time there.

The place was clean and very well decorated, and I really appreciated that they let you bring in your own outside food. We spent an hour throwing, but the upgrade to 2 hours was quite affordable. At first we had trouble getting the axes to stick in the wooden boards, but within 5 minutes we were able to improve our technique enough to be able to start scoring. These are not big axes, they are hatchets, so they are not heavy at all. Anyone old enough to enter is definitely strong enough to do this activity. They also had multiple beer options on tap, a bar area, pool table, wooden games, and some arcade games as well. In terms of fun activities, this ranks pretty high up there! I will definitely be going back to this place again in the future.

This place is wheelchair accessible.
Website: https://stumpyshh.com/columbiamd/
Pricing:
$24.99 for 1 hour
$39.99 for 2 hours

Reservation options:
a one hour reservation accommodates 1-4 people
a two hour reservation accommodates 5 or more people
Call them if you would like to bring a larger group.

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National Cryptologic Museum, Annapolis MD

Talk about your hidden gems! This week we went to the National Cryptologic Museum which is the museum of the NSA (National Security Agency). Upon arrival, we were greeted by the volunteer at the front desk. She shared that all volunteers are former employees of the NSA. The museum doesn't look like much from the outside, but it was a big hit with my son and his friend!

The volunteer asked each of the boys if they wanted to try the Crypto Kids Challenge, which they both eagerly accepted. They were each given a clipboard and pencil, a Caesar Cypher Wheel, and a sheet with 15 blank spots to fill in. As we moved through the museum, each of the 15 challenges were marked by a cartoon figure. The sign would pose a question about some sort of code breaking topic, and then would have a code to set their cypher wheel to, in order to break the code and find the answer! This task alone helped the boys to forget that it was a museum, and make them feel like they were truly code breakers. When they completed the chart correctly, they were able to take the sheet back to the front desk for a prize!

In addition to this smart and interactive activity, the variety of code machines and stories about code breakers was incredibly informative and interesting. The machine that had the largest "wow factor" was definitely the Enigma machine, which was used in world war II Germany. They had paper and pencils out, with directions on how to set the machine and write/break different codes! Each boy put in their name, and typed the code that appeared as each letter was typed. We then reset it, typed in the code letters, and watched as their name lit up, letter by letter.




While the Enigma machine, and many other machines and gadgets were not surprising to learn about, we found the Hobo Communication exhibit to be particularly unexpected and fascinating. First we read about who hobo's are and how they traveled around the country looking for work. What we didn't know was that there were many towns where they were unwelcome when there wasn't work to be had. The hobo's had to create a code language of images that they carved all over different towns, letting other hobo's know if the town was friendly or not, if the people in certain houses were friendly, if their were dogs, etc! The exhibit is a model town, with a listing of symbols that they used on the side. Each symbol had a button to press, which lit up that area of the town. This was fun and educational.

In addition to the cool things listed above, they also had exhibits on technological advancements, the Vietnam War, Navajo Code Talkers, invisible ink coding, women in code breaking, and African American's role in code breaking.

This museum was small, but great, and allowed us to enjoy 2 hours worth of time in a great and educational venue. We also appreciated the phone tour that you could dial into at many of the exhibits. They provide you with a list of all the codes and the phone number at the front desk, and then as you walk through, you can call the phone number and type in the code and # key to hear about each part of the museum. We just hung up after each session, and then hit redial whenever there was another exhibit that we wanted to learn more about!

What great and free fun this was! However, if you get a chance to donate, they greatly appreciate it. They even have a sign-in sheet to show potential donors how many people come to this non-government funded museum. This is a great place for field trips!

Website: https;//www.nsa.gov/about/cryptologic-heritage/museum/ 

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Laurel Park (Horse RacingTrack), Laurel MD

It may not be as well known as the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain, but also exciting and much more local is watching the horse races at the Laurel Park! I certainly advise calliing ahead and/or checking the calendar on their website, but races typically take place Thursday-Sunday, with Race times starting at around 1pm. When speaking with them on the phone, they told me that the races had roughly 30 minute breaks in between each one. What I didn't know was that typically, the races were one lap and that the whole race lasted about 2 minutes. However, for races that are larger events, they may have more laps and last for longer, but the crowds will also be larger. 

While this doesn't seem like a lot of time, knowing this now, I think we would have brought some activities (card or board games with us) to fill the time in between. However, in the hour and fifteen minutes that we were there, we were able to see 3 races. It was also helpful to see the big screen in the middle of the track, which let us know how much time until the next race. 

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS IS AN ESTABLISHMENT FOR GAMBLING! While we did not bet (and this is a free activity), it is important to note that most of the people that are there were there for betting. However, we found that because most people were there for gambling, they seemed to be more heavily staying inside and watching multiple races on the television screens. We however, went out to the actual track and stood right up against the fence next to the finish line and winners circle! What a great view that was for the races that were won by a nose (literally)! 

In between races, we ate on the picnic benches, and talked to a few of the other people who were outside to get a better understanding of how people pick horses to win, what the odds meant (this was a fun math lesson for my son), and all of the different things that go into the training of the horses. Most people were pretty happy to share their knowledge. 

Additionally, since we went to the races on a Thursday afternoon, and the track area was mostly empty, we were able to call out to the jockey who won one of the races, and he stopped to take a picture with the boys. They also gave their jockey goggles to our kids as a souvenir! When the weather got too hot to stay outside, we went inside and upstairs to an area where you could watch the races in air conditioning through large glass windows! Very few people were in there, so we were able to sit in nice leather chairs, right over the race track. This was a cool view to take in for our third race, and a great place to maybe play a game while waiting in between. 

While this is obviously not an event geared towards children, my kids certainly had a fun time, and said that they would like to come back another time.

Website: http://www.laurelpark.com/

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Main Event, Columbia, MD

Main Event, located in Columbia, Maryland is a do it all fun zone for families and friends to have a great time. They have a beautiful bowling alley, which had big TV screens, glow lights, and the ability to have bumpers be up or down depending on which player is bowling (this was an easy process). Any time we had a question, the staff was more than helpful. The lanes were clean, the balls were in good shape, and they had nice seating areas for each lane. If you wanted to purchase food, I believe they had that option as well.

In addition to the bowling alley, they also had a large arcade with a selection of video games that included both ticket-earning and non-ticket earning options. They also had a nicely sized prize store. If bowling and arcades don't excite you, then surely the laser tag arena will provide you with tons of fun. The equipment was well maintained, and there were no faulty issues which made the games very enjoyable. Lastly, if you want to avoid all technology, they also have several billiards tables and shuffleboard tables. These tables were in immaculate shape, and were located right next to a restaurant. 

Make sure before you go, that you check out the different deal offerings. We went for Monday Madness, which offered two options. For $10.95 per person plus shoe rentals, you can get all you can bowl, laser tag, billiards, and shuffleboard. If this option is not what you are looking for, you can also get the $10.95 deal for unlimited arcade games (non-ticket earning). This deal goes from 4pm-closing (1am). They also have a summer fun pass, a food and fun combo, and a kids eat free Tuesdays program. We spent 3 hours on our Monday Madness experience, and the kids had a blast!

Just know that this location is part of Columbia Mall, but can be accessed independently from the parking lot. It is right near the Barnes and Nobles. 

Website: https://www.mainevent.com

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Swallow Falls State Park, Oakland, MD

 Swallow Falls State Park provided a wonderful camping experience for our family this summer. Located right near Deep Creek Lake and all of its activities, this park offered clean camp sites for about $20 per night. They sell ice and firewood at the entrance to the park, and paying for camping gives you access to the trails and waterfalls. The camp sites were close enough that you could go with friends and be near them if you got neighboring sites, but far enough apart that everyone had their privacy. The bathrooms/showers were cleaned during our 2 days there by staff, and the shared water pump was very accessible to multiple camp sites.

Although there are falls called Swallow Falls, the larger and easier falls to get to in Swallow Falls State Park are called Muddy Creek Falls. There you will find a beautiful and scenic 54 foot waterfall, the largest free falling waterfall in the state, and the 3rd largest overall in the state. If you want a slightly longer hike (still under 2 miles), Swallow Falls are also scenic and enjoyable, just be prepared for a steep incline.

Website: http://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/western/swallowfalls.aspx

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Splash Island (DCL Adventures), Oakland, Maryland

Summer is the best time of year to get out and do fun activities with kids. While DCL Adventures had several great options in Western Maryland (including Monkey Business Adventure Park, and Deep Creek Axe Throwing, we opted for some fun in the sun at their Splash Island location, housed at Will O’ the Wisp. What an incredibly fun place!!!

Upon arrival, the staff was very friendly in getting everyone checked in with the online waiver system. They were patient and willing to answer questions as they arose. Once we completed the waivers, we were pointed in the direction of the life vests, and sent down to the lake. The activity was a surprise for my kids, and when they walked down to the inflatable obstacle course, their eyes lit up! Within seconds, we were in the water and climbing onto the obstacles. With over 20 different obstacles linked together, my boys were thoroughly entertained for the entire hour time slot that we were signed up. They easily could have played for another hour if we had the time. My youngest son even commented that "this is the best activity we did all summer!"

The obstacles ranged in their level of difficulty, and my kids found the floating bridges and the hamster wheel to be the most challenging. They also had multiple life guards on duty, and when one of my boys got stuck they happily jumped in and helped him get through the obstacle. They really enjoyed climbing the tower and jumping off from near the top, as well as the large slide and the swing! This is definitely a place we would come back to in the future, and we would also definitely try their other activities. The ropes course looked like it provided a variety of challenges as well.

Pricing: $30 per person, per hour.

Address:

20160 Garrett Highway

Oakland, Maryland 21550

Website:

https://dcladventures.com/

https://www.facebook.com/splashislandmd/

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South Germantown Bike Park, Boyds Maryland

South Germantown Recreational Park has many great activities. I've known and written about the beautiful playground. I have also written about the Splash Park. However, a friend recently shared that there is a bike park tucked away, and I knew my boys would love it (As a warning, I followed the directions on Waze, and it took me to a spot about .5 mile away, so do not follow the directions on Waze). See directions below.

Once we arrived at the bike park, both boys immediately got started on the course. I don't know if it  was because of the warm weather or because it is so hard to find, but we were the only ones there! The course has a ton of great hills and curves, and both boys (10 and 12 years old) loved navigating each part of the course. There is also a small shaded pavilion right next to the course, so I  had a nice shady place to relax and watch them. I read that the people that maintain it can often be found there and love volunteers to help with the maintenance of the bike park. We are definitely going to be going back here in the fall when it warms up and is a little lighter on "bug season."

In terms of finding the place, go into the main South Germantown Recreational Park entrance. Drive straight past the multiple fields (I think we went past a sign that said fields 10 and 11).  To the left, you will eventually see a pond. There is a parking lot there. Pull in and park. Then walk across the street towards the hill with power lines. You will not be able to see the bike park until you walk up the hill. Once you get to the top, you will see a large field, with the bike park in the back.

Verdict: Hard to find, but worthwhile!

Website: https://www.facebook.com/SouthGermantownBikePark/

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Underground Railroad Experience Trail, Sandy Spring, MD

The Underground Railroad Experience Trail at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park is a great place to hike. It allows people to gain a much better understanding of the history behind a group of people who were seeking refuge from persecution and slavery as they made their way through Montgomery County. This part of their trek from the south to the north was dangerous, and many people used a series of hidden networks, passageways, and safe houses instead of above ground travel in order to find their way to freedom. The terrain is not paved, and is 4 miles to and from Woodlawn Manor. Certain parts are covered by trees while others are open areas. Make sure to bring water, sunscreen, and bug spray. You can find a map at the beginning of the trail in order to help guide you through your hike.

You can do this hike independently, with a guide, or as part of special programming that is held in this location.

Address:

Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park
16501 Norwood Road

Sandy Spring, MD 20860 

Website: https://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/woodlawn-manor-cultural-park/underground-railroad-experience-trail-hikes/

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Inside Ski Training Center, Leesburg VA

I waited until after the summer to write this post, and in all honesty, I am happy that I didn’t jump to write this place up.  Now that summer is over, whenever people ask me what I did during the summer, the first and most unique activity that comes to mind is my indoor snowboarding lesson at the Inside Ski Training Center in Leesburg. From the reservation process to the fitting of the boots to the actual lesson, the employees were friendly and patient.

I did not know what to expect when I got there as I pulled up to a shopping center with a small storefront, but when I went inside, they directed me to the back to a separate room. The room was a big slanted treadmill that had an electronic keypad. Our instructor checked us in and explained how to put on the boots, the board, and how the process would work. The instructor was very friendly, and assured us that it would be safe. On a side note, a great benefit to doing indoor snowboarding is that you can do it any time of year and that you don’t have to be heavily layered in clothing, only needing a long sleeve shirt and pants (to protect during falls).

As our lesson begun, the guide explained the details of the different techniques that we would be using.  advanced snowboarders. This was great to know so that if we decided to take classes rather than a one-time lesson, we could advance to tricks. We felt safe the whole time, and the hour lesson went by very quickly. This does require a decent amount of endurance, and you will be tired and sore when you are done, but it was a great workout, and a fun experience and I would definitely go back again!

Pricing:

They offer different rates for private or group lessons, and the prices also differ between childrens and adults prices.

Website: https://insideski.com/

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Inlet Seadoos, Ocean City MD

If you are in Ocean City, MD. and are looking for fun water activities, Inlet Seadoo is the place to go! These guys pride themselves on their safety record, and from the top to bottom of the organization, every person that we interacted with had a smile on their face, was patient in answering questions, and ensured that we had a great time. Located near the boardwalk, they have this great little tiki hut, which is their central office. From here, you can pay for your activity and get fitted for your life vest (they provide). Reservations are helpful to ensure that you have your spot, but you can certainly try walking up to the desk spontaneously. Additionally, they offer photo packages so that you can look back on your excursion for many years to come!

During our visit, we went on a triple Parasailing ride. My 9 and 11 year old boys and I had an amazing time, despite me being afraid of heights. They offer 400, 600, and 800 foot rides, and were great about explaining all of the procedures before we went up in the air. This helped us to have an understanding of what to expect, and the ride from the boat up into the air was incredibly smooth and steady. Once in the air, we had beautiful views of the ocean, the bay, and the entire Ocean City strip. We were on the boat for a little bit less than an hour, and up in the air for 10 minutes. It was a peaceful and calming experience and we will look back fondly on this activity throughout our lives.

In addition to Parasailing, they also offer Jet Skiing, which seemed quite popular when we were waiting to get our life vests. We hope to try that next time we are at the beach. This is a top shelf organization with a nice balance between peaceful scenic rides (parasailing) and high octane rides (Jet Skis).

Website: https://www.inletseadoos.com/

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Hillwood Estate, Mansion, and Botanical Gardens, Washington DC

In all the years that I have lived in Maryland, I never realized how close I lived to the Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens (Washington DC). I also did not realize just how beautiful it would be and how rich in history the mansion was. The Hillwood Estate was originally owned by Marjorie Maryweather Post (yes, the one Maryweather Post Pavillian is named after) who owned the Post cereal company, and was at one time the wealthiest woman in America with a 250 million dollar net worth! The mansion has 36 rooms, and each room has its own unique flavor while maintaining the continuity of the flow of the house. We very much enjoyed the breakfast room, which had high windows and a great deal of natural light.

She was also a huge collector of art (specifically Russian), which is on display throughout the house.. In addition to the permanent collection of art, they also have rotating exhibits. When we were there, there was a Faberge Egg exhibit, which were intricately crafted and beautifully designed. This museum is a suggested donation payment, and you can pay what you feel comfortable with ( I believe it is a $20 suggested donation).

When we finished in the mansion, we went over to the greenhouses, where they had an impressive display of flora. The rooms certainly were a little bit crowded, but it was nice to be immersed in the different species. Once we got out of the muggy greenhouse, we decided to walk the grounds.  This was without a doubt, my favorite part. The Japanese gardens and sculptures were stunning, and provided a great location to take pictures. We found ourselves watching a turtle in one of the ponds, standing on bridges, and walking between stones across smaller tiered fountains.

While some children would certainly appreciate the beauty of this estate, I would say that kids should be closer to 12 years old before they could truly appreciate the beauty of this location. This activity requires a decent amount of walking.

Website: http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org/

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Salisbury Zoological Park, Salisbury MD

It may not be the biggest zoo…..It may not be the most beautiful zoo……But the Salisbury Zoological Park is a quaint little zoo, that is well shaded, and makes for a perfect stop either on the way to or from the beach (Ocean City, MD). This little zoo is free (and runs on donations) and has a nice sampling of animals. The benefit to it being smaller is that the animals are usually visible to guests. It is also a relatively shady zoo, so visitors do not have to bake in the sun during their time on the grounds. 

Additionally, there is a wonderful and decent sized park in the back of the zoo, so kids really have several options. We always stop on the way home from the beach as it is about 35 minutes from Ocean City, and allows us to break up the drive and have a place to stop and eat lunch. Almost the entire zoo is wheel chair accessible and it is mostly flat. My kids look forward to this stop off every year. 

Website: http://www.salisburyzoo.org/

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Artechouse, Washington DC

Artechouse is a trendy new art gallery that focuses on immersive digital art experiences. Based on the hype, we were expecting a bigger place with many exhibits, but this is a smaller gallery. They have one main exhibit room, and then two or three smaller elements. One of the smaller rooms is a virtual reality headset. It was cool to be sitting in a room with others, everyone in a different headset, and each person in a world that someone else created. We also enjoyed the small exhibit where the visitor could move their hands in front of a projected piece of art and manipulate the picture.

The main room was large, and was filled with beanbag chairs. As we filed in, everyone sat in a chair and watched as the artist’s visions of these different worlds projected on all of the walls surrounding us. Overall, this was a cool experience, but be aware that the whole exhibit can be seen easily in about 45 minutes, and that there is no street parking. There is a pay lot nearby, so make sure that you factor the cost of the parking and the cost of the exhibit into your budget. All in all, it provided a unique experience that even young children could be entertained by for about an hour.

Website: https://www.usa.artechouse.com/

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Walker Mill Regional Park-Woodland Wonderland Playground, District Heights MD

Blessed to live in an area with so many wonderful parks, it took a while to get to this one. Boy was it worth the wait. When we arrived at this park, we found a parking lot with tons of open spaces (could have been because it was lightly misting). Jumping out of the car to get started, my kids ran up towards the park and set off a motion-activated sensor that talked to them. Then an electronic gnome that told corny jokes was a bit further up the path. They ended up pushing the joke button for several minutes. I couldn’t believe that something so simple could stop my kids from running onto a playground, but great job on them for that!

When they reached the top, they saw an incredibly cool nature themed park! There were several good slides, including one long and fast one, and several smaller slides. The rubber matting is always a plus, and they had multiple different areas to climb on the playground. Even though it was already misting a little when we got to the park, they really liked that there were buttons to press that activated misters on the playground, which is great for cooling off on hot summer days.

Although they were not tired of the playground, they noticed that there were also beautiful and well-maintained basketball courts with nice hoops and glass backboards. After shooting hoops for a while, they then carried on to the beautiful looking skate park. Some kids were on bikes, others on roller blades, and others on skateboards. The different elements provided a variety of challenges, and they also had shaded and brightly colored seats for parents to sit and watch while the kids played. After several hours, we didn’t even have time to walk on the nature path that was located near the second parking area. Perhaps next time we will take a look at the trail as well, but this definitely provided hours of entertainment and is now one of our favorite parks!

Website: http://pgparks.com/Facilities/Facility/Details/Walker-Mill-Regional-Park-Woodland-Wonde-201

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US National Arboretum, Washington DC

With uniquely beautiful gardens, and 446 acres of land to traverse, the US National Arboretum is a local gem. You should start at the information center where you can pick up a map of the gardens and several smaller maps about the different collections. Once you exit the back of the building, they have coy fish ponds and a large patio area with a few tables and shaded areas to eat and relax. When you are ready to start touring the gardens, they offer the following collections:

Asian, Azalea, Dogwood, Fern Valley, Friendship Garden, Gotelli Conifer, Grove of State Trees, Holly and Magnolia, National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, National Boxwood, National Capital Columns, National Herb Garden, Perennial, and Washington Youth Garden.

During our time at the Arboretum, we saw many of these collections, but the highlights for us were the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, the National Capital Columns, and the National Herb Garden. We didn’t know about the Grove of State trees (which would have also been cool to see), but with so much to see, that will certainly be in our plans for the next time we come.

The main attraction for us was the Bonsai & Menjing Museum. Growing up, the only knowledge that I had of Bonsai trees was from the Karate Kid J. However, seeing them in person was a phenomenal experience as I learned just how old some of these trees were (oldest in the world is over 1000 years old), and how much of an art form it is to mold the tree shapes and to maintain them. The gardens are  tidy, and the atmosphere was peaceful and Zen-like. The largest part of this collection was a gift from Japan to commemorate the US Bicentennial.

Once we finished the Bonsai exhibit, we moved on to the National Capital Columns. Originally built in 1828, these columns were designed for, and used at the Capital building. Due to the dome of the capital being bigger than originally planned, the building was awkward, and eventually in the 1980’s they decided to move these beautiful columns to the Arboretum, and put in different supports in the Capital. Seeing them up close was truly amazing and makes for a great photo op! However, during our time there, the water that reflects the columns was drained (until Spring of 2019) for repairs.

 

Lastly, we ended in the Herb Garden. The aroma was wonderful, and we enjoyed sitting around a small fountain, watching a frog lounge in the water. The trellises were gorgeous, providing shade and beauty, and there were beautiful fruit trees interwoven amongst the different herbs.

Website: https://www.usna.usda.gov/

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