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Best Day Trips For Families

March 18, 2011 8:37 AM

(credit: http://www.collegeparkaviationmuseum.com)

If you want to take your kids someplace that’s both educational and fun, you’re in luck! Here are five places in and near Maryland that will entertain and teach your kids something new.

(credit: http://www.annapolis.gov)

Annapolis

www.annapolis.gov/Home.aspx

There are many fun things to do in Annapolis. There are tours, museums and theaters. There’s even a museum especially for children, where children can learn about the Chesapeake Bay in a fun environment. While there, check out the maritime museum. There are cruises you can take, as well.

(credit: Andy Kropa/Getty Images)

Apple Orchards

www.chesapeakefamily.com

What could be more fun than picking apples on a nice fall day? (Besides enjoying the treats made with those apples, of course.) There are various apple orchards throughout the state; this website has a link to addresses and phone numbers so you can find the one nearest you.

(credit: collegeparkaviationmuseum.com)

College Park Aviation Museum

1985 Corporal Frank Scott Drive
College Park, MD
(301) 864-6029
www.collegeparkaviationmuseum.com

If your kids are fascinated by airplanes, this is the place to take them. It’s near the College Park Airport and its 27,000 square feet are devoted to the history of aviation. There are family-friendly activities and multiple exhibits.

www gettysburg com Best Day Trips For Families

(credit: http://www.gettysburg.com)

Gettysburg, Pa.

www.gettysburg.com

Gettysburg is about 90 minutes away from Baltimore. When you’re there, you can check out Civil War sites, take tours and even see places that are reportedly haunted. There are also restaurants and shops in the area.

(credit: http://www.cityoflancasterpa.com)

Lancaster, Pa.

www.cityoflancasterpa.com

Lancaster is 90 minutes away from Baltimore. There are a variety of things to do with children. There’s a puppet theater, two markets and two museums (one focusing on science and the other on science and history). There is a large Amish population in Lancaster, as well.

Grandma

If you’re counting a 90 minute trip (3 hours total) as a “day trip”, you have obviously never ridden in a car with small children!

Anf

90 minute 1-way no problem. Kids asleep all the home even better,probably Grandma too. I think Grandma has problem with 90 minutes each way. Put your depends on and happy motoring.
cat

Are you kidding! My dad would take us to Washington a couple times during the summer to the National Zoo. We would also go to Harpers Ferry,W.Va for picnics and apple picking in the Fall . And a trip to Phillie was the highlite at the end of the season,Apples,apple cider ,homemade jellies etc.etc.. Evidently you can’t entertain the grandkids till your destination. Get some vallium and you’ll be fine.
Barbara Morgan Homberg

I’ve taken 2 4 to 5 yr olds to Ocean City back when my Daughter was a small child. (She’s 25 now.) And I have even done it with my 3 yr old and a 1 yr old grandsons, last summer…AND I’m disabled, (below the knee amputee). So a 90 minute trip is nothing IF you prepare for it. Take some quite toys, a DVD player and a kids show/movie for them to watch. Also, I took a break every hour to let the kids get out and walk around, and at least one stop at a McDonald’s with a kid area.

Jeanne

Seriously.
Kimberly Blackwell

GRANDMA…………….LOL U CAN STILL TAKE KIDS ON ROAD TRIPS BUT WEN THEY START GETTING BORED AND RESTLESS U NEED TO MAKE UP SOME PRETTY AMUSING GAMES …..SUCH AS……….THE ALPPHABET GAMEWARE U GONNA FINF EVERYLETTER ON THE ALPHABET ON TAG PLATES,SIGNS ,SIDE OF RD ETC..AND LEARN HOW TO SAY WERE ALMOST THERE ABOUT 1800 TIMES.LOL…BUT I DEFINITLY SEE WAT UR SAYING!!!
ione

http://ioneday.blogspot.com/ amz
Joanna

If the price of gasoline keeps rising, you won’t be able to take ANY day trips anymore. So a trip to Walmart or the flea market may be all you can afford!
Therese Erigo

Cherry Crest Farm and the Strasburg Railroad and museum add up to a fun-filled day for families. They are near Lancaster. You can go for the day or couple it with a weekend trip to Hershey Park/Pa. Renaissance Fair or Amish Country. If you children like physical activity, this is the place to go. The train ride between the museum and farm is just long enough to be a good time but not boring.

Just Jim

Excellent comment and ideas Therese. We need a lot more “can do” like that and a bit less “can’t do” in this country and perhaps it would be a better place to begin with. How lucky your children must be.

Mom of 2

Go to Walmart pick up a cheap sprinkler, drive back home hook it up and let the kids play in the yard. That’s the cheapest way. But at least ONCE a summer kids should get “away” from what they normally know. Broadens their horizons. Kids are only kids once, make their childhood memorable!
Summers

DCK…How rude, you need an etiquette lesson!
A family who loves PA

My family loves goning up to PA. One day we hope to leave this god forsaken state and move there. The people are nicer and you don’t have to worry about your safety when you go out.

Barbara Morgan Homberg

I agree! My Dad was from PA. All around Lancaster, Hanover, York. We used to go up and visit a relative every Sunday; for as long as I can remember, and that was BEFORE DVD’S! I love it up there and I’d love to move there one day.

wildflower

The happiest and most vivid memories I have kept from childhood seem to all have my grandmother in them. She ‘kept’ me for the summers – and going anywhere had potential. – so, to Grandma – how lucky you are! That each day you have the opportunity to create something that lasts – memories! The kids are only little once – and while your still seen as having ALL of life’s answers – QUICK! Fill their little hands and heads with something creative or educational to while away the miles! There is no such thing as wasted time…
Trish

Someplace I didn’t see mentioned was Frederick County, especially the Catoctin Mountains. There’s an orchard where you can pick your own stuff, and some beautiful park areas you can swim, hike and see some covered bridges. There are also several museums (Civil War Medicine, Train and a Fire Museum) for the kids. You also have to go to the Cozy Inn Restaurant for some great food (some past presidents actually ate there!) and a small “museum” with pictures and stuff from Camp David.

Sharon Fitzpatrick

Sharon

Frederick County is a nice place to visit. You can also go to the Grotto at St. Mary’s University. It is very beautiful and quite a lot to see and then go to the Catoctin Mountains and relax at the Cozy Inn Restaurant. They have a great assortment of food for everyone.
Resident who loves PA

There is also the catoctin zoo right off 15.

Nick

Sounds like the problem is your kids not kids in general. I’ve taken my children on much longer trips than that with no issues. Don’t use your children as the litmus strip for others. Try talking to them and actually listening. You’d be surprised how quickly the time goes by.
Julia

That was an ignorant statement.
smmrrffy

your right julia ,
for most people a day trip is to go to walmart or the flea market.
Luv2BBQ

DCK, you’re a fine one to talk. Did you ever learn grammar or puntuation in school? Sheesh!
Luv2BBQ

And the “puntuation” word was for you. :>)