Friday, July 26, 2019
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:
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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Sunday, September 9, 2018
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
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.
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
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
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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Thursday, August 2, 2018
Walker Mill Regional Park-Woodland Wonderland Playground, District Heights MD
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/
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.
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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Monday, July 30, 2018
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.
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/
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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
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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/
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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.
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Sunday, July 22, 2018
Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, Washington, DC
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
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Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum, St. Leonard, MD
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.
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
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Friday, March 23, 2018
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/
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Sunday, August 20, 2017
Urban Evolution, Alexandria, Va
Perhaps you’ve heard the word “Parkour” shouted before
seeing someone attempt something daring outside. The odds are that you had no
idea what they were talking about. Well let me tell you, today we had a great
experience at a Parkour training gym called Urban Evolution which gave us a
true understanding of parkour. With two Virginia locations, Urban Evolution
helps train people in how to move from place to place within their environment
in a safe and exciting manner.
Upon entering the gym, my kids were first greeted by an
incredibly friendly staff member who helped us to sign our waivers. Once
completed, we got to go into the gym which brought immediate reactions of “Dad,
this place is awesome!” With walls covered with graffiti, cars to climb over
and through, warped walls, poles to swing from, and wooden boxes to jump from (and
over), this gym was the “it” place to be for my children. When speaking to the
owner, he shared that they have worked with kids as young as 4 and people into
their 80’s.
Once we started, it was immediately evident that our
instructor was patient and that he put safety above everything else. He also
helped my kids to understand that although it looks fun to do, speed takes a
backseat to concentration and consistency. It was great to see my kids learning
the proper ways to leap up, down, and over different obstacles. We also learned
how difficult it was to balance and walk across metal pipes.
Urban Evolution is open for classes, private lessons, and
camps. They offer class choices such as Parkour, Aerial Silks, Breakdancing,
and UrbanFit. This is definitely not your run of the mill place. You will get a
workout, and be more aware of how to interact with your surroundings. While it is fun to play at a playground, why
not make the world your playground after getting lessons from Urban Evolution?
Website: https://urbanevo.com/
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