Category: DC-Maryland-Virginia

Maryland Ice Cream Trail Adventure

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Have you heard of the Maryland Ice Cream Trail? It’s a real thing and there are prizes too! This was a highlight of Summer 2024 for us as my daughter (5 years old at the time) and I traveled to each of the cow to cone places, supporting small businesses while enjoying some of the most delicious ice cream. It was such a great motivation to explore new areas and took us from western Maryland to north of Baltimore to the Eastern Shore. Review the official site for the current dates, check out the interactive map and make sure to photograph your visit to each one and consider sharing on social media for prizes. In 2024, we won a cute ice cream squishy in one of the weekly social media contests! Check out my Instagram highlight.

Broom’s Bloom Dairy, Bel Air (Saturday, 7/20/2024)

  • We visited this one and Prigel Family Creamery on the same day. Our adventure included White Marsh Mall, the Bel Air Library (a Harford County library, see my pics of this amazing location) and Annie’s Playground (double check if this has reopened if you plan to go).
  • You could also consider pairing this with Havre de Grace which is an adorable city to explore with another incredible library, a great coffee shop, unique shops and street art. Plus don’t miss Millard Tydings Memorial Park and the boardwalk path to see the lighthouse. Check out my IG highlight.
  • We loved the colorful spoons here and the wall paintings inside. Lots of outdoor seating too.
Outside at Broom’s Bloom Dairy | TeamTravelsBaby

Chesapeake Bay Farms, Berlin (Wednesday, 6/19/2024, Juneteenth)

  • We paired this with historic Berlin and Ocean City! Ice cream post on IG here.
  • Check out my comprehensive Maryland’s Eastern Shore post with tons of ideas by city called, Explore the Eastern Shore.
Chesapeake Bay Farms | TeamTravelsBaby

Deliteful Dairy, Williamsport (Saturday, 8/31/2024, Labor Day weekend)

  • We visited this one and Moo Cow Creamery on the same day. While we visited as part of a long weekend trip, this could easily be a day trip. Surreybrooke is a whimsical garden store that my daughter and I wandered around. Bring a dollar or two for a snack.
  • You could also consider pairing this with a beach day at Greenbriar State Park (just remember to reserve and pay for your ticket beginning in 2025) or a relaxing day exploring the small town of Middletown (the library is beautiful here).
  • This was our last stop on the trail and it was my least favorite because it’s soft serve (I’m just not a soft serve ice cream person), but my daughter loved it! We loved going outside to see the highland cow, donkeys, horses and cows.
Inside Deliteful Dairy | TeamTravelsBaby
Animals at Deliteful Dairy | TeamTravelsBaby

Happy Cow at Grand View Acre Farms, Union Bridge (Sunday, 7/28/2024)

  • We visited this one and Woodburne Creamery on the same day. We started our day with strolling Carroll Creek and the downtown Frederick’s C. Burr Artz public library (which has a huge kids room with toys, games and usually a scavenger hunt) followed by the Fountain Rock Park and Nature Center which is free to explore. You can see real animals, walk the trails and also enjoy the shaded playground.
  • Of course, if you haven’t been, you must check out the Big Wooden Slide at Mt. Tabor Park. Check out my IG reel! This was super fun and free!
  • This was one of my favorites and I recommend picking a nice day to visit. We opted for a milkshake here. There are lawn games, a small playground, sand to play in and animals to see (if they decide to come within view). The goats came right up to the fence for us.
Game at Happpy Cow | TeamTravelsBaby
Playground at Happy Cow | TeamTravelsBaby

Keyes Creamery, Churchville (Tuesday, 7/16/2024)

  • After a fun overnight trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania and the Cartoon Network hotel, we stopped here to break up our drive home, northeast of Baltimore. We then continued our drive and popped off the highway into the Storyville at the Rosedale Library in Baltimore which is free and similar to the Woodlawn Library location.
  • This location had shaded benches under a pavilion and we enjoyed a flight (4 flavors) here.
Flight at Keye’s Creamery | TeamTravelsBaby

Lockbriar Farms, Chestertown (Saturday, 8/24/2024)

  • If you don’t mind crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge (make sure to have an EZ pass), this is a great day trip. Many Eastern Shore libraries are closed on Sundays, we opted to do this trip on a Saturday so we could check out the Queen Anne’s County Library which was a great stop.
  • After the farm, we went to downtown Chestertown which happened to have a back-to-school free fair. Addy had the best time collecting things and everyone was so kind. Then we headed to Wilmer Park for the playground and a walk by the water. If we had known, I may have visited downtown earlier in the day to visit KidSPOT Children’s Creativity Center while it was opened since my daughter loves art.
  • This was one of our favorites! The fruit flavored ice creams are super flavorful and the sweetest cat hung out with us while we ate. One of the owners was so kind to walk us around with the dog, and take us inside the chicken coop where Addy got to hold an egg. The u-pick garden here is stunning.

Misty Meadows Farm Creamery, Smithburg (Sunday, 7/21/2024)

  • We visited this one and Rocky Point Creamery on the same day. We ate our ice cream on the shaded porch.
  • We wanted to check out the Discovery Station (kids museum) in Hagerstown and it’s free the third Sunday of each month. My daughter’s favorite is the top level with the art supplies and painting on an easel. We also enjoyed walking to the downtown library which has a cute kids section and finding the large painted butterflies around town. IG highlight here.
  • This one is super family friendly with a butterfly maze, sunflowers (we went past peak and they were 25 cents per stem), large tires to climb, little ride on vehicles and a playground. Inside we got a few free bits of broken up waffle cone to feed the goats and visited the cow and donkey too. I would love to return to this one.

Moo Cow Creamery at Walnut Ridge Farm (bonus location), Middletown (Saturday, 8/31/2024)

  • We started our day here for a long weekend adventure that would ultimately include: Surreybrooke, the C&O Canal in Williamsport (to earn a Junior Ranger badge), Deliteful Dairy (another stop on the ice cream trail), Winchester (VA), Berkley Springs (WV), Cumberland (MD), Frostburg (MD) and the Paw Paw Tunnel.
  • We loved the street art here and seeing the sweet kitties and golden retriever. This location does not scoop ice cream so we bought a 1/2 pint to share and a chocolate milk.
Moo Cow Creamery | TeamTravelsBaby

Prigel Family Creamery, Glen Arm (Saturday, 7/20/2024)

  • We visited this one and Broom’s Bloom Dairy on the same day. This could also be paired with a day in the Baltimore area. I have a whole highlight of ideas here.
  • Don’t miss a picture with the colorful cow outside. This location offers workshops and a kids’ Wonderfarm Club. If these may interest you, check out the dates and information online to sign-up and plan accordingly for your visit.
Prigel Family Creamery | TeamTravelsBaby

Rocky Point Creamery, Tuscarora (Sunday, 7/21/2024)

  • We visited this one and Misty Meadows Farm Creamery on the same day. In between the two ice cream stops, we popped into the Francis Scott Key Mall which has a Barnes & Noble to turn in Addy’s summer reading paper and get a free book.
  • This location was quite busy which was fun to see! We got our picture on the cow bench and then stopped at Rio Washingtonian on the way home.

South Mountain Creamery, Middletown (Saturday, 6/29/2024)

  • In my personal opinion, make sure to check out the creamery location instead of the storefront location. On the way here, we visited Pinecliff Park which is pretty large and also has a built in scavenger hunt. We then visited the Middletown Library – don’t miss the beautiful porches. Of course if you’ve never been to Sophie and Madigan’s Playground, this would be my top choice for the area playgrounds. I have more ideas in my Frederick highlight.
  • We understand why this place gets rave reviews. You can walk through and visit the baby cows, take a picture on a tractor and play at the playground with lots of toys. There’s a shaded pavilion right by the playground too plus various photo opportunities. We loved this one!

Woodbourne Creamery, Mt. Airy (Sunday, 7/28/2024)

  • We visited this one and Happy Cow on the same day. We sat behind the building in the shade under the tree. There were also beautiful flowers blooming here and a playground (that’s full sun).
  • On our drive home, we went to Damascus Recreational Park which had an incredible playground structure and bathrooms. If you’d rather explore closer to the ice cream stop, check out the small town of New Market to get coffee at 5 West Cafe and then play some games at nearby Adventure Park USA (keep an eye on Groupon – we got $100 credit for $48). This was perfect for the indoor ropes course and zipline, laser tag, some video games, bowling, etc.
Woodbourne Creamery | TeamTravelsBaby
Playground at Woodbourne Creamery | TeamTravelsBaby

A couple of general suggestions:

  • Follow each farm on social media as you may find another event to pair your trip with or decide to try their U-pick (flowers, fruit, etc.), they may offer a special or they may change their hours. (I have found that Google doesn’t always get it right, particularly with places that have seasonal hours. Hyperlinks above lead to their official websites.)
  • Many were closed on Sundays or things in the immediate area were, so again, make sure to plan accordingly so you’re not disappointed.
  • Document what you try so you can rank them at the end. I wish I had done a better job of this.
  • Some places will split a single, which means you can get a “single scoop” but try two flavors. On days when we tried multiple ice cream places, or when we couldn’t pick a favorite, we loved that we could do this. Make sure to ask. It’s also fun to try the different flavored milks and be prepared that each location may not offer samples.
  • Bring cash just in case. I believe I was able to pay with my credit card everywhere, but since these are small businesses and may have a minimum purchase amount or a credit card fee, it’s always a great practice to have some cash as an option.
  • If you enjoy hiking, check out the official site with the nearby trail for each stop.
  • Add a local library to each stop. If you’re a Maryland resident, you can get each Maryland county’s library card. This is great for access to online resources. I particularly love it because it allows me to add more cards to my Libby app so I rarely have to wait for a title. And at the same time, sign-up for Summer Reading! Even if you don’t think you’ll return to the county to finish, many library systems give you a prize just for signing up.
  • Have fun!!

New in 2025:

There is a Let’s Rallie app this year and also some new places on the trail to include Brown Cow Creamery in Mt. Airy, Glamourview Creamery in Walkersville, and Miller Farms in Clinton. We have been to the last one and plan to try these other too when we make our way to the Frederick area. When we visited Miller Farms, we combined it with Oxon Cove Park and Oxon Cove Farm, which is free and a place to earn a Junior Ranger Badge and ice skating at Tucker Road Ice Rink. We are excited to explore some parts of the Lancaster Ice Cream trail this summer. There’s a lot more than just Turkey Hill in this area.

Miller Farms in Clinton | TeamTravelsBaby

About the Author

Lydia Garry and her family, TeamTravelsBaby, live in Silver Spring, Maryland, and are working to achieve “vagabond status”. Much of their affordable family travel experiences include U.S. travel, national parks and Europe. Adventure with them here, subscribe to their free newsletter and follow along on Instagram!

Musings from a former Kindergarten mom

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First day of school

As we wrap up my daughter’s Kindergarten school year, I am blown away by how quickly her first year in public school went. I love her small neighborhood Montgomery County, Maryland public school. She has a small class (about 15-16 students), a teacher with 30 years of experience and a diverse class of students that became friends over the course of the year. I love that we could walk her to and from school each day and that her school offered specials for art, music, library and gym. I have so many thoughts I want to share as other parents turn to this milestone with rising Kindergarteners. So here are my musings, in no particular order.

First day of Kindergarten | TeamTravelsBaby
The last month of school | TeamTravelsBaby

  1. Enjoy the summer before Kindergarten. Whether you are a stay at home parent or work in or out of the home, take some days if you can to go on weekday adventures. Check out a new playground, take a day trip, get ice cream, throw rocks in the creek, venture to a beach, do something new to you. My daughter did not know how to read before K (she knew all of her capital letter names) and learned during the course of the school year. Focus on the fun because the academics will come. Once my daughter mastered the letter sounds in K and she was sounding out words, we introduced BOB books at home to practice.
  2. Visit the school in the summer. We played at the school playground, which was open to the public, including a playdate coordinated by the PTA right before school started. We learned about it through a local Facebook group and at the playdate we were able to provide our contact info to get on the PTA listserv. We also went for the free summer lunch in the cafeteria a few times. The summer lunch program is meant to close the nutrition gap to ensure kids have access to food. She had to eat it there, in the cafeteria, and I was shocked we were the only ones there on the three days we went. This gave her a chance to enter the school with me, go through the cafeteria line and meet the lunch lady, and we also got to meet some of the administrative staff working during the summer. If you are in Montgomery County, Maryland, use this site to see if your school offers free summer lunch.
  3. Supplies. I’m sure this varies by school, but there really wasn’t a supply list like I remember from childhood. Some recommendations included a labeled reusable water bottle and headphones (like the old school kind that go over your head and connect to a jack). We were also asked for donations during the year for Chlorox wipes and tissue boxes, so if you see a good deal, stock up if this is something you’d like to contribute. Of course if your child plans to bring lunch, a lunch box with items they can open themselves is recommended. My daughter also brought a backpack. Check out the local thrifts for these and save some money!
  4. Doctor appointments. If you already have your child’s doctor or dentist appointment in the summer scheduled (or even if it’s scheduled in the Fall), make sure you know what health forms need to be completed by the physicians. It can save you time (and possibly money) to bring them with you during already scheduled appointment times. One less thing on a separate to do list too!
  5. Preview night. If the school offers a preview night, usually the night or so before school starts, it’s a great way to meet the teacher (ask if you can snap a pic), see the classroom and locate your child’s cubby and seat. It’s also a great time to ask questions like confirming drop off and pick up times, where to pick up, how the teacher likes to be contacted, etc. I also exchanged numbers with a few parents that night, which came in handy (take notes on their contact card so you can remember child/parent(s)/sibling(s)! Also, if there’s a class roster, snap a picture. It can be helpful for asking your child about friends they are making in the class if you know their names (and we used later in the year to jumpstart Valentine’s before the list came home). One thing I loved about Addy’s K teacher is that every week the kids rotated classroom “jobs” like the weather announcer, line leader, table cleaner, person to help pass out papers, etc.
  6. After school activities. Here is your permission that it is okay to not pay for dance or music or karate or whatever. If you want to and your child is interested, go for it. But it’s also okay to pick up your child and hang out at the park after school or enjoy the free events at the local libraries. Staying after school to play turned out to be a great way to meet other parents and kids. Don’t forget to exchange contact info if you hit it off! And if it becomes a regular thing, consider swapping days on who brings after school snacks.
  7. Bring the snacks. Yes, your child will be tired and hungry after school, especially during the transition. Since we often played at the playground after school, I would bring something for my daughter to eat. On days we would go home after dismissal at 3:50 pm, I would often feed her dinner and then have a snack later in the evening because she would be the definition of hangry. It’s okay to do what works for your fam.
  8. Kids Night Out. While my daughter does not attend the after care at her school (Kids After Hours or KAH), we learned partway through the school year, that we could have her attend the 3 hour Friday night monthly session for $25. It was a great time for her to eat pizza, get her face painted, play in the bounce house, use glow sticks for the dance party and see friends from school. It was great for my husband and I to have a night out to go for an extra long walk or catch a movie. I just created an online account for KAH, filled out emergency contact and paid by session she attended. If you’re in MoCo, here’s the link.
  9. Volunteer for the field trip. If your schedule allows, volunteer for the field trip. We had one field trip in the Fall to Clark Elioak’s which included pumpkin picking. While riding the school bus made me feel a little sick (seriously so bouncy), it was a great way to put names and faces together of the children I heard my daughter talk about regularly, see the teacher in action and get to know her and the kids as well.
  10. Get a basket. Oh my gosh. There is seriously way too much paper that comes home each week. Having a basket allowed me to go through the paper piles and keep nice pieces of art (so my daughter always thought I was saving everything) in the basket and recycle the rest. Seriously, no guilt! And if you think of it, add at least the month and year on the artwork!
  11. Communication channels. This is something I’m still working on because I often run out of space on my phone. You’ll want to have the Remind app and connect to the school and teachers. We also got an email with a weekly newsletter, then there was a separate Google Drive K newsletter. Another system was ParentVue, which is where I took the online training to volunteer for the field trip and could see her report cards. the broader MoCo Public Schools also sent a weekly Thursday text with a link and an email. It can be a lot, so stay connected with other parents so you can compare notes – this was so helpful for me.
  12. Spirit Week and special days. There will be opportunities to buy school gear (e.g., t-shirt, sweatshirt, etc.) during the year. If you think your child would want to participate in school spirit day, considering buying one from the PTA table or ordering at various points in the year. Our school had Spirit week at two different points in the year and various pajama days. For special dress days, I asked her if she wanted to participate and then prepared accordingly. Things like crazy hair day and tie dye day were ones she enjoyed.
  13. Yearbooks and class pictures. We opted not to get a yearbook. Instead, I’m in the process of making a Shutterfly book for my daughter that’s not solely focused on school but rather all of the adventures from her Kindergarten year. As for a class picture, I loved the class picture and it was about $12 to order a 5×7 near the end of the school year.
  14. School calendar. Mark all of the early release days and school closure dates on your calendar for the year. This was helpful for planning leave away from my job so I could enjoy random weekdays off with my daughter to go to DC or do something we couldn’t normally do because of the school schedule. As federal employees, there were two federal holidays that MCPS had school (Indigenous Persons Day and Veterans’ Day) which made for great date days for my husband and I. If you plan to have a DC adventure day, plan early so you can reserve tickets.
  15. Miss the day of school. If you have an opportunity to take your child with you on an adventure and it means they miss a day or two or three of school – DO IT! Particularly in Kindergarten, I have zero regrets for the days my daughter missed school to do something fun, go on a trip or see family and friends. As far as I know, there’s no award for attendance, and even if there was, who cares! You only get one life – enjoy it! Just make sure to email your child’s teacher and the school’s attendance secretary.
  16. Learn new things. Kindergarten is the perfect age to start introducing things like a two wheel bike, a two wheel scooter and jump rope. While we are still working on a two wheel bike and two wheel scooter, the jump rope was a huge hit! And while my daughter’s school doesn’t have swings, help your child learn how to pump so they can swing independently. One thing I love about this age is their earnestness to learn and try new things.
  17. Birthday parties. I feel like this topic could have a post of its own. I’ll share that I personally loved her friend’s birthday that was low key at a duck bowling alley with no scoring and the party favor was a picture she took of her birthday girl with each friend that she printed at the party and put in a magnetic holder. It was genius! They also asked for no gifts, which eliminated a lot of stress.
  18. Tooth fairy. A handful of my daughter’s classmates lost their first tooth in K. For us, we adopted the rate of $5 and the first tooth got a special note from the tooth fairy. At the end of the day, do what works best for your family. Some people we know did a $1 or $2 and others did a special $1 coin. My daughter lost her bottom two middle teeth and each time we put the tooth in a ziplock bag and then under the pillow which made it much easier to find once she went to sleep.
  19. Thank the teachers. Our elementary school provided a list with each teacher and administrator’s favorite candy, favorite store, favorite drink, etc. This really helped during the holidays when deciding where to buy giftcards to. There’s also teacher appreciation week and the end of the school year. I think teachers appreciate a kind note too.
  20. Follow Busy Toddler’s advice. I absolutely love the tactical, non-academic advice that Susie (who has a Master’s in Education and is a former teacher) offers parents who are preparing for K. Things like making sure your child can zip and unzip their coat and sample role playing to prepare your child for the social aspects of daily interactions with peers. Check out her full post here.
The Glenstone in late August | TeamTravelsBaby
Patapsco State Park on Veteran’s Day | TeamTravelsBaby

I am incredibly happy and relieved that my daughter loves school and that she looked forward to school each day (I think having a late start school helped too). For the first half of the year, she told us she wished there weren’t weekends. This blew my mind considering I think we have some pretty fun adventures, but I think it was a testament to the environment her teacher created and the wonderful kids she enjoyed playing with each day. I hope you have the best summer and your child’s transition to K goes well too. Which musings were helpful to you?

About the Author

Lydia Garry and her family, TeamTravelsBaby, live in Silver Spring, Maryland, and are working to achieve “vagabond status”. Much of their affordable family travel experiences include U.S. travel, national parks and Europe. Adventure with them here, subscribe to their newsletter and follow along on Instagram!

Splish Splash in Maryland

Posted in DC-Maryland-Virginia, Free Kids Fun, Read Them All, United StatesTagged , , , , , , , , Leave a comment
Outdoor pool with slides at Truxton Park in Annapolis

Maryland summers are notorious for being hot and humid, so we are always looking for a place to stay cool. From Memorial Day to Labor Day there are lots of splash pads and outdoor pools open. Splash pads are great because they are generally free and can be enjoyed long before learning to swim. Outdoor pools are our family favorite because my husband and I can take turns getting in the water with our daughter while one of us relaxes in a lounger. This post focuses primarily on outdoor pools with some splash pads at the end. Always remember to bring and wear sunscreen, even on a cloudy day. Water bottle, snacks, towels, something for breaks, and goggles too! This post was first shared with subscribers to my free newsletter, Trek, Travel and Treat | Edition 11.

Montgomery County (MoCo)

There are 7 outdoor county run pools and our personal favorite is the Wheaton/Glenmont pool because there is truly something for everyone from a small gated area for littles to slides and lily pads based on various heights and diving boards. Check out my Instagram reel to get a feel for it. I love that my daughter and I can visit for $12! Our second favorite is probably the MLK pool with the lazy river.

  • Babies under 1 are free. Price is much cheaper for county residents, but non-residents can enjoy too. If you plan to use the pools quite a bit in the summer, see if the punch pass may make sense to buy (12 adult tickets for the price of 10). Check prices here.
  • Check for the most current hours, weather and maintenance closures, etc. on the official site before going to avoid disappointment. This is good advice for any place you may visit!
  • Anticipate mandatory breaks dictated by the pool where everyone must exit the water.
  • Read the rules ahead of time so you know what to expect and what you can bring in.
City of Gaithersburg Water Park | TeamTravelsBaby

The City of Gaithersburg in Montgomery County has an incredible outdoor pool called the City of Gaithersburg Water Park at Bohrer Park which has beached entry, slides and an enclosed splash pad. If you are outside of city limits, make sure to visit when it’s open to non-city residents. Residents outside of Montgomery County are not able to visit. Check the website for hours, rules, exclusions, etc. Pricing differs on weekdays versus weekends and costs quite a bit more than MoCo or PG country run pools.

Prince George’s (PG) County

PG County is super close to where we live in Silver Spring (MoCo). And the best part is that PG County allows MoCo residents to pay the same price as in-county residents making it comparable to MoCo pools. There are another 7 to pick from here and our personal favorite so far has been Ellen Linson Splash Park. Make sure to check the official site before going. You may be able to save by making reservations online and in advance too.

Anne Arundel County

We love to adventure and find that a trip to Annapolis is only about 45 minutes from Silver Spring. There is a municipal pool at Truxton Park. While we liked this pool, the downside is there is a required swim test in order to go down the slides. We found other pools were more conducive to our little swimmer (who was not a strong swimmer at the time we went). You can find pictures of this pool along with other splash pads in the DMV in this IG highlight. And in a previous newsletter, I shared some Annapolis ideas (don’t forget to subscribe – it’s free, just don’t enter your card #) as well as some in an IG highlight.

Truxton Pool | TeamTravelsbaby

Howard County

Living near US-29 makes Columbia and Ellicott City, Maryland an easy 30-45 minute drive from Silver Spring. There’s a simple indoor pool at Roger Carter Community Center and an outdoor splash pad. Addy and I had a fun mommy/daughter date here. I really liked the beach entry. The price is comparable to PG and MoCo county pools and 2 years and younger are free here. I really want to return here so Addy can climb the rock wall which has specific hours. I do have a few ideas in my Columbia highlight and know I have more I need to add there.

Frederick County

Downtown Frederick is such a fun walkable town and there is plenty to do in the area for a day trip. I’ve shared quite a bit in this Instagram highlight. We checked out the Edward Thomas Memorial Pool which didn’t have all the extras, but I really liked the layout for continuing to move in the water.

Pool in Frederick | TeamTravelsBaby

Indoor Pools

If it’s a rainy summer day and you still want your pool fix, we like the Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center and the Rollingcrest-Chillum pool. If you want to venture to Virginia, the Claude Moore Recreation and Aquatic Center is a good deal with more than just the pool included in the pass. And if you want to plan a bigger adventure to Great Wolf Lodge near Baltimore, check out my post.

Super Unique Water Features in DC

If you’re venturing to D.C., check out the Yards Park Canal Basin. This is super unique and free, especially if you find free street parking on a weekend. Just check the baseball schedule for the Nationals first. If the National Zoo is on your list, there are water features there too so don’t forget a change of clothes. Misters on the main walking path and a splash pad by the seals and sea lions. Have you read my separate blog post about all the fun free places in DC?

Yards Park in DC | TeamTravelsBaby

Splash Pads

I will make a separate post for splash pads, but to get you started here are a few you can find on my Instagram: Maryvale Park in Rockville, Rockville Town Square Splash Pad, Walker Mill Misting Park in District Heights, Takoma Splash Park and Playground in DC, and Turkey Thicket Splash Park and Playground in DC. Bring a bucket or cup to add to the fun.

Chevy Chase Splash Pad and Fenced In Park | TeamTravelsBaby

What is your favorite outdoor pool in Maryland? We hope to check out some of the incredible looking Virginia pools in the summer too. If you have any recommendations, feel free to add them to the comments.

About the Author

Lydia Garry and her family, TeamTravelsBaby, live in Silver Spring, Maryland, and are working to achieve “vagabond status”. Much of their affordable family travel experiences include U.S. travel, national parks and Europe. Adventure with them here, subscribe to their free newsletter and follow along on Instagram!

Visiting DC is for everyone with so many free spots

Posted in DC-Maryland-Virginia, Free Kids Fun, National Parks, Read Them All, United StatesTagged , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment
US Capitol Building

When I was growing up, I had the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C. Then when I was in college, I had the opportunity to study abroad one summer in Europe between London and Paris/Tours, France. One thing I realized during this time was that I loved the convenience of public transportation and I wanted to live in a city that offered this. Flash forward to 2011 and I moved to D.C. for grad school.

When I lived in D.C. I would walk, metro and bus everywhere! I wanted to experience it all. Since moving to Silver Spring, Maryland, I try to remember that my goal is to be a tourist in my own town! I don’t want to lose sight of the fact I’m only a mile from the Silver Spring metro station and can be back in the heart of the city in no time! Most links will take you to pictures on my IG and I focused on free offerings unless otherwise noted. Always check the official site for hours, closures, ticketing, special events, etc. And if you’re taking metro, add your card to your phone ahead of time (it even works when the phone is dead)! Kids 4 and under are free.

The Best Free Views of D.C.

For all of these places, be prepared that you may have to go through security.

  • Washington Monument – Since I moved to D.C. and then there was an earthquake that shut this for many years, I did not want to miss a chance to visit when it reopened. It is iconic and I’m happy I finally got a ticket (I clicked on Group instead of Individual) for my daughter and I to go up (thanks to FamilyTripGuides for this tip). You can’t bring strollers up and be prepared for security. It’s $1 per ticket and you reserve through Recreation.gov either 30 days in advance or a day in advance (or take the chance of standing in line for a walk up ticket). Stand in the middle of the door on either side on the way down so you can see out the window that lights up.
  • Old Post Office – I still feel like this is a bit of a hidden gem because it was closed to the public for many years. Kids can earn a Junior Ranger badge (free) here. It’s also conveniently located by the National Children’s Museum so it could easily be combined. Enter behind the building and be prepared for security.
  • View of D.C. – This is in Arlington and metro accessible. This is also a venue space and it was super fun to take the glass elevator up spot all the sites. This closed sometime in 2024 (sad face), but I left it here in case it reopens in the future under a different name or owner.
  • Other great views include the back of the Lincoln Memorial to see the eternal flame at Arlington Cemetery, going to the top of the Kennedy Center and rooftop of the MLK Library.

Unique Non-Smithsonian Places for Kids

  • Planet Word – This is an interactive place that can be enjoyed by every age! Sing karaoke, take a picture in the photo booth, make a book come to life, find the hidden bookcase door, tell jokes, etc. If you have visitors, this is the spot to go! Reserve a free (donation based) ticket ahead of time and before or after visiting, check out Franklin Park across the street for a small playground. Take the metro here.
  • The People’s House: A White House Experience – This is free (donation based) and it’s recommended to reserve tickets in advance. This is super close to the White House and the Renwick Gallery. Sit in the 1:1 ratio Oval Office that changes with each President, take pictures like you’re presenting the Easter Egg Roll and touch various objects to make them come to life. This opened in September 2024.
  • Rock Creek Park Nature Center – This is free and since the Planetarium reopened, it sometimes has a free kids show! It’s also a place to see taxidermy, a couple real animals, color and hike! There is free parking.
  • MLK Library – We are the people who go to libraries on vacation because there are so many unique ones! This one has a slide in the stairwell of the kids section. Visit the rooftop too and if you have a little, the story time is excellent here. We metro here and combine with a walk through City Center DC since the decorations regularly change in Palmer Alley and Chinatown’s Friendship Bridge.
  • Anacostia Park – The first time I came here, I thought it was just the “pirate ship park”, but there is more! Bring socks and an ID to swap it out for free roller skates. We haven’t made it yet, but there is a nature type center here too called Aquatic Resources Education Center. There is free parking.
  • Merry Pin – This is a business that offers free Saturday morning story time and craft/art. We have found free street parking in this area.
  • National Children’s Museum – This is a paid museum right by the Ronald Reagan Building and the climbing dream machine (bring socks) is always my child’s favorite. Here’s my biggest tip – if you live in the DMV, go get an Alexandria library card (via reciprocity) then reserve a free ticket to visit online (follow all the steps)! We went in August 2024 with a 2:30 pm slot and they let us in 30 minutes early so we got 2.5 hours of free play here.
  • I wouldn’t go to the White House Visitor Center with a little unless I needed a bathroom or to escape the weather elements since there’s minimal interactivity.
  • Eastern Market – This is a fun area to explore for the outdoor market on the weekends and the indoor fish market. It’s changed so much in the time I’ve lived here. There’s also a great playground and splash pad (seasonal) nearby. Get a poptart from Ted’s Bulletin. If time allows, venture to Shakespeare’s Library. You can reserve a free ticket and there’s a kids scavenger hunt inside.

Free Smithsonians Can’t Be Missed

  • Natural History – This is our family favorite as we love the taxidermy animals, dinosaurs, the big entrance hall (from the National Mall side) and special exhibits like photography of the year. On Tuesdays, the butterfly garden inside on the 2nd level, closer to the National Mall side is free, just wait in line to get a timed ticket. On the Tuesday before Montgomery County schools went back, DC was empty – no school buses, no long lines to get inside.
  • American Indian – The Native American museum has a great kids section. We usually pair this with popping into the U.S. Botanical Gardens. We love the Botanical Gardens during the holidays to see the the outdoor train and the atrium. You can also see the Capitol from here.
  • Postal Museum – This is a top museum for littles and it’s right next to Union Station. I love making a digital stamp, picking a few old stamps to keep and exploring the interactive displays downstairs.
  • American History – This is a huge museum with so many exhibits. If you have a little, check the hours for Wegman’s Wonderplace and if your child is older, check out Spark!Lab. We have enjoyed both spaces. Be prepared for security and arrive early to beat the buses.
  • Asian Art – This is usually a museum we skip over, but we recently attended an Art & Me family event that was fantastic (reserve free ticket in advance). We also loved seeing and learning about the Peacock Room. The last Thursday of the month in the afternoon, you can see the shutters opened to reveal the window. Don’t miss the ceiling or the coins in the peacock mural. Pop into the Smithsonian Castle if it’s open or see the Eisenhower Memorial nearby.
  • African American History – This is an incredible multi-story museum. If you start at the bottom, you weave through history. If you start at the top, you learn about music, sports, etc. Don’t miss the reflection room that is beautiful and peaceful. Reserve a timed ticket in advance.
  • Zoo – One of the free zoos in the U.S. and pandas returned in early 2025! Reserve a free ticket online. Be prepared for the hilly walking! In the summer there are misters and a water feature by the seals/sea lions. There’s also a couple of play structures at the bottom of the hill near the prairie dogs and also by the farm. The play space inside the newly renovated bird area is great for kids with crafts, storytime and outdoor play. This is only open certain days/times per week. We usually come on a Sunday when street parking is free or metro to Cleveland Park (downhill trek to zoo) and return from Woodley Park (downhill trek from zoo).
  • National Mall – This is the big green space that has many of the free museums and I had the good fortune to have my grad school graduation here when Kerri Washington from Scandal was the speaker. If you’re exploring Smithsonians, it’s hard to miss. Venture to all of the monuments along the Mall like WWII, Lincoln, Washington Monument, Vietnam and beyond to all of the ones along the Tidal Basin (body of water). Make sure you wear comfortable shoes. They are all free to visit and shouldn’t be missed. Many people like enjoying the sunrise or sunset by the Tidal Basin. Fun fact, my husband proposed at the Lincoln Memorial.

Paid Museums to Consider:

  • National Law Enforcement – We were gifted this opportunity and loved it. The museum is underground and metro accessible from Judiciary Square. It is very interactive. You can sit in a police car and touch all the buttons, learn about dogs that work with law enforcement, listen to 911 calls, watch a short movie on the wall, etc. I would definitely return here in the future and their t-shirt is one of my favorites because it is so soft. Check for discounted tickets on Groupon.
  • Museum of the Bible – Check for tickets on Groupon. We found one for $18 and my daughter was free based on her age. It was beautiful during the holidays and we loved hearing the people play chimes and bells. There’s a kids play area inside and a section to play games.
  • International Spy Museum – This was a super memorable museum when I was younger and visited DC. It has moved locations since then and I look forward to taking my daughter at some point.

Specific Time of Year

  • January or February. Discovery Days happens in Baltimore and Maryland residents can reserve free timed tickets to the National Aquarium. This is an amazing deal! The Maryland Science Center nearby is covered by the ASTC Passport, so if you’re visiting the area from out of town, definitely check out this museum and you may be able to visit for free via reciprocity. Read my article, Your Family Needs the ASTC Passport, for all the convincing you need.
  • March or April. The cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin at or around peak season are to be enjoyed. Yes, it’s crowded because people come from all around the globe to see this phenomenon because it’s incredible. It’s also a chance to see gorgeous magnolias. I haven’t tested this yet, but we were told by a park ranger that they have seasonal Junior Ranger badges for kids to earn during this time! Sundays will be busier than a weekday, but you may be able to find free parking.
  • March or April. The White House Easter Egg Roll is such a fun event to participate in, particularly if it doesn’t rain and it’s not too hot. In 2023 we “won the lotto” and got to participate! Every February there’s a lottery period to submit your interest. There were lawn games with athletes, free treats, crafts and characters! We skipped the iconic events.
  • Summer. Visit Yards Park Canal Basin for the most unique “splash pad” type experience. Bring bathing suits and go under the waterfall or splash around in the shallow water. The views are beautiful. Don’t forget the sunscreen.
  • July. The peak bloom of the lotuses at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens are beautiful! It is definitely hot and humid, but also unique! This is a fun place to earn a Junior Ranger badge (free program for kids). Make sure to walk back to the boardwalk to look for various birds. Parking is free in the lot, but it gets crowded and then you have to use street parking.
  • Holidays. Check out the adorable trains at the Botanical Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland. My daughter loved the various scavenger hunts. This is free to visit and there’s also a nature center and children’s garden. It’s also gorgeous in the spring. The Washington, D.C. Temple, which is actually just outside of DC is a beautiful, free place to see lights and nativity sets from around the world.

Right Over the D.C. Border are These Gems

  • Oxon Cove Park and Oxon Hill Farm – We timed it so we arrived in time to feed the chickens! There are other animals to see too, a nature building with coloring, games and books and a chance to earn a Junior Ranger badge.
  • National Harbor – The downside is parking (try to book ahead of time with SpotHero). Otherwise, play in the sand, catch a movie or sport on the big screen, find the famous statues, play in the little kid area or fenced in park and walk through the Gaylord. This is also close to the Tanger Outlets which has a small kids play area and free parking.
  • National Cryptologic Museum – This is a small museum with a decoding activity (and prize) for kids. We also got to use invisible ink. It has dedicated parking.

Thanks for checking out this article. This is not meant to be all-inclusive, but rather give you some ideas in one place from a local mom who enjoys adventuring and keeping the costs low. I could write full articles about the playgrounds in the area, cities like Alexandria, Annapolis, Frederick, etc., so make sure to check back if you’re interested in those. I would love for you to check out some of my other articles such as Airport Play Areas in the DMV, How To Save Money In Order to Travel, Keep Your Green at Great Wolf Lodge.

About the Author

Lydia Garry and her family, TeamTravelsBaby, live in Silver Spring, Maryland, and are working to achieve “vagabond status”. Much of their affordable family travel experiences include U.S. travel, national parks and Europe. Adventure with them here, subscribe to their newsletter and follow along on Instagram!

Sligo Creek Parkway Playgrounds and Nearby Ones

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Addy about to get on the zip line at a Sligo Creek Parkway playground

Silver Spring, Maryland has a wonderful paved trail along Sligo Creek Parkway. It’s perfect for walking, scootering, pushing a stroller, etc. There are a lot of playgrounds along the path and various free parking offerings. Parts of Sligo Creek Parkway close to vehicle traffic on the weekends, so I’ve noted where I know that to be the case. Unfortunately, bathrooms are hard to come by for these parks. And many kids, including my own, do play in some sections of the creek, but from one parent to another, please always do your own due diligence on the water conditions.

  • Sligo Dennis Park – One of the newest parks along Sligo Creek Parkway and the equipment is orange and blue. This one is great for climbers and is set-up like an obstacle course. It’s along the creek and you can play in the water here. There is a small parking lot and on the weekends, it’s blocked by the road closure, so you have to park off Dennis and walk.
  • Hillwood Manor Neighborhood Park – This playground is also newer and is tucked into the end of a neighborhood by a low spot in the creek. It’s neighborhood street parking. There are two play structures and I appreciate that the tall one is enclosed. This is a good one to pair with a trip to to Aldi and Lidl off New Hampshire Avenue and is on the Takoma Park end of Sligo Creek Parkway.
  • Blue Park, I mean Dale Drive Neighborhood Park – This is a popular park often referred to as “blue park” because of the ground covering. My daughter loves the rope climbing structure here and it for sure makes me nervous. There’s also a pirate ship for littles, a see saw and some other small structures. There’s a big field nearby and access to the creek. Be mindful of the rocks as they do get slippery. There’s a small parking lot here off Dale Drive or you can park by the tennis courts on Sligo Creek and walk over. If you don’t mind walking a bit of a hill, pop up to Love and Flour bakery with treats and espresso drinks (it looks a little different now than my IG pics that are linked). You can also do a double park and walk about 8 minutes to Nolte Local Park which has quite a bit of shade in comparison to Dale Drive.
  • Sligo Creek Stream Valley Park – This is another newer park with two zip lines and access to the creek. The park is blue and green and nearly full sun. My daughter loves the zip line here and there’s also an accessible zip line. There are swings and a great climbing structure with slides. There’s also a smaller structure. This is located in a section that’s closed on the weekends, starting sometime on Friday evening (last time we were there it had signs by the small parking lot). You can also use the map to park in a nearby neighborhood and walk here such as Kennebec or Houston Ave.
  • Sligo-Bennington Park – This park has three separate structures but the best part is you can take a short walk to Zinnia’s for a treat or espresso drink (bring a penny for the wishing well). There is a wooden playground and my daughter loves the rings for the monkey bar structure (otherwise, this structure needs to be replaced in my opinion). Then there are two small structures and a ton of swings here. If you like going for a short walk, there’s a nature/unpaved path through the woods. It’s fun for throwing rocks in the water. This park of Sligo Creek is always open (unless it floods) and you can park along Sligo Creek Parkway or street park directly next to the park on Bennington. Have a double park day and head to Three Oaks Neighborhood Park (no swings).
  • Sligo Creek North Neighborhood Park – This is a shaded park right along the bend of Sligo Creek and another one that’s great to pair with Aldi or Lidl. This has descending monkey bars which can be great for learning. There are two side-by-side baby swings and two traditional swings. There’s a very small parking lot on the bend, otherwise, you’d have to look for neighborhood street parking.
  • Forest Grove Neighborhood Park – We call this “hospital” park because it’s close to Holy Cross Hospital. There’s are a couple of spaces directly on Sligo Creek or you can go on the other side of the park to park along the street near the basketball courts. The spinning structure is now the favorite here along with the monkey bars.

There is no shortage of parks in the area! Here are some other nearby ones with links to pictures on Instagram. I also recommend checking out my article, Top Tips for New Silver Spring Parents that will be helpful whether you’re visiting or live in the general area. It includes indoor suggestions as well.

  • Bullis Local Park – A lot of younger kids enjoy the train here to play on. It’s also a close enough walk to Silver Spring Library.
  • Burtonsville Local Park
  • Dewey Local Park – This is a personal favorite! I love the street art here, the little bike path around the park, the skating rink and all of the extras on top of an amazing park! Bring matchbox type cars to use on the small play structure And if you come here, check out Unique Thrift Store nearby! I like this park so much I have two posts!
  • Ellsworth Urban Park – This has a little kid park with a low arched monkey bar. Then it has a totally separate section for climbers – the big structure here used to make me so nervous!
  • Evans Parkway Park
  • Flora Singer Elementary School – This isn’t open during school hours, but it’s perfect for the weekend if you want to use the low monkey bars or play on the little soccer field with nets.
  • Flower Avenue Urban Park – This is a colorful park with the big circles that swing to move through. There’s some nice street art nearby here too.
  • General Getty Neighborhood Park – We recently returned to this park and I forgot how great it was! I enjoyed being able to walk the path around the park, while still being able to see my child play. This park has a “mommy and me” swing or rather the bucket swing with the traditional swing attached combination.
  • Highland View Elementary – This is probably best for non-school hours, but the ninja warrior type obstacle course at the upper playground is a lot of fun and has a big field next to it. Then there’s a lower park down the stairs that’s known as the Kindergarten park.
  • Hillandale Local Park – One of our favorites because of the log course! It also has a double swing, bathrooms and it’s next to a fire station.
  • Kemp Mill Park – If you have a climber, make sure you bring your tennis shoes! The rope climbing structure is huge here and it’s quite a stretch from the rope onto the platform for the humungous slide!
  • MLK Recreation Park – Another park with a low monkey bar for learning. There are accessible features here and bathrooms! There’s also a walking trail. I would say this is one of the most recommended ones for young children. This post has more pictures.
  • Montgomery Hills Park – Located behind Aldi’s on Georgia Ave. This park does get some shade, has a book box and it’s next to a tennis court. There’s a super pretty tree here in the Fall too!
  • North Four Corners Local Park – This is another favorite for us and it’s actually a double park! The bigger park has a huge field next to it and a great path for biking or scootering.
  • Opal Daniels Park
  • Seek Lane Park – Addy loved the ninja warrior type obstacle course set-up.
  • Sligo Cabin Park – Technically this one is along the trail too, but it is a bit challenging to get to with Purple Line construction unless you walk down from another section of Sligo Creek or one of the neighborhoods. On the weekends, you could park by Sligo Creek Elementary and walk down the steps or take the accessible path around to here.
  • Sligo Creek Park – This one is along the trail, but it is my least favorite because I always find it is so buggy! It’s close to Colesville on the side near Brunett Ave and relatively close to the golf course.
  • Sligo Mill Overlook
  • St. Paul Park – Set back from the road with an open field and path great for riding scooters, bikes or pushing a stroller. Walking distance to historic Kensington.
  • Toatley-Fraser Park
  • Upper Long Branch Park – Many refer to this as “fire engine park” because of the fire truck structure.
  • Wheaton Claridge Park
  • Wheaton Library Playground – This is a great, mostly fenced park. It is the perfect park for an outting because there’s also the library, the recreation center, a coffee shop and a Friends of the Library used bookstore. There are bathrooms when the building is open.
  • Wheaton Regional Park – This is a destination playground and great for a wide range of ages. There are bathrooms here too! I share more ideas in my article, Top Tips for New Silver Spring Parents.
  • Woodside Urban Park – This is a great park with free street parking. It’s also very close to the brand new Mom’s Organic Grocery which has a bathroom! I like to walk over to PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans from here.

About the Author

Lydia Garry and her family, TeamTravelsBaby, live in Silver Spring, Maryland, and are working to achieve “vagabond status”. Much of their affordable family travel experiences include U.S. travel, national parks and Europe. Adventure with them here, subscribe to their newsletter and follow along on Instagram!

Explore the Eastern Shore

Posted in DC-Maryland-Virginia, Free Kids Fun, Read Them All, United StatesTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment
Red playground | TeamTravelsBaby

From our condo in Silver Spring, Maryland it takes us about 45 minutes to cross the Bay Bridge (make sure you have an EZ Pass for the toll) and then there are a lot of choices for exploring Maryland’s Eastern Shore. When we first started venturing to the Eastern Shore, I only thought of Assateague and Ocean City, Maryland. Let me assure you, there are a lot of fun places – ice cream shops, cute towns, playgrounds, beaches and art to see! If you prefer staying on Instagram, I have a highlight reel, but I have many more details here and it’s searchable. Some of my hyperlinks below will also take you to my Insta with pics.

Berlin

This is a cute historic town with ice cream, a thrift store (cash only), a coffee shop and some shops. If you pass through on a Sunday, there’s a seasonal market and stores are open too. This is very close to Assateague and Ocean City.

  • Island Creamery is located downtown and will let you split a single scoop so you can enjoy two flavors for just over $5. There’s often a line here but it moves fast and you can enjoy seating in the alley next to it.
  • Chesapeake Bay Farms is one of the stops on the Maryland Ice Cream Trail; this is directly off US 50 West so it’s an easy stop without adding too much time to your journey
    • You can learn more about it here and the possible prizes!
  • The library has toys and is a good stop if you need a clean bathroom.
  • The beautifully painted pumpkin scavenger hunt in October was so much fun! It’s free, the town is happening with music and activities for kids. See our reel here.
  • About 10 minutes from downtown is Wal-Mart which is a great place to stock up before the beach. We’ve also slept in this parking lot to save money!

Ocean City

This is a destination for many and it’s super fun with the ocean, the bay, a long boardwalk and many other family friendly offerings. We recently found a last minute deal for $92 for the Blue Wave Inn which was like a Motel 6 but with an incredible pool and parking that lasted until 3 pm on the day of check out. It was only 2 blocks from 9th street at the boardwalk. I would stay again.

  • No name park is new and a must visit near the skate park and views of the bay.
  • Check out CertifiKID* to see if there are any deals for Jolly Rogers Amusement Park (we saw some in June 2024). Many places, like miniature golfing offer deals if you look in hotels at the pamphlets.
  • Ocean City is fun in various seasons. We loved visiting in October for the enjoyable weather and the off-season pricing (see what we paid here) at the Francis Scott Key Family Resort which has an indoor pool, putt-putt, free popcorn and a movie room. Insta pics here.

* CertifiKID is very similar to GroupOn. If you’ve never used it, please consider using my referral link as it’s no extra cost to you and I will receive a small credit from CertifiKID. In the DMV, we have found deals for places like DoodleHatch (Columbia), Jolly Yolly (Westfield Montgomery) and HyperKidz.

Bivalve

Cove Road Beach is the only reason we came here which is on a river and very relaxing. It’s about 25 minutes from Salisbury.

Cove Road Beach | TeamTravelsBaby

Cambridge

Located along the Choptank River, this is a great halfway point to stop and stretch on the way to the Atlantic Ocean. It also makes for a fun day trip from the DMV area (90 minutes from Silver Spring).

  • Sailwinds Park has a great playground and is located along the river
  • Chick-fil-A is about 1 mile from Sailwinds and has a small play area
  • There is a downtown with coffee, ice cream and art! Set your GPS for Black Water Coffee Shop and you’ll be in the heart of it all. IG post here.
  • Dorchester County Library is a place to escape the heat but still let your kids stretch. They have kids toys.

Chestertown

This is close to Rock Hall and Betterton Beach. I definitely recommend combining all three for a great day trip away from the DMV. Chestertown is the biggest town and is fun for wandering in and out of shops like the bookstore.

  • Betterton Beach is one of those ideal beaches for littles! Check out my IG post. It’s under 2 hours from Silver Spring, MD and we’ve enjoyed this as a day trip.
  • Rock Hall – grab a treat at Sweet Cheeks Bakery, grab coffee from Java Rock and look for ospreys at Blue Heron Park.
  • Lockbriar Farms for ice cream is part of the Maryland ice cream trail and has delicious fruit flavored ones. The owners had a sweet cat who sat with us and then we took a little tour to see the chickens and flowers blooming.

Easton

Less than 90 minutes from Silver Spring is an Amish Market, indoor play space and great park! It can easily be combined with Cambridge.

  • Be with Me Playseum is an indoor playspace with different areas for pretend play, real animals and art. Be sure to check their hours here. This is located on US 50 West. There’s also a location in the Columbia Mall and one in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
  • Idlewild Park is an amazing wooden park that’s mostly fenced in, has a tot lot too and bathrooms! There’s also a book box and a really pretty court. IG reel here It’s only a couple of minutes off US 50 East, so it’s another great park on the way to the beach.
  • Amish Country Farmers Market – Check their hours and know that it’s closed Sundays. This is a great stop if you just need a quick outting and perhaps some affordable and delicious treats! We love Amish markets and have enjoyed exploring many in the DMV like Annapolis, Laurel and Germantown.
  • Chick-fil-A here has a small play area.
Be with Me Playseum | TeamTravelsBaby

Grasonville

The Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center is a great place for getting outdoors, especially if you enjoy walking/hiking or getting out on the water with paddleboards or kayaks. It is exceptionally affordable (like $20/day) and first come first serve. Read more on their site. Grab coffee from Dessert First Dockside Coffee and make sure to check out the marina.

Kent Island

This makes for a great trip and is great when the weather is comfortable for hiking and spending time outdoors.

  • Ferry Point Park – Park and check out the Chesapeake Heritage and Visitor Center, then go for a leisurely walk and enjoy the small beach.
  • Terrapin Nature Park – This is also a great place to walk and enjoy a small beach.
  • Pair with Old Love Point Park or other fun from Stevensville or Grasonville.

Oxford

I could come here just for the uniqueness of the ice cream! There is a small town along Main Street, a playground with shade near the water and a small beach.

  • Scottish Highland Creamery is so cute and right on the water!
  • Main Street has a little museum, a cute store of 30+ local vendors called the Treasure Chest, a market, Mystery Lovers Bookstore and my personal favorite was my iced lavender latte at Oxford Social Cafe. There’s a playground on the water and a little beach too.
Main Street Oxford | TeamTravelsBaby

Salisbury

This is the great stop to break up the drive to or from the ocean or to enjoy as its own trip.

Two Scoops Ice Cream | TeamTravelsBaby
Ben’s Red Swings next to the free zoo | TeamTravelsBaby

Stevensville

Will travel for ice cream should be our middle names. You can have a great day between the beach, ice cream and playground all within a short distance of one another.

  • Historic downtown Stevensville is small, but worth visiting for the Tasty Toucan which has a very kid friendly outdoor space. Check out my IG post.
  • Matapeake Beach is a small beach nearby. Parking is limited so get there early or come later in the day.
  • Old Love Point Playground

St. Michael’s

There’s a Saturday morning market and the library has toys if you’re visiting with a young child. It’s a fun town by the water. Grab coffee at Blue Crab and check out my IG post here.

So much to do on the Eastern Shore

If you have time and like birding, bring your camera and check out Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge and the nearby Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center. And why not venture all the way to Delaware! You’re almost there anyways. Here’s our day in Rehoboth. I also have a beach highlight on Instagram that some of the beaches we’ve been to within a reasonable drive of the DMV.

Let me know in the comments what you love about the Eastern Shore or somewhere we should visit on a future trip!

Keep Your Green at Great Wolf Lodge

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Our first time visiting Great Wolf Lodge and we ventured to the one north of Baltimore, Maryland in Perryville. Bottom line – it was amazing! We were able to get into our room early, which was great! Each person gets a wrist band which doubles as a room key card! To a 5 year old, it’s magic!

Nod to the National Parks, GWL Sign | TeamTravelsBaby

I want to help you keep your green (aka money) when you visit Great Wolf Lodge because the cost can quickly add up! Here are some ways to keep costs low and what we did on our one night (two day) adventure:

  • Highly recommend booking with a coupon code. Recognize that weekdays will be cheaper. We booked on Leap Day for a Thursday to Friday deal in March 2024 for $142 total (that includes the $40 resort fee) and open to close admission to the water park on check in and check out day. Find the best deals through GWL directly (I like their IG as they sometimes do flash sales, like what I got) and also check GroupOn and CertifiKID (referral link).
Great Wolf Lodge in Perryville | TeamTravelsBaby
  • Bring your own food! There’s only a small fridge in the room so keep that in mind or consider a cooler you can put in the car after check out. Pack easy snacks and/or microwaveable food. We brought food for day one, then made a quick late night trip up to Wal-Mart (10-13 mins north of GWL and also a Dollar Tree and Little Cesar’s in the parking lot if you go earlier). And while you can’t eat food/drink in the water park brought from outside GWL, we totally went into the shower stalls to munch on a quick snack since (at least when we went) they didn’t look inside our water park bags. We only bought coffee from the Dunkin’ Donuts (order at a machine) and one small ice cream (like $5ish dollars). The hotel room did have coffee, but I didn’t see any creamer (so bring your own).
  • Bring a water bottle or refillable one. There is a water fountain in the water park. I find the markup on bottled water hurts my feelings – it can be steep!
  • Prepare your child for so many tempting things! My daughter knew not to ask for everything she saw because we talked about all the temptations that would be there and what we were willing to spend money on (e.g., one ice cream and one additional activity). We talk often about putting things we see on ‘the list’ for future birthdays or holidays. I highly recommend the practice of setting expectations. For me, it relieves a lot of stress and guilt!
  • While tempting, we did not buy any of the activity/food passes. We were there for the water park, the free/included offerings and I splurged for the basic wand/MagiQuest game (which I felt was totally worth it by the end for $37 which included the basic wand and 96 hours straight of gameplay. Basically an interactive scavenger hunt and you periodically fight the bad actors. The wand is reusable for future trips).
Testing her MagiQuest wand | TeamTravelsBaby
  • Download the GWL app and set reminders for all of the FREE/included fun! This included meeting characters, story time, movie (15 mins long), arts and crafts, etc. We didn’t make it to the MagiQuest ceremony or kids yoga but those are free too! The app is an absolute must!
  • Towels can be checked out with your band, just remember to check them back in with your band so you don’t incur a charge (lines were never terrible, but this could be a reason you choose to bring your own towels). You can use a life vest, which is what we did for Addy, but it seemed like you could also bring your own floaties too. These you just borrowed.
  • Pack more than one swimsuit! And if your kid likes goggles, bring a pair or two! (Addy’s broke while we were there and while she was fine day 2 without it, I wish I had brought an extra.)
  • Lots of adults had the phone waterproof covers! I did not and found it was nice to disconnect at the water park, but no doubt I would have enjoyed having it. I bought one for our upcoming cruise off Amazon – I’ll share thoughts after I test it out. And for some, it may feel safer to have your phone on you, especially if you save money by not having a locker.
  • Lockers are $17 or something like that. Don’t bring anything of importance to the pool or hide it deep in an unattractive bag that you periodically check on. We left our stuff (e.g., phones) on a chair each time with our shoes and never had an issue. Of course they were hidden inside my street clothes and towels. But I did lock/hide my wallet in the car once we checked out of our hotel room. Do what feels best to you!
  • Don’t forget, at least to get north of Baltimore, you’re likely to go on toll roads! Make sure you’re prepared with an EZPass and it’s connected to a current credit card!
We loved the waterpark | TeamTravelsBaby

For a future/return visit, I would make a point to arrive early on check-in day to take full advantage of the water park. We arrived in the mid-afternoon and still had lots of time before it closed at 8 pm. We also stayed open to close on our day of check-out. We exited our room by 11 am and then stayed to enjoy it all. On the next visit, I hope I remember to bring my daughter’s MagiQuest wand again (would still need to pay to activate the game for 96 hours). I may also have her bring one of her Build a Bears (we did the birthday one where we paid $5 when she turned 5 and I’ve also found her some for less than $5 at the thrift store). This helps to avoid the FOMO if other kids have a BAB since they sell them in the shop. You may also get lucky and find a wand on Facebook Marketplace (worth a try).

On a future trip, I would consider buying her some type of light up bubble blowing wand ahead of time and giving it to her as a surprise during our visit. They sell them and you know the mark up is wild. That said, she was fine with me saying no on site (because I set expectations) and enjoyed popping the bubbles that other kids were creating. 

My daughter is about 43 inches tall, so she wasn’t able to go on the ropes course! She needed to be 46 inches. This was $15 a person and it looked fun! They had other things for a cost like putt putt (or mini golf), bowling, gem mining, etc. The pass may make sense if you would be willing to pay for each of these individually. Our splurge was the MagiQuest game/basic wand and I have zero regrets!

Have you been to this location or another GWL location? Any other tips to share? Feel free to add to the comments so we can all benefit. Please share, like and comment here or on my GWL Instagram post!

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Meeting the characters at Great Wolf Lodge | TeamTravelsBaby