Family Fun in Maryland by Region
There is tons of Family Fun in every region of Maryland. Maryland is a great place to eat crabs and enjoy the coast, but there are many other opportunities for recreation and interesting adventures in all of Maryland’s regions. Here are some of our favorite stops, categorized by region.
Family Fun in the Eastern Shore Region of Maryland
Ocean City
Arguably the most well-known region of Maryland, the Atlantic coast and the Chesapeake Bay both offer natural beauty and enjoyment. Ocean City, MD is one of the most popular beach towns you’ll find, and for good reason. The beach is wide and clean and the town is full of fun things to do. The board walk is long and there is something for everyone.
There is so much to do! You can see some record-setting fish on the end of the boardwalk, take a photo with the giant anchor, visit the Life Saving Station Museum, or go all the way out onto the fishing pier just past the museum to put a lock on the railing or look for dolphins. We love to bike on the boardwalk or rent a 4 peddler for the whole family. You can enjoy the rides at the Jolly Roger or Trimpers on the boardwalk.
Assateague
Not far from Ocean City you can find both the State Park and the National Seashore of Assateague. Although never guaranteed, the chances are pretty good that you will see some wild ponies if you visit either one. If you go to the beach there in the summer, you may even see them enter the water or try to nibble on someone’s cooler. You’re likely to find them strolling along the side of the roadway, in the parking lots, or near the bathing houses.
The trails are short and pretty as well, and sometimes you can see the tiny deer that live in the park. You will certainly see plenty of birds. One of my favorite memories from the park is noticing a spattering of pinkish-white wild hibiscus, and looking up beyond it at a tree just covered with big brilliant white birds – I think they were egrets or herons.
Family Fun in Frontier Town
We’ve never stayed at Frontier Town, or visited the waterpark. But after passing it many times on trips to Assateague and Ocean City, we finally decided to check it out. We were so glad we did! There are free shows throughout the day (in-season), and they are really fun. You can watch authentic Native American dances in the “Indian Village” area and the Texas Trick Riders close out the day at 7PM. It’s also fun to wander around the “Old West” and maybe get an ice cream at the Saloon or visit the farm animals.
The Salisbury Zoo
The Salisbury Zoo is a cute little zoo with plenty of shade. It is not a huge zoo, but it is a really nice one, and it’s free! It has a great playground with a sandy toddler area. Admission is free, though donations are appreciated.
Elk Neck State Park
Elk Neck State Park is a gorgeous park along the Chesapeake where you can hike, birdwatch, and swim in the bay. Be sure to bring water shoes if you swim, as the bottom is quite rocky. There are bathhouses with showers to wash off before you go home. In another part of the park you can hike to Turkey Point to see a historic lighthouse.
Adkins Arboretum and Tuckahoe State Park
This was a really fun day trip for us to 2 separate destinations in the same location near Queen Anne, MD. Adkins Arboretum is a nonprofit that charges an entrance fee and includes a small gift shop, some unusual structures, a children’s garden, a plant nursery, lovely trails, and some very noisy frogs. Tuckahoe State Park has camp grounds, a lake and kayaks for rent, nice trails, and a couple of playgrounds, including a fun recycled tire playground.
Terrapin Nature Park
Located on scenic Kent Island, which helps connect the Eastern Shore to Annapolis, Terrapin Nature Park features short trails out to the bay and back, where you can admire wildlife at a bird blind, take in lovely wildflowers, and stop at picnic tables and a gazebo along the way. Though not a state park, it is well maintained, and worth visiting for its range of ecosystems including meadows, wetlands, tidal ponds, woodlands, and beaches.
Easton
Easton is a cute little town not far from the Chesapeake Bay. It has a really fabulous series of playgrounds at Idlewild Park, and from there you can walk into the town and get some ice cream at Storm and Daughter’s or visit some of the other one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants located there. You might also head over to one of the local marinas or visit Easton Point Park to get some views of the water.
Family Fun in the Capital Region of Maryland
The National Harbor
Located in Prince George’s County, the National Harbor is a neat place with several interesting attractions for family fun in the Capital Region of Maryland. The Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center is a really beautiful building, with a huge glass paneled vestibule often used for conferences. You can walk out the back to the Potomac, and take a ride on the Capital Wheel, which affords a great view across the water to the capital and Washington Monument. There are also water taxis available that will take you across the Potomac to the Georgetown area of DC.
You’ll find many options for food and shopping in this area, and you can also see the Awakening statue – sculptures made to look like a man climbing out of the earth. Walk up to Spirit Park and take a look at the interesting textured sculptures of an American Bison family and flags. It is worth the short walk to enjoy this small, patriotic park.
Frederick, MD
Frederick is a charming little town with lots of hiking, including part of the Appalachian Trail. There are historical buildings and small specialty museums. Our favorite is the Roads and Rail Museum, which is a fun roadside type of stop, especially if you have a train fan. And what family with small children doesn’t have at least one train fan?? It is a model train museum with bazillions of details including a tiny amusement park, tiny drive in theater, tiny factories, and much more.
Bookside Garden
Brookside Garden is a free and quite beautiful botanic garden in Montgomery County, MD, just north of Washington DC. There are many gorgeous themed gardens, such as an azalea garden, a butterfly garden, a pond and a conservatory. It is a really lovely place, especially considering that it is free. It is in a highly populated area with many choices of nearby restaurants.
Annapolis
Downtown Annapolis is just a fun, bustling place to be. Visit the Naval Academy and take a boat tour that will point out the various buildings in the Academy and surrounding area from the very pleasant vantage point of the water. Stroll the wide brick streets to explore the “Sailing Capital of the US” and its lovely historic waterfront.
Sandy Point State Park
If you’re wanting to swim, you can visit Sandy Point Park, which is a sandy beach area on the bay, almost under the Chesapeake Bay bridge. It has everything you need – there are restrooms, a playground, picnic tables and concessions. It does get crowded in the summer, especially on weekends!
Family fun in the Western Region of Maryland
State Parks
There are many lovely state parks full of family fun in the Western region of Maryland. Washington Monument State Park includes a short but sweet climb from the parking lot to the enclosed tower which intersects with the Appalachian trail. There is also a playground and restrooms, so this park was a hit for us.
Deep Creek State Park includes the largest inland body of water in MD, and its water is crystal clear. Walk along the edge of the lake in any season, and find several playgrounds along the way. Visit the Discovery Center and its gift shop. In summer, go swimming and boating on the lake.
Swallow Falls State Park includes a trail from the parking lot that connects several waterfalls. The largest is Muddy Creek Falls, which are the highest falls in Maryland. You can hike right down to the base to feel the spray. There is also Tolliver Falls, (which looked like a little trickle in comparison!) and Swallow Falls, which is notable for the weird geological formation just below it, which looked like a giant Minecraft mushroom of rock with vegetation hair in the middle of the river.
Herrington Manor State Park has a large lake surrounded by evergreens, a couple of small playgrounds, a lake house, and a boat launch.
Casselman River Bridge State Park contains one of the oldest bridges in the country, and just across it you will find Spruce Forest Artisan Village. Here you can meet artisans at work and buy their wears, including potters, blacksmiths, weavers and other artists, and unique businesses located in historic buildings. The Yoder History House is also located here, where you can learn about life in the 18th century. There are also a couple of lovely overlooks in the surrounding areas.
Weverton Cliffs
The hike up to Weverton Cliffs is what hiking people call “moderate” and what my family calls “challenging.” Still, it was a lot of fun to scramble over rocks and roots and come out sweaty and tired to a lovely view of the Potomac. I love how the trees seem to grow at odd angles directly out of rock, their roots intertwined with the cliffs. You can get right to the cliff’s edge (and fall to your death if you’re being risky with the selfies). So please exercise caution!
Crystal Grottos Caverns
Take a 30 minute tour of the caves to see a plethora of stalactites and stalagmites that are really beautiful. They glisten and form all kinds of crazy shapes, including but not limited to (as named by my children): bacon, potato chips, and popcorn (because kids are always thinking about snacks.)
Family Fun in Small Towns in the Western Region of Maryland
In the little town of Oakland in Garett County, you can find three different museums all within close walking distance. One is the Oakland B&O Museum, which has a steam engine in the front yard so you can’t miss it. Another is the Garrett County Museum of Transportation which includes antique cars and a variety of other vehicles. Finally, the Garrett County Historical Museum includes 9 rooms full of artifacts pertaining, of course, to Garrett County. The favorites in our family were the model train, the dolls and doll furniture, and the war memorabilia from local veterans.
Historic Cumberland is part of a larger town, known for the Western Maryland Railway. Take a three hour excursion and see the stunning scenery of Western Maryland’s mountains from the comfort of your train car. Stop for a picnic meal or use the dining car. Another place to get a delicious bite to eat is the Baltimore Street Grill, in the heart of the downtown historic district.
Sykesville in Carroll county is a small town in Western Maryland. You can visit a historic “colored” school house, a historic train station, and a visitor’s center and post office inside a train car. It’s worth stopping by the French Twist Café, where I got the best crepe of my life. (I got the Italian). The coffee was good too. The town includes some beautiful homes, a gorgeous old church, and some unique boutiques.
Family Fun in the Central Region of Maryland
Havre De Grace
Havre De Grace is a cute small town on the banks of the Chesapeake Bay. We have enjoyed walking the boardwalk or “Promenade,” along the Bay to the historic lighthouse. We usually spend some time at the top of the hill overlooking the marina where there is a fantastic playground. There are several tasty seafood restaurants in town.
Gunpowder Falls State Park
Gunpowder Falls State Park is another beautiful one. It is enormous so you’ll probably want to do some planning before you visit. There are miles upon miles of trails, but wading in one of the rivers and tossing some rocks in is always a favorite activity for our little ones. If you want to swim in the bay, navigate to the Hammerman area. It is a large, clean area, with space to picnic on the grass, set up on the sand (water shoes not required), and take a swim in the bay. The water in the bay is often quite warm in the summertime, with little to no surf.
Family Fun in Baltimore
There are lots of things to do in Baltimore, but our favorite places to visit are the National Aquarium for a day out of the sun, the Inner Harbor for dining and strolling, and the Glen Martin Aviation Museum for our Air and Space Enthusiast. Even our less aeronautically-inclined children liked it because there was a cardboard rocket ship they could play in. (It’s the simple things, right?) The museum itself is tiny but includes an impressive tour outdoors of quite a few planes.
Patapsco Valley State Park
Patapsco is easy to get to from I-95 near Baltimore, so it makes a great stop on a road trip, Head to the Avalon area to cross the swinging bridge and check out the ruins on the other side. Just across the parking lot on the other side you can follow a short, kid-friendly trail up to Cascade Waterfalls. There is plenty of parking, and you will find restrooms, picnic tables and a playground on your way.
Susquehanna State Park
Hike along the Susquehanna or through the rocky nearby forest at this pleasant park. You can camp, fish, or boat there as well. History buffs may be interested in exploring the Rock Run area. Here you can find some old stone structures including a mansion and gristmill.
Rocks State Park
Rocks State Park in Harford County, MD, has several points of interest that make for a fun family outing. The “King and Queen Seat” can be reached via a short trail from the Rock Ridge Picnic Area parking lot. This towering outcropping of rock offers a fabulous view but care should be taken, especially with small kids and pets.
Another point of interest a few miles north is a slightly longer hike to see a pretty set of waterfalls. Drive to the Kilgore Falls parking area to find it. The hike is still short and fun, as it involves a bit of scrambling over rocks and river. You can hike right to the base of the falls.
Family Fun in the Southern Region of Maryland
Gilbert Run Park in Charles County
Gilbert Run Park is a fun place to go paddle boating around the lovely lake. When you get tired of that, play on the mini-zipline playground equipment. Then, cross the bridge to another playground on the other side. You can also cool off with ice cream from the little concession stand near the parking lot before heading out.
Calvert Cliffs State Park in Calvert County
Calvert Cliffs State Park is a great place to potentially find a fossil or shark’s tooth. You’ll see enormous fields of water lilies in the summer. You may see plenty of wildlife, from beautifully colored dragon flies to a variety of amphibians to deer and beaver.
Take the 2 mile path to the Bay where you can swim and collect rocks and seashells, which are plentiful. You cannot get near the cliffs, but can have a lovely view of them. The park has a bin of colanders, shovels and mesh screens with which to excavate. Our kids mostly used them to catch jelly fish and make sandy “crab soup.”
Calvert Marine Museum
Calvert Marine Museum includes a touch tank and many live creatures including a couple of adorable otters and native seahorses. There are very localized displays detailing some of the cultural history of the area. Displays also included various boats and other marine equipment that were used at different times in this region.
Point Overlook State Park in St. Mary’s county
Point Overlook State Park is a lovely place to take in the sunset. There is a historic lighthouse as well as a Civil War Prison Camp where you can find historical information about the fort, explore the structures and an old military barracks. You can also swim in the bay, and we were lucky enough to (accidentally) find ourselves swimming with a group of cownose sting rays when we went.
Find out more about our experiences in Southern Maryland at this post.
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