It’s Memorial Day weekend, which means it’s a little quiet around Route One as people head out of town. Instead of a kids’ weekend guide this week, I’ve put together a list of my favorite splash parks, pools, and beaches to celebrate the unofficial start of summer. This list will keep you and the kiddos splashy and happy all summer long.
Let’s Go! A Guide to Camping with Kids Around Route One
Camping can seem daunting for parents of young kids, but I’m here to tell you that you can do it. It’s an inexpensive getaway full of screen-free fun. There’s no better way to get your kids to sleep soundly than a day in the woods. We’re lucky to have lots of beautiful campgrounds near the […]
Hike, Water Play & Dog-Friendly Fun at Rachel Carson Greenway Trail
we’re here to share the good word about a little known trail, close to water (with a WATERFALL) and located just minutes from the Route 1 corridor: The Rachel Carson Greenway Trail in Silver Spring! Where precisely? Located in Burnt Mills West Special Park. Yes, the green area across from Trader Joe’s in Silver Spring. (Now you know exactly where I’m talking about.)
Get Outside: Cash Lake Trail at Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel
While we were pretty disappointed that the Cash Lake Trail did not actually lead to any cash 🤣, we still highly recommend this mainly flat, 2-miles or so hike that begins at the Patuxent Research Refuge Visitors Center in Laurel.
Play, Hike & Water Fun at Adelphi Mill Playground
The Adelphi Mill Playground is a fun place for the kids to play, especially on a hot, summer day! Located in Langley Park / Adelphi, Maryland area on the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River, this Imagination Playground is full of structures reminiscent of when the Mill was a functioning one. (More on this below.) Afterwards, skip stones and cool your feet in the nearby river or take a leisurely walk along the adjacent hiking trails. Take a look at the fun to be had. Lovely time altogether!
Franciscan Monastery in Brookland, DC (with or without kids)!
Searching for something different to do with (or without) your guests over the holidays? Then consider exploring the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America in the Brookland neighborhood of Washington, DC (it’s free, though donation welcomed). Open to all, the Franciscan Monastery is full of amazing architecture, incredibly beautiful stained glass windows, breathtaking art, relics of pilgrimages from around the world, shrines that make room for you to spend a moment and grounds that remind you of what it’s like to feel peaceful (except if you have a 4-year old child nipping at your proverbial heels. Tips on visiting with kids, below…).
