Sportrock Climbing Centers (Alexandria and Sterling, VA)

Sportrock Climbing Center is a great place to do indoor rock climbing. This indoor gym was spacious, had a variety of walls to climb, and had various levels of difficulty for the beginners as well as the advanced. If you are trained to climb, you can use the gym on your own during open climb, or if you have never climbed or are a beginner, you can go to open hours and take turns climbing the walls with one of the staff members.

The gym has both rock climbing and bouldering available, and the walls range from under ten feet (bouldering without a harness) to 40 feet for rock climbing (with a harness). The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, and really made the experience worthwhile. Throughout the open climb, they offered tips to help each person to improve, and I enjoyed doing something new and exciting.

This place is great for parties, camp groups, or individuals of varying ages. For open climb, they will take anybody age 6 and above. There is one person on duty for open climb, 12-5pm on Sat. and Sun. (except during the summer, when weekdays are also open), and depending on how busy it is, you can get in a decent amount of climbing or do a bit of waiting between turns. If you are interested in taking a more serious approach, they offer classes for yoga, bouldering, and rock climbing. The one downside is that the location is difficult to find, but overall we enjoyed ourselves, and plan to go back in the future.

Website: http://sportrock.com/

Cost: $5.00 per climb during open climb hours

Age Range: 6 and up.

Terrapin Adventures, Savage, MD

Summer is upon us, which means that it is the season for getting out into nature and having a blast.
Today we visited Terrapin Adventures, an outdoor adventure program that offers a wide variety of activities to individuals and/or groups such as ziplines, ropes course, rock climbing etc... They also offer events such as kayaking, bike riding, tubing, fishing, windsurfing, horseback riding, and sailing.We decided to tackle the Terrapin challenge which is 4 hours of ropes course fun. The ropes course is shaded by large trees, but it can still get hot, so bring lots of water.

The number one thing about this trip besides for the fun activities was how friendly and safe the staff was to the participants. They interacted well with each individual, made everyone feel safe and comfortable, and set people up to have a great time. Each activity had a number of instructors guiding people through, but they also gave people the space to explore on the different challenges without hovering.

On this ropes course, there were children as young as 7-8 years old, and people in their 50's as well. The mix of families with young kids, teens, college kids, and adults having fun made the experience even more enjoyable. Everyone helped each other out and fostered strong communication skills and team building. As a person afraid of heights, they helped me to conquer my fears. I am sure that they will do the same for others as well. This company was also very good about rain checks if it is raining/storming. In the middle of our 4 hour activity it started to pour. All we had to do is ask, and they gave us certificates to use the rest of our 2.5 hours at another time. We are definitely going back soon!

Cost: Varies depending on the activities you choose

Hours: Check Website

Website: http://www.terrapinadventures.com/

National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD

After waiting for the kids to be old enough to appreciate the Aquarium, we finally made the trek. The facilities were  clean, and the employees were friendly and knowledgeable. We waited in line for tickets for about 3-4 minutes. However, you may be standing outside for quite a while if it is crowded. They also provide the option of purchasing your tickets online with a service charge of $1.95 per ticket.

 The aquarium was broken up into three separate pavilions within the same building. Pier 3 Pavilion, which consisted of 5 levels, included Maryland: Mountains to the Sea, Surviving Through Adaptation, North Atlantic to the Pacific, Upland Tropical Rainforest, Atlantic Coral Reef, Shark Alley, and the Blacktip Reef which is set to open this summer. Our children enjoyed seeing the sharks, and having having freedom to roam in the open layout. Also remember to check online so that you can also find feeding times. The Tropical Rainforest was also a big hit as the children enjoyed seeing birds chirping and flying over their heads.

     In the Pier 4 Pavilion was a cafe, a wide array of different jellyfish that illuminated the dark room in their wing, and the dolphin show. The staff recommends arriving 20-30 minutes before the show to get a seat. This show runs roughly every 1.5 hours, and lasts for about 20 minutes. The first 4 rows were labeled “The splash zone”, and the rest was dry seating. The trainers were friendly, called up several volunteers, and the show was very child friendly. We got to see the dolphins jump, play catch, splash the front rows, and speed around the tank. The lead trainer shared that every show is different and that the tricks vary so you could go to multiple shows and see different performances in the same day.

     On the way from Pier 4 Pavilion to the Glass Pavilion are an animal planet gallery, restrooms, and the 4D Immersion Theater(an additional $5.00) as well as a Harbor overlook. Once in the Glass Pavilion, we got to experience the Animal Planet Australia exhibits.  The fish in this exhibit were very interesting, and one of the workers was even standing next to one of the tanks dangling an insect over the tank on a stick to demonstrate how one of the fish shoots water into the air to knock the bugs down into the water. The aquarium gift shop is also in this pavilion.

     Overall, we enjoyed our experience, but had a hard time spending over $100 for the 4 of us when there are so many other wonderful museums that are free or a fraction of the cost. I would recommend this place, as the customer service was great and there are wonderful exhibits, but it is usually over-crowded, and strollers are not permitted. Check the website for events and opportunities that change on a daily basis. If you live in the area and plan to go multiple times, you can buy a family membership for $159 for the year. The membership would be worth it if you were even planning on going twice per year.

Website:  www.aqua.org

Cost:

Adults: $29.95

Children 3-11: $20.95

Under 3: Free

Hours:

Mon–Thur          9 am–5 pm

Fri                         9 am–8 pm

Sat–Sun              9 am–5 pm

The Comedy Spot, Arlington, VA

The Comedy Spot in Arlington, Virginia is a great place to go for children and adults of all ages. While they are only open Thursday night-Saturday night, they tailor their impov comedy shows to a variety of different ages. Thursday nights are open mic night, which are geared towards teens and adults. In order to participate, you only need to email the comedy club. On Friday nights at 8pm and Saturday nights at 7:30pm, The Comedy Spot also hosts their comedy sportz program which has teams competing for points and laughs. This is a family friendly show and is meant to be kept clean, but may not necessarily be geared specifically towards children. However, Saturdays at 3pm, they specifically have a comedy sportz 4 kidz show which is kept strictly PG and is great for kids starting as young as first grade. Children are provided the opportunity to come up on stage and participate, and are aided by the comedy professionals that work there. On Saturday nights at 10pm, the club takes on a more adult feel as they offer the Blue Show, which offers adult humor with an R rating. Please make sure not to bring your children to this show as it is not appropriate for youths.

The shows range in price from $10-$15 and the place is well maintained (other than the restrooms which were a bit dirty). When we went to The Comedy Spot, it was on a Sunday night without kids, as they also offer private shows for work parties, birthday parties, and other occasions as well. The comedians were very funny, and did a great job of incorporating the audience into their show, calling people up or asking for audience participation for each skit that they did. While children were not around when we went, the comedians definitely seemed like they would do a fantastic job of putting on children’s birthday parties as well. If you are a fan of Whose Line is it Anyway or want to get your budding comedian a chance to participate in front of a larger audience than just family, this is a great place to go.

Wheelchair Accessible: Yes

Website:

http://www.comedyindc.com/

Location:

Ballston Common Mall  

4238 Wilson Blvd - Arlington, VA

Hours/Cost/Rating:

Friday:
                         Time/Cost/Rating

ComedySportz 8PM/$15/PG

The Blue Show 10PM/$15/R

Saturday:

ComedySportz4kidz 3PM/$10/PG

ComedySportz  7:30PM/$15/PG

The Blue Show 10pm/$15/R

That Bounce Place, Reisterstown, MD

That Bounce Place in Reisterstown, Maryland is a fun option for indoor play on both sunny and rainy days. On Tuesdays and Fridays, they have special preschool only bounce time which is a good option for younger kids, especially those who easily get intimidated by older kids. They offer a preschool section that is a little smaller and blocked off from bigger kids and they also have 2 other bounce equipment pieces with slides. There is a small slide and toy kitchen, a crayon castle bounce area and a moon bounce with 2 small slides in the preschool area. They had two other slides as well. There are also 3 obstacle courses, one multicolored one, another with an octopus on a ship, and a third with a dinosaur. These were geared more towards the older kids who seemed to be having a blast.

In terms of logistics upon arrival, they have coat hooks and lots of cubbies for your shoes. You must wear socks! I did not see a place to lock things away, so I suggest keeping valuables with you. There were a few party rooms, snacks and drinks available for purchase, and also some toys for sale as well. They also have tables and chairs right next to the bounce equipment so parents can eat while watching their kids. The day that I went, their wifi was not working, so if you need to get some work done while there, call ahead to make sure that their signal is up and running.

All in all, it was a really good time. They claim to be the largest inflatable bounce park in Maryland, so if you like moon bounces and obstacle courses, this is the place to go!

Website:

http://www.thatbounceplace.com/index.php/locations/md-reisterstown

Location:

 12400 OWINGS MILLS BOULEVARD
REISTERSTOWN, MD 21136
(410) 833-PLAY (7529)

Hours:

Sunday 10:00am to 8:00pm

Monday-Thursday: noon to 8:00pm
Friday-Saturday: 10:00am to 10:00pm
Open Tuesday and Friday at 10:00am for pre-school bounce

Open Bounce:

Monday-Friday:  Four Hours                                            $6.95
Friday (night), Saturday-Sunday, Holidays: Two Hours       $8.95

South Germantown Adventure Playground, Boyds, MD

The adventure playground in South Germantown is an amazing park located right next to the splash park, and several other amenities. The best part about this park is that the equipment is clean, sturdy, huge, and there is tons of space to run and play. The entrance is built like a castle, and kids can climb, swing, run, and jump all over this place.

Another area in the park is constructed in the shape of a ship. There is a main level and then plenty of places to run around under the main deck. The slides vary in size and speed, and kids of all ages can find something to do at this park. They also had a really cool climbing wall which was an instant hit with our kids.

The biggest downside to this park is also its largest benefit which is that it is huge. Our kids had plenty of places to go, but we also really had to follow them everywhere to make sure to keep them in our line of vision. In the summer months, this park can be very hot as it is in the open sun. However, there are several trees along the outskirts of the park that you can stand under for shade. We look forward to coming back in the fall when the weather is a little bit more cool so that we can really spend a good chunk of time here.

Accessibility: Concrete paths to get around the outside of the park, but not as wheel chair accessible as a park like Clemyjontri.

Website: http://www.montgomeryparks.org/facilities/south_germantown/#adventure_totlots

                                                      Hours: Sunrise-Sunset, year round

Age Level: 2-10



Book Recommendations before going to a playground

Please Play Safe! Penguin’s Guide to Playground Safety (Margery Cuyler)

Manners on the playground (Carrie Finn)

King of the Playground (Phyllis Reynolds Naylor)

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Cal's Live Steam, Woodlawn, MD

Cal's Live Steam is a great miniature coal train in Woodlawn that runs free and open to the public on the second Sunday of the month during the warmer months. The track runs through a large open field, and the ride is about 8 minutes long. Our kids had a great time riding around in this little train and thought that it was cool that you could sit inside the train even though it is only about 12 inches off the ground from bottom to top. Each conductor works on the trains and donates their time as a service to the community and they stay open to the public solely from donations made. They have a lot of knowledge about the hobby and are thrilled to share the information with anyone that will listen.

The ride was just long enough to keep their interest, and when we finished our trip, we were able to get back in line, wait no more than 5 minutes, and get back on again. You can go on as many times as you would like, and the trains are modeled after local area historical trains. There are also tennis courts and a nice playground on the premises as well as plenty of areas to have a picnic. Right near the tracks a random band even came and sat down to practice and a crowd gathered to listen. We had a great time and will make plans to go back out next season.

Website: http://calslivesteam.org/
Cost: Free
Dates: http://calslivesteam.org/runday.htm
Hours: 11am-3:30pm

Book Recommendations about trains
Trains (Eye Openers)-Angela Royston
The Goodnight Train-June Sobel
Steam, Smoke, and Steel-Patrick O'Brien

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LOL Station, Greenbelt, MD

The LOL station is an indoor play area that offers several different rides and games. The mall itself seemed rather run down, and inside was really dark and expensive for what it was. However, they do have  two indoor mini roller coasters which were a good start to roller coasters for our 5 year old, and they also had bumper cars, an arcade, inflatable moon bounce, inflatable slide, and a gladiator course. There was also a smaller ride for younger children in the 3-5 year old range as well. In the front of the LOL station, they also had an area that was fenced in for children in the 2-5 year old age range which provided a smaller moon bounce and a few slides.

When we first arrived, we had to walk around to find a person so that we could pay and they were understaffed to the point where we had to ask a person to come over from one ride to the next in order to go on certain rides. That being said, the people that were on duty were incredibly nice and friendly, and were willing to answer questions and accommodate us when possible by letting our younger son go on the bumper cars when nobody else was on them. Overall, this place was a bit pricey for what it was, but we had a good time.

Website: http://www.lolstations.com/indexgreenbelt.html
Cost: See website for various pricing options
Age Range: 2-10 yrs old
Location:
6042 Greenbelt Rd.
Greenbelt, MD. 20770

Hours:

Summer Hours

Tuesday - Thursday 12 noon to 6pm

Friday - Sunday 12 noon to 8 pm

Monday-CLOSED

Regular Hourse

Monday - Thursday-CLOSED

Friday 12 noon to 8 pm

Saturday 12 noon to 9 pm

Sunday 12 noon to 8 pm

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Green Meadow Farm, Ijamsville, MD

If you are looking for a fun outdoor activity for kids that adore animals, then this is the ideal place for you. Green Meadows Petting Farm is located 10 miles south of Frederick, MD and just a few minutes off of I-270. Upon arrival, we were greeted by an adorable little girl named "Cowgirl Brooke" who welcomed us to the farm and lead us to our tour guide, Kenny. Kenny then proceeded to walk us through the countless areas of animals including piglets, cows, llamas, turkeys, chickens, kangaroos, goats, sheep, and more.

The 2-hour tour included the following activities: milking a cow, watching a pig race, lovely tractor ride and hand feeding the animals. The best part of the petting farm is how interactive everything is. There was rarely a barrier between the kids and animals and the kids were always encouraged to pet the animals and meet them up close and personal. After the tour, you are welcome to stay at the farm for as long as you'd like and revisit your favorite furry friends.

I would recommend this farm to any child that is walking and has already showed an interest in animals. Please bring plenty of water and snacks as it gets very hot being outdoors for so long but you hardly notice the heat when you're having so much fun!

Website:  http://www.greenmeadowsevents.com/home.php
PLEASE CHECK THE WEBSITE TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE OPEN AS THIS IS A SEASONAL FARM

2 Locations:
Main location:
10102 Fingerboard Road
Ijamsville, MD 21754

Hours:
Wednesday - Friday: 9:30 AM
Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 AM
Closed Monday & Tuesday
The last visitor is admitted to the farm at 2:00 PM

but please stay as long as you like!

 Meadows Farm
8018 Max Blob Park Road
Jessup, MD 20794


Monday - Friday: 9:30 AM
Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 AM
(Weekends are better for family visits due to the volume of field trips during the week)
The last visitor is admitted to the farm at 2:00 PM

but please stay as long as you like!

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Rollingcrest-Chillum Splash Pool, Hyattsville, MD

What a great indoor splash playground!!!! Rollingcrest-Chillum is only 15 minutes from the Silver Spring area and provided a fun adventure for my five year old. While this isn't the newest looking place, the complex is great for kids ages 5-12 but can be enjoyed by kids a few years younger and a few years older.  This venue is mostly wheelchair accessible as well.

A large portion of the playground is in 6-8 inches of water which allows kids that are new to water to walk around comfortably and splash around. Additionally, for a child who is 2-5 years old, they can go down the slides into very shallow water (again, 6-8 inches) without having to know how to swim (with supervision, of course). There were 5 slides that were geared toward children who can't quite swim yet. Then there was another part that had 6 inches of water with a mushroom, spraying water down gently for kids that weren't quite ready for the slides.

When you walk to the other side of the facility, there was a bigger water slide that went from the upstairs of the building to the outside, and then back in on the lower level of the building. The water on that side is much deeper and is meant for older children that can swim well. There were plenty of staff members standing at each slide and I felt that my child was being supervised properly as he went on each slide.

When you finish with water play, there is also an outdoor playground on the premises which allows for the kids to dry off before the ride home. This facility also offers swim classes, water aerobics, and fully equipped locker rooms with lockers for $0.50 (note that they do not have money to make change, so bring a few quarters). We look forward to coming back on both sunny and rainy days in the future!!!

Website:  http://www.pgparks.com/Things_To_Do/Sports/Aquatics/Rollingcrest-Chillum_Splash_Pool.htm

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Address:
6122 Sargent Road
Chillum, MD 20782

Phone: 301-853-9115

Cost:
$5.00 for non-PG county adult residents
$4.00 for non-PG county child residents
Hours

	OPERATING HOURS  (the hours the facility is open for structured programs, patron inquiries, registrations, etc.)	GENERAL SWIM (the hours the facility is open for public swimming)
Monday	6:30 am - 8:30 pm	12 noon - 4:45 pm
Tuesday	6:30 am - 8:30 pm	12 noon - 4:45 pm
Wednesday	6:30 am - 8:30 pm	12 noon - 4:45 pm
Thursday	6:30 am - 8:30 pm	12 noon - 4:45 pm
Friday	6:30 am - 9:00 pm	12 noon - 8:45 pm
Saturday	9:00 am - 6:00 pm	12 noon - 5:45 pm
Sunday	12 noon - 6:00 pm	12 noon - 5:45 pm

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