Comments (0)Inexpensive Mid-Atlantic Family Trips
June 2009By Barbara Pash
You don’t have to spend a fortune for a fun family vacation. A look at what’s available within a day’s drive turns up plenty of inexpensive places where kids are welcome. Here are four of the best.
Greenbrier State Park, Md.
Every year, thousands of visitors enjoy Greenbrier, located in the Appalachian Mountains in western Maryland. The park features an extensive trail system that ranges from a 4.5-mile-long trail marked as “difficult” to short less-than-a-mile trails that families with children can enjoy.
Greenbrier connects to the Appalachian Trail, which runs from Maine to Georgia. Today, between 3 and 4 million people hike at least a section of that trail every year. Most are day hikers and short-distance backpackers.
There’s more to Greenbrier than hiking. A 42-acre manmade lake and beach draws visitors for swimming, canoeing, picnicking, fishing and cycling. There is a boat ramp and boat rental. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer. The lake is stocked with trout, largemouth bass and bluegill. A Maryland fishing license is required.
Greenbrier also has 165 campsites with bathhouses and hot showers nearby, of which 40 sites have electric hookups. On weekends through the summer, campfire programs are held, and wildlife exhibits can be seen at the visitor center.
Alongside the lake are four gazebos that can be rented for groups; call 301-791-4767. A youth group camping program is available at Washington Monument State Park; call 1-888-432-2267.
For information about Greenbrier State Park, call 301-791-4767 or go to the Web site, dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/greenbrier.html . There is a weekday and a weekend/holiday fee per person, or you can pay per vehicle. Marylanders get a discount.
Gettysburg, Pa.
The Battle of Gettysburg took place from July 1 to 3, 1863. It is considered the turning point in the Civil War, ending Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s invasion of the North. It was also the war’s bloodiest battle, with 51,000 casualties, and the site of President Abraham Lincoln’s famous address.
The U.S. National Park Service manages the battlefield, which is spread in and around the town of Gettysburg. You can pick up a map at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center and take a self-guided vehicle tour. There are parking lots at the various stops on the route, so you can also get out of your car and walk the area.
If you prefer, park guides offer informative group tours of different sites. You can also hire a licensed private guide or take a commercial bus tour with guide that leaves from the visitor center.
The visitor center houses a museum whose focus is the life of Civil War soldiers, with artifacts of the era. Nearby is the Gettysburg Cyclorama, a 360-degree painting that depicts Pickett’s Charge, the climactic and failed Confederate attack on the Union center on July 3. The cyclorama recently reopened after an extensive $9 million restoration.
The park has hiking trails, a horse trail and children’s activities. Children ages 7 to 12 can join the army and learn what it was like to be a soldier in the Civil War. The Junior Ranger Program, for children and their families, has hands-on activities. Ask for an activity guide at the visitor center information desk.
The visitor center is located at 1195 Baltimore Pike (Rte. 97). An admission fee is charged for the museum and the cyclorama. For information on Gettysburg National Military Park, call 717-334-1124.
Sandy Point State Park, Md.
Located in Annapolis at the western end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, Sandy Point is a 786-acre state park. There is a seemingly endless array of recreational activities, from sailing and fishing to picnicking and hiking; or you can spend the day swimming from its guarded sandy beaches and playing on the playground.
There is also plenty to see. The park overlooks the bay, with splendid views of the passing boats. It is also on the eastern flyway of many migratory birds, so bird watching and wildlife viewing are popular pastimes.
Two hiking trials offer unique views of the diverse habitats of the park. One trail leads through marshes in various stages of growth; the other trail goes through the woods and over a marsh.
There is a boat launch for boating, as well as canoeing, kayaking and windsurfing. A marina store sells bait, tackle, fuel and fishing licenses. Rowboats and motorboats can be rented in summer and early fall. Call the Sandy Point Marina for availability and prices at 410-974-2772.
In the summer season, admission is charged per person, with Maryland residents paying less. For information, call 410-974-2149 or go to the Web site, dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/southern/sandypoint.html.
Longwood Gardens, Pa.
Longwood Gardens, the former home of Pierre S. du Pont, is located in Kennett Square, Pa. Ask for a schedule of daily activities at the visitor center. These range from fireworks to Sousa band concerts. The five-acre main fountain garden has daily illuminated shows, with music and colored lights.
The outdoor gardens include a bell tower, topiary exhibit and rose garden. The indoor conservatory houses 5,000 plants, from cactus to orchids.
But if you think Longwood Gardens is for garden buffs only, you’ll be amazed at the array of children’s activities. A Kids’ Garden Adventure lets ages 3 to 5 learn about gardens through stories, crafts and hands-on exploration. Nature’s Castles feature three large-scale treehouses for children to explore. In Family Firefly Nights, parents and children participate in a ladybug release, meet a beekeeper and his displays, and catch fireflies in the garden. A new Indoor Children’s Garden has a tree-covered seating area with pool and water jets, a “secret” room that is home to a water “dragon,” and a bamboo maze with hands-on activities and bird sculptures.
Picnicking is allowed in certain areas. There is also a restaurant with a casual café area, as well as a full-service restaurant. For information on Longwood Gardens, call 800-737-5500 or go to the Web site, longwoodgardens.org. Fee charged, with discount for children ages 5 to 18.
Great Falls Park, Va.
Great Falls is part of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. The 800-acre park is 15 miles from Washington, D.C., and there are opportunities to hike along the Potomac River or through the woods on one of the park trails.
Great Falls Park includes several well-known sites that are open for tours. Among them is Arlington House: The Robert E. Lee Memorial; the Clara Barton National Historic Site, the Civil War era nurse; and the slavery-era Claude Moore Farm.
Of special interest to families are the Junior Ranger Camp and Junior Ranger program. The Junior Ranger Camp is a two-day summer day camp that is offered yearly for children ages 8 to 11. Reservations are required. The Junior Ranger Program is for children age 5 years and up, who explore the camp with the Park Rangers. Sign up at the Visitor Center desk for this program.
For information about Great Falls Park, go to the Web site, nps.gov/grfa. For information about the Junior Ranger Camp, call 703-285-2965; for visitor information in general, call 703-285-2965.