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/

To return to the Family Fun in MD and Beyond website, click here.

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/

To return to the Family Fun in MD and Beyond website, click here.

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/

 To return to the Family Fun in MD and Beyond website, click here.

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/

To return to the Family Fun in MD and Beyond website, click here.

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/

To return to the Family Fun in MD and Beyond website, click here.

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

To return to the Family Fun in MD and Beyond website, click here.

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/

To Return to the Family Fun in MD and Beyond website, click here.

Launch Trampoline Park, Columbia, MD

Do you want to make your kids “Hoppy?” Perhaps a trip to Launch Trampoline Park is in order. Housing a 16,000 square foot trampoline with horizontal and vertical trampolines, your children can literally bounce off the walls!!!! But this place does not just offer a place to bounce, they also have a trampoline dodgeball court,  and a launch pad (large air bag for jumping). They also have three basketball hoops of varying sizes on the trampolines, so you can practice shooting and springing to massive slam dunks if that is more your style. They have great music, and periodically have black lights come on.

Not interested in the trampoline features? Well then try your luck at “Meltdown!” Meltdown is a piece of equipment with long beams sticking out. Each child stands on a pod, and as the beams start to spin, the children have to survive by staying on their pod. . The one left standing is the winner, and then the kids can play again. In order to do Meltdown, just let a staff member know that you would like this operating, and they can come over and help you out. If this doesn’t get you jumping for joy, check out the “Adrenalator,” a ninja course where you can race your friends through different obstacles.

If these activities are not enough, and you want to try your hand at something less active, they also have an arcade as well as gaming pods for those who want to play Xbox or Playstation!. In addition to the actual activities, they also do birthday parties, group events, and special glow nights! We went to the Rockville location, but due to its closure, the closest location is in Columbia, MD

Rates:

1/2 hour jump   $12.00 

1 hour jump       $16.00 

1.5 hour jump   $22.00 

2 hour jump       $26.00

Hours:

Hours vary in the summer, but general hours are:

TODDLER TIME

FRI: Toddler Time 9:30 - 11am

SAT: Toddler Time 8:30 - 10am

OPEN JUMP

MON: 4:00pm – 8:00pm

TUE: 4:00pm – 8:00pm

WED: 4:00pm – 8:00pm

THU: 4:00pm – 8:00pm

FRI: 4:00pm – 8:00pm

SAT: 11:00am – 9:00pm

SUN: 11:00am – 7:00am

GLOW JUMP

FRI: 8:00pm - 10:00pm

SAT: 9:00pm - 11:00pm

Website: http://launchcolumbia.com/

To return to the Family Fun in MD and Beyond website, click here.

This location has since shut down.

Museum of the Bible, Washington DC

Opened only one year ago, the Museum of the Bible is an excellent addition to the museums in DC. This museum is a beautiful blend of antiquities and cutting edge technology that could take several hours if you want to see everything. With six floors plus a basement, it is definitely worthwhile to use their website to research what you want to see before going. The museum itself is beautiful, and they do a great job of labeling what is in each area so that if you just want to focus on the Old Testament, or just on the New Testament, you can plan your trip accordingly. Additionally, the museum does a good job of not coming off as preachy, and more from a historical perspective, so whether you are looking for a religious or non-religious experience, this museum seems to offer something for everyone.

 In addition to the museum’s permanent collection, they also have several exhibits that are not permanent. General admission to the museum is suggested donation as their entry fee, so you can either pay the suggested $19.95 for adults and $9.95 for children 12 and under, or pay what you want based on your level of comfort. The museum operates solely on the donations. You can walk up and get tickets at the museum or order your tickets online. Some of the changing exhibits require an extra ticket for timed entry, and some also carry an additional fee, while others are free, but you need the timed ticket.

During our visit, we focused on the Old Testament. Below is a breakdown of what is on each floor.

First Floor: Vatican Library and Museum, Couragous Pages (Kids area), Gift Shop, and a small bistro.

Second Floor: Impact of the Bible: Bible in America, Bible in the World, Bible Now, and Washington Revelations.

Third Floor: Stories of the Bible: The Hebrew Bible Experience (need separate tickets) (click menu, visit, attractions to get your ticket for this part), World of Jesus of Nazareth, and The New Testament Theater (need separate tickets) (click menu, visit, attractions to get your ticket for this part).

Fourth Floor: The History of the Bible: The History of the Bible Artifacts, Drive Through History of the Bible Theater, Bible Reading Room, and illumiNations.

Fifth Floor: World Stage Theater and The People of the Land: History and Archaeology of Ancient Israel.

Sixth Floor: DC Views, a restaurant, and a garden area.

Basement Level: Stations of the Cross.

Our favorite parts of this museum were the add on ticket for The Hebrew Bible experience which is a 30 minute multi-sensory experience of the Old Testament, the kids area where my kids enjoyed playing the games, and seeing the scribe who they brought in from Israel to give demonstrations on how the Old Testament is written. My children enjoyed asking him questions as he wrote the parchment scrolls which were projected on a screen behind him.

Additionally, our whole family marveled at the videos that we saw, the number of scrolls on display, and the area that showed a massive amount of bibles each one written in a different language. From the artistry to the technology, this museum was great for kids ages 7 and up.

Website: https://www.museumofthebible.org/

Hours: 10am-5pm

To return to the Family Fun in MD and Beyond website, click here.

Hyper Kidz!, Columbia, MD

This place was the true embodiment of its name! It's a small warehouse, filled to the brim with children running around and climbing on various inflatables and obstacles courses. They have three areas that are broken up by age. The smaller areas are the “Mini Zone” in the back where kids ages 0-2 can explore, and the “Kid Zone”, which is an area for 2-7 year olds in the front that has slides and spinning equipment.  However, the main attraction was the “Big Kid Zone,” a huge 4-story climbing course that is geared towards 3-13 year olds that spanned the entire length of the room.  Due to the wide age range of the “Big Kid Zone”, little children may need a bit of adult help as it got a bit confusing which direction to turn at times, but older kids can climb safely by themselves.

The place itself was very clean, and the bright colored equipment was very visually appealing to both children and parents, making this a place that allowed for hours of fun. There is a small cafe area in the front to have a snack or sit and watch your kids. It can be very crowded at times, so check the website first to make your reservation as it often fills up quickly. Additionally, once you are there, make sure you have a plan with your kids for where you will be sitting or come prepared to climb with them due to how crowded it can get! We also appreciated that they will stamp your hand and let you sit outside to eat, before coming back in to continue climbing. We had a great time and would recommend this when you need an activity that is indoors.

Rates:

FREE Infants (0-12 mos) with paid sibling

$7 Infants (0-12 mos) w/o sibling (Mon-Thurs)

$9 ages 1-2 (Mon-Thurs)

$11 ages 3-13 (Mon-Thurs)

$12 Infants (0-12 mos) w/o sibling (Fri-Sun*)

$14 ages 1-2 (Fri-Sun*)

$16 ages 3-13 (Fri-Sun*)

Adults are always FREE (w/ paid child’s admission; 3rd adult will be $5)

UNLIMITED Open Play 7 days a week!

Hours:

Monday - Thursday: 10am - 8pm

Friday - Saturday: 10am - 9pm

Sunday: 11am - 7pm

Website: https://www.hyperkidzplay.com/

To return to the Family Fun in MD and Beyond website, click here.

Calvert Cliffs State Park, Lusby MD

Located on the Chesapeake Bay in Calvert County Maryland, Calvert Cliffs State Park is a beautiful beach with great options to hike and enjoy the nature that surrounds the cliffs. If your family loves archaeology and sea life, the beaches contain the remains of a variety of prehistoric species including sharks, whales and rays. Our children loved looking for (and finding) fossils and shark teeth! However, please read all of the signs in the area as it is important to enjoy the actual cliffs from a distance, as erosion has made it unsafe to climb in that area. You can also go swimming in the Bay, but please be aware that there are no lifeguards, so swimming is at your own risk.

When you get tired of swimming and collecting fossils, there is also a great playground made out of tires that kids enjoyed climbing.  There are also a variety of trails to follow throughout the park depending on the amount of time you have, and the rangers were at the entrance to the park to answer any questions. These trails included dirt paths and small boardwalk areas. Our kids had a great time and we would definitely go back again.  Although, it is about 1.5 hours from the Silver Spring area, so it definitely needs to be on a day where we have a large chunk of time to block off, as well as good weather.

Website: http://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/southern/calvertcliffs.aspx

To return to the Family Fun in MD and Beyond website, click here.

Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, Washington, DC

Just over the MD/DC border, Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens is a quaint little park that is filled with small pools of water lilies and other beautiful flowers. There is a nice dirt path that is about 1/2 mile long, with many small paths to walk in between the many pools of water. This is not a large park, but the fact that it is not in the center of downtown and that it has lots of free parking available make this a nice activity.

Known for its annual Lotus and Water Lily festival, the park also has a long boardwalk area with observation benches along the way. Although much of the vegetation was pretty dried out when I went, there were also several spots where the greenery was quite lush. There is also a separate path that you can walk which is less than a mile until you get to the Anacostia River. All in all, this is a nice small activity, but I wouldn't plan for more than an hour or two here.

Website: https://www.nps.gov/keaq/index.htm

To return to the Family Fun in MD and Beyond website, click here.

Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum, St. Leonard, MD

For the past few years, I have been meaning to take my kids out to the Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum. I was finally able to do so at the start of this summer, and was truly happy we were able to make the 1.15 hour drive. During the months of May and June, they offer a wonderful free archaeology program, which is what we made reservations to do. Make sure to check the calendar and make your reservations before going. Certain days are field days where you can dig, while others are lab days where you help to clean and catalogue the finds from the field.

When we first arrived, we went into the visitors center which was clean, and had a small discovery room and a gift shop to look at. The focus of this visitors center and the entire park focuses on life on the Chesapeake Bay. After the visitors shop, we went down to the lab area, and met up with our guide, who took us down to the field site. 

Once at the field site, our guide was kind and patient with the kids, and explained about life on the plantation. He then told us what we would be digging for, and got us started. The kids were very excited to find a piece of an old pipe, as well as lots of pieces of brick, old nails, etc...They also learned quite a bit about the history of the house, the family that lived there, and how do be an archaelogist!

While they were tired after a few hours, there were certainly several other hikes and trails in the area, as well as an "Indian Village" that was created about 10 years ago in honor of John Smith's exploration of the Chesapeake Bay. This could definitely be a 1/2 day or full day trip depending on what you want to do. Always check their calendar of events to see what is coming up in the future.

Website: http://www.jefpat.org/index.html

To return to the Family Fun in MD and Beyond website, click here:

Earth Treks, Rockville, MD

Located in a massive building in Rockville, Earth Treks is the premier climbing facility in the Maryland area. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and patient, and they all seem to have a strong passion for climbing. Upon arrival (and after waivers were completed), they showed us how to use the harnesses, and gave a run down on how to be safe. They provided the staff to belay, and were encouraging as kids made their way up the wall. They had a wonderful balance of being sensitive and validating of their fears, while kindly giving them the guidance that they needed to push themselves out of their comfort zone.

This facility offers a wide array of classes so that climbers can learn more of the technical skills, but it also has certain hours that are open sessions, where you can pay per climb. Additionally, they are available for large groups such as for birthday parties, corporate events, etc… There are many large walls with which to choose, so that every level of climber from beginner to advanced can find a place to climb comfortably and confidently. There are also several areas that allow climbers to try their hand at bouldering.  All in all, this was a fun activity that everyone really enjoyed.

Website: https://www.earthtreksclimbing.com/

To return to the Family Fun in MD and Beyond website, click here .