Summer is often synonymous with vacation, but sometimes, with kids, work, and other responsibilities, we don’t get the time away we might wish. Thankfully, the Baltimore area is a prime location for some great day trips for the whole family. So, whether your family is the outdoorsy type or prefers a great museum tour or just wants a change of scenery, these short jaunts will be fun mini-vacations that both relax and engage.
Outdoor Adventure
With the sunny weather of summer, it’s the best time of year to be outside—just remember the sunscreen! These outdoor spaces have it all: hiking, biking, paddle-boating, picnic spaces and grilling. We’re a tech-happy group these days, so it’s even more important to take some outside time every once in a while.
Gwynn Falls Trail
A perfect hiking starter trail for those who aren’t very experienced, or prefer a nice stroll over more physically-taxing hiking. It’s also great for biking. With 15 miles of trail, pack up a nice picnic and start your tour of Baltimore, passing through neighborhoods like Edmondson Village, Pigtown, Federal Hill and Otterbein. You won’t have to leave the family dog behind either, since the trail allows pets on leashes.
And if you want to learn more about the nature all around you, the Carrie Murray Nature Center hosts many weekend events and is open during the week, every Saturday and occasional Sundays. More points of interest along the trail include the B&O Railroad Museum, the Baltimore Rowing Club, Federal Hill Park, Camden Yards and the Inner Harbor.
Cost: free
Activities: hiking, biking, picnicking
Travel Time (from Baltimore City center): 15 minutes
Lake Roland park
If your family prefers its outdoors time to be near water, Lake Roland will be more your speed. There are foot-only trails, as well as multi-use trails that allow for bicycles. There’s even a designated pet area for those who don’t want to leave Spot behind.
The park also has Acorn Hill, a special natural play area where kids can explore “Mine Town,” “Hollins Station” and “Critter Trail.” Meant to reflect the factories, railroad and mines of the area’s history, Acorn Hill will allow children to learn while having fun in the outdoors. And we all know kids will always find ways to entertain themselves.
Cost: free
Activities: hiking, biking, picnicking, nature programming
Travel Time: 20 minutes
Patapsco valley state park
The Patapsco Valley State Park stretches along more than 30 miles of the Patapsco River, with eight different recreational areas. With more than 170 miles of trails, there are options for all skill levels. For some extra beautiful scenery, check out the Cascade Falls in the Orange Grove area of the park.
Maryland’s first state park, Patapsco Valley is a perfect day trip, or even weekend getaway if you’re game for camping. Throughout the park, there are opportunities for hiking, biking, canoeing, fishing, horseback riding and mountain biking. There’s even a disc golf course in the McKeldin area for a little family competition into the mix.
Cost: free, although camping or certain activities may have a fee
Activities: hiking, biking, canoeing, fishing, picnicking, horseback riding, disc golf, mountain biking, kayaking, swimming, playgrounds
Travel Time: 30 minutes
Centennial park
Howard County’s Centennial Park is built around Lake Centennial, a man-made reservoir. It’s perfect for a nice, leisurely walk—the trail around the lake is 2.4 miles—or an afternoon of paddle-boating and fishing. Conveniently, boat rentals are available every day, offering paddle boats, canoes, kayaks and row boats.
The lake is also home to a number of wildlife, especially birds, making it ideal for any up-and-coming bird watching enthusiasts—great blue herons, white cattle egrets, swallows, turkey vultures and hawks, among others. There’s even an in-process beaver lodge marked off by buoys and turtles are known to sun themselves on the logs and rocks.
Cost: free, with fees for boat rentals and fishing permits
Activities: walking, picnicking, playgrounds, boating, fishing, tennis and basketball courts
Travel Time: 30 minutes
City (e)scape
They say a change is as good as a rest. Sometimes, all you need is that change of scenery. Going to a new city brings all sorts of new experiences in food, culture and activities. These cities may not be far away, but offer plenty of new things to do and see.
Frederick, Maryland
You’ve almost certainly heard of Frederick before, perhaps even been there. Downtown Frederick is one of the big draws, a charming and historic area of shops and restaurants. While there, be sure to catch the Frederick skyline of its historic downtown churches. And the Community Bridge Mural is a noted community landmark.
If you’re up for exploring beyond the city, the county offers lots of history, especially related to the Civil War. Located on the Mason-Dixon line, Frederick County was home to a few battles and its towns were occupied by both sides. Leave behind the kids for while in the evening and check out the impressive number of wineries and breweries.
Cost: depends on how many souvenirs you need
Activities: shopping, dining, history tours, memorials, festivals
Travel Time: 50 minutes
Annapolis, Maryland
Ah, the capital city. Annapolis might be smaller than Baltimore, but it boasts not only the state capital, but its own share of fascinating history and a storybook feel. One of the main attractions, of course, is the Maryland State House, the oldest one in continued use and our country’s first capital. It’s also open a convenient seven days a week. In a similar historical vein, the U.S. Naval Academy offers tours, as well as a museum that tracks U.S. Naval history to present day.
Right on the waterfront, Annapolis also offers its share of water activities. Additionally, the downtown harbor area includes quaint shops and restaurants. The Annapolis Ice Cream Company is a city favorite, and sure to be a kids’ favorite as well. The city hosts many festivals throughout the summer, so check out the schedule and time it for maximum culture and fun!
Cost: depends on how much your kids like ice cream
Activities: shopping, dining, history tours, festivals, boating
Travel Time: 40 minutes
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Most famous, of course, for its role in the Civil War, Gettysburg is a great day trip for the history buffs among us. The Gettysburg National Military Park includes the battlefield, cemetery and museum. If you’re extra passionate, the Annual Gettysburg Civil War Reenactment will be happening July 1-3. It’s sure to be an event of the people, for the people and by the people. (Couldn’t resist.)
Gettysburg offers more than just Civil War history, however. There are paranormal tours to be taken, horses to be ridden, mini golf courses to be played and shops to be visited. To make your trip even more charming, stay in one of the many local bed and breakfasts.
Cost: depends on your Union vs. Confederate allegiance
Activities: history tours, historical reenactments, shopping, dining, golfing, horseback riding
Travel Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Chesapeake City, Maryland
Chesapeake City offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. An essential Eastern Shore town, Chesapeake City is low-key, with a quaint downtown and a waterfront to the busiest canal in the U.S. (the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal). The canal is a huge part of the city, it even has its own museum.
Take a canal cruise and watch the sunset, or rent your own boat for fun in the sun (and water). Or, if you’d rather stay on land and are up for a bit of a climb, the Turkey Point Lighthouse offers a fabulous view of the Chesapeake Bay. If all else fails, the nearby Painted Sky Alpaca Farm is sure to entertain and delight—most kids won’t say no to hanging out with real live alpacas.
Cost: depends on how many alpaca fur socks you buy
Activities: boating, canal cruise, lighthouse tour, alpaca farm, shopping, dining
Travel Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Rainy Day
Baltimore certainly isn’t immune to rainy weather, but a rainy day doesn’t have to mean a day cooped up in the house. These three facilities are great learning opportunities that also happen to be a lot of fun. You may even decide to visit when it’s not raining!
Air and space museum, udvar-hazy Center
The Air and Space Museum on the National Mall is already a kid favorite (and many adults’ favorite too). But this companion location, opened in 2003, is lesser-known and absolutely worth the trip. With various exhibitions on subjects like World War II aviation and human space flight, an IMAX theater, science demonstrations (including testing your paper airplane design) and an observation tower to watch planes take off and land at Dulles International Airport, you won’t know where the day went.
Objects on display include the space shuttle Discovery, the plane that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima, a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft, a piece of the Hindenburg and various experimental aircraft, among many more. As an added bonus, check out the restoration hangar where you can watch preservation projects in progress.
Cost: free
Activities: tour, science demonstrations,
hands-on exhibitions
Travel Time: 1 hour
Utz potato chip factory
Potato chips are a popular snack food, but do you have any idea how they’re made? Luckily, it’s not hard to find out. The Utz Factory, located in Hanover, Penn., offers free tours of its facility, where you will learn the history of the company and the process, start to finish, of making a bag of potato chips.
The factory has set up a glass enclosed observation area with push-to-talk audio and
TV monitors in addition to being able to watch the floor of the factory itself. Tours are only offered Monday through Thursday, but the likelihood of some free potato chips is pretty high, which seems like a worthwhile tradeoff. And if you want to continue the factory theme once you’re done, York, Penn.—which calls itself the factory tour capital of the world—is just a half hour away.
Cost: free
Activities: tour, potato chip eating
Travel Time: 1 hour
U.S. bureau of engraving and printing
With the recent announcement of Harriet Tubman taking over the front of the $20 bill, a tour of the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing feels more relevant than ever. The facility in Washington, D.C. is one of only two that prints currency in the U.S.—the other is in Dallas.
The tour walks you through all the phases of currency production and is available for free Monday through Friday. You’ll see millions of dollars being printed right before your eyes. And, never fear, you can use your money to buy money-related products in the visitor center store. The best part is that, when you’re done, you’re right by the National Mall, which guarantees a full day of D.C. sightseeing.
Cost: free, but a ticket is required
Activities: tour, post-tour D.C. sightseeing
Travel Time: 50 minutes by car,
1 hour by MARC train
