Great news, there’s still a month of summer left! So, that means there’s time to tackle all those awesome activities still on your to-do list while the weather’s warm. Or perhaps you’re looking for some fresh, family-friendly fun ideas for things to do throughout the region. What better place to start than by exploring local, conveniently based treasures you’ve never before considered? Looking for suggestions? Here are 10.
Attend Outdoor Movie Showings
You’ll find no shortage of outdoor movie showings throughout the Mid-Atlantic region during warmer months. Many famed and fabled family-friendly venues display large outdoor movie screens on select days or even weekly, showcasing beloved age-appropriate classics and newer hit releases alike. Popular examples include Ocean City’s Movies (as well as those shown in other Eastern Shore locations), the National Harbor, and various other sites.
While rarer these days, there are more than a handful of drive-in theaters to consider, also. Two time-tested examples include Baltimore, Maryland’s iconic Bengie’s Drive-In and Haar’s Drive-In of Dillsburg, Pennsylvania.
Visit a Notable Nature Center
Every single Mid-Atlantic state is home to a vast and versatile range of nature centers. Many are based within an established bucolic setting (park, designated preserved land area, etc.), offering outdoor educational explorations and recreational endeavors in addition to those provided via an indoor setting. The latter, however, are often designed to suit visitors of all ages and are offered year-round. Furthermore, they can be enjoyed independently and are unaffected by outdoor weather conditions, including sudden summer storms when they roll in unexpectedly.
Satisfy That Scavenger Hunting Urge
Scavenger hunts are among those time-tested activities that can be pursued together as a family. Even better, most major tourist destinations throughout the Mid-Atlantic offer carefully executed scavenger hunts you can do on your own, at your own pace, or even sign up for. Many offer awards, rewards, prizes, stamps, badges, etc., for successful completion of the hunt at hand. Some popular scavenger hunt locations include Annapolis, Maryland; Washington, D.C.; Alexandria, Virginia; Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Maryland; Virginia Beach, Virginia; Harpers Ferry, West Virginia; Reading, Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and so many others.
Discover the Joys of Geocaching
Looking for something a bit more elevated and secretive than a standard scavenger hunt? How about taking it to the next level with an exciting treasure-seeking excursion that involves GPS tracking and uncovering mysterious hidden items all around you? That’s pretty much geocaching in a nutshell. Furthermore, it can be done anywhere, even surprisingly close to home. It’s an appealing activity for folks of all ages and interests—great for families.
The way it works is by signing up online. Then you can get notifications on awesome geocaching locations all around you. Start your journey any time you want—it’s that simple. Find out more at www.geocaching.com.
Pursue Nature Quest
Taking part in Nature Quest is another consideration. While somewhat of a hidden gem experience, the concept behind Nature Quest is to motivate families to get outdoors and start exploring local forests, parks, and other green spaces in close range. You can technically do Nature Quest year-round, but it’s admittedly more optimal to pursue it in warmer weather.
The Nature Quest process is simple for Maryland residents of varying counties, for instance. First, you pick up your Nature Quest booklet (passport booklet) from your local Wegmans store, at Lake Roland, Oregon Ridge Nature Center, Cromwell Valley Park, Marshy Point Nature Center, Maryland Agricultural Center, or at Benjamin Banneker Historical Park. You may also download one here. Then it’s time to get out and start exploring. Remember to bring along your booklet and record your progress along the way, using a pencil or crayon. Trail markers are located on each of the 16 trails in the booklet. Lastly, collect your prizes, which are awarded after accumulating rubbings from at least 5 of the 16 trails. These may be redeemed at any participating park. Questers who complete five trails or more also get to enjoy admission to the Nature Quest Fest. Those who complete nine or more trails will automatically be entered into drawings for additional prizes.
Plan an Overnight Camping Trip
Many camping sites are scattered throughout the surrounding greater regions of the Mid-Atlantic. From those based in the Appalachian Mountain area to those on the Eastern Shore, you’ll find plenty of options to suit your family’s specified range of interests. There are even several elevated options for those not looking to brave hardcore outdoor sleeping and eating. Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Camp Resorts (with Mid-Atlantic locations in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia) take optimal stays to the next level with loads of included amenities, for instance.
Wherever you hail from or intend to camp out at, such pursuits can make for a most magical, memorable experience.
Impromptu Hiking and Biking Outings
You can make a day trip out of hiking and biking excursions at just about any location throughout our vast and versatile region. Because we live in a place laden with so many profuse possibilities, you have your pick from scaling mountainous terrain to woodland forest adventures, coastal coasting to lush prairie lands. State Parks make for optimal options if you need a good starting point. Wherever you choose to head depends on your group’s unique, specific interests.
Go on Day Trips to Special Interest Sites
Even if you’re not planning to hike or bike on foot to said specific locations, there are any number of awesome excursions you can head for to embark on an educational, fulfilling, and rewarding day trip. Again, we live in a diverse region rich in history and heritage. That provides countless possibilities for pursuing historic sites that surround us, including those in the DMV. Various museums catering to multiple interests can be enjoyed as well.
Then, there are always great locally based amusement parks within the immediate area as well. Some notable favorites for the latter include Hersheypark, Dutch Wonderland, and Knoebel’s in Pennsylvania, Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia, and Six Flags America in Maryland.
Swim at Beaches and Local Watering Holes
Swimming is a seasonal must-do for families during the summer months. Fortunately, we also have versatile options available to us in this category range. Because we are situated on the Delmarva coast, we have a broad range of beaches where we can stay and play. Depending on where you live, some destinations can be driven to for a day trip delight. Others may require a well-needed overnight stay, however, (still fun). There are also other swimming holes throughout the various states, including hidden beaches, lakes, and bodies of water far removed from the coastal regions. Whether you’re a Marylander who favors Ocean City or Deep Creek, or you’re a West Virginia native who likes white water rafting, you have plentiful possibilities that go above and beyond mundane public pool visits.
Celebrate Seasonal Festivals and Fairs
Summer is also the time when we get to enjoy many more seasonal festival celebrations and fairs. State Fairs, in particular, are big throughout the summer months. You also get many more farmers’ markets and other crowd-pleasing fellowship opportunities.
With so many ongoing options, you have a lot to consider regarding where you and your crew are concerned.
There are literally endless endeavors for what you and your family can do during these remaining summer days. So, get out there and let the good times roll in a personalized, tailor-tweaked style all your own!