Goddard Space Flight Center

Explore the exciting work of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center at its Visitor Center in Greenbelt, MD.

Goddard Visitor Center (Point B)

THINGS TO DO:

1.  Visitor Center at the Goddard Space Flight Center (17 miles, 26 minutes)

• Learn about the solar system, space technology and exploration, and weather from numerous hands-on exhibits
• Climb inside a Gemini capsule model
• Enjoy Science on a Sphere, an innovative way to learn about science by watching animated data projected on a 6-foot-diameter globe
• Explore the Goddard Rocket Garden
• Buy NASA souvenirs at the Gift Shop

THINGS TO KNOW:

The Goddard Space Flight Center is a wonderful activity for those times you want to get out of the house without spending a lot of money (entrance is free) or when you don't want exhaust yourself by being out the entire day.  It is also a great way to have fun on a rainy day.

Sometimes large museums are overwhelming and it's difficult to learn from their exhibits when there are so many demanding attention.  Goddard's Visitor Center's size feels more manageable and makes it a fantastic learning environment. We noticed our kids taking the time to read, explore, and learn.  Of note, Science on a Sphere is an interesting teaching tool.  It captivated our children as they learned about science on a giant globe.  They didn't want to leave the theater.

When you're driving there, you'll find signs for the Visitor Center at Goddard Space Flight Center; be sure to follow those signs because they will be more helpful than the GPS.  As you pull up into the parking lot, you'll find picnic tables in case you're interested in packing your lunch.  You'll also find clean restrooms and drinking fountains inside the visitor center.  The gift shop is small, but packed with plenty of NASA items your kids will beg you to take home.

The Visitor Center is close to Greenbelt Park.  We didn't plan enough time to visit the park, so we can't say much about it, but we wanted to point out that it is nearby for anyone looking for something else fun in the area.  It is run by the National Park Service but there is no admission fee.  If you visit the Goddard Space Flight Center and have the chance visit Greenbelt Park as well, leave a comment and let us know what you think about the park.

Mackintosh Fruit Farm

Go out to the country and pick your own fruit.  Mackintosh Fruit Farm in Berryville, VA is an excellent place for get away from the city.

Mackintosh Fruit Farm (Point B)

THINGS TO DO:

1.  Mackintosh Fruit Farm (70 miles, 1 hour 17 minutes)

• Pick your own berries, peaches, nectarines, pears, apples, flowers, etc.
• Buy fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, peppers, corn, herbs, etc. from the garden
• Buy items from their bakery (fruit pies, cobblers, jams, jellies, homemade ice cream, etc.)
• Eat lunch or an early dinner at their Farmer's Market Kitchen (paninis, wraps, pulled pork, burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, chick salad, BLT, zucchini pizza, etc.)
• Explore the farm by hiking around the gardens and a beautiful pond
• Visit (and feed) the goats, cows, and horses
• Attend one of their fun events

 

THINGS TO KNOW:

Grocery stores are so helpful for our quick pace of life, but sometimes it is just good for the soul to slow down and take a drive out to the country and get our food directly from the source.  It's gratifying to pick your own fruit from the trees and to return home with a bounty to enjoy.  Mackintosh Fruit Farm is  a beautiful place to pick at your own pace and to enjoy the contrast from your day-to-day life. 

We've mapped out the quickest way to get from D.C. to the farm, but if you're in the mood for a more scenic drive, re-route your trip to go from I-66 to US-50 through Gilbert's Corner in Aldie, turn right on Snickersville Pike, and then left on Route 7.  It'll add about 30 minutes to your drive, but it's beautiful and winding.  If you go on the weekends, you might find seafood and BBQ for sale at Gilbert's corner (the intersection of routes 50 and 15), you'll pass a small Civil War Monument commemorating the Battle of Aldie along Snickersville Pike, and enjoy views of mountains and farms as you drive.  

Don't forget to take sunblock and water bottles so you don't wear out before you've collected all that you want to take home.  Once you're at the farm, the first thing you'll want to do is head to the cash registers where you can get a map of the farm.  They'll let you know what's in season for picking, you can pick up some containers (or you can bring your own) and a wagon, and then you're off to pick the produce that you're most interested in.  After you pick, you'll head back to the registers to pay for your produce by the pound.  The prices of each item are listed in the store.  When we went, we found that the peaches were half the cost if you picked 25 pounds or more; that was the best price on peaches anywhere this summer.  If you're new to picking fruit, a general good rule of thumb is that it's ripe when it's fairly easy to pick off the tree/bush.  If you're not interested in doing the manual labor of picking your own produce, you'll find plenty of already picked produce available at the store.

If your family is like ours, everyone will want their chance to do their fair share of picking and, before you know it, you'll have more fruit than you know what to do with.  You might even experience a slight sense of panic as you look at your wagon and wonder what you'll do with it all.  Don't worry, it's easy to preserve fruit.  We peeled, cut and froze several pounds of peaches to use in smoothies.  We're novices to making jams and jellies, but its easier to do than you'd think.  Grab a box of SureJell Pectin from the grocery store and you'll find recipes and instructions inside.  Freezer jam is quick and doesn't require all the supplies that canning does.  If you want to try out canning, here's a helpful website.  For the first time ever, we made some fruit leather after visiting Mackintosh Farm.  We used this website for guidelines and it came out delicious.  We also picked blackberries and made this amazing dessert.

While paying for your fruits and vegetables, check out the many other things for purchase around the cash registers.  We recommend the peach/blackberry frozen yogurt.  There are plenty of picnic tables available for you to enjoy your meal.  We saw others enjoying a picnic near the pond.  Public bathrooms are available near the cash registers.

Delaware Seashore State Park

Escape for a day of relaxation and fun at the beach.

Delaware Seashore State Park (Point B)

THINGS TO DO:

1.  Delaware Seashore State Park (137 miles, 2 hours 53 minutes)

• Swim and sunbathe
• Surf, skim board, or body board
• Have a picnic on the beach
• Build a sandcastle or bury a family member in the sand
• Go clamming or crabbing in specified areas (check with Park Office for details)
• If you are lucky, see dolphins

THINGS TO KNOW:

This day trip is perfect for anyone who wants to visit the beach, but doesn't feel the need to spend a lot of time there.  While it can be a lot of driving in one day, if you time it right you may have all the kids sleeping peacefully on the way home and you save yourself the effort of packing an over-night bag and the expense of a hotel.

Delaware Seashore State Park is affordable and convenient.  The cost is $8 for out-of-state visitors, but includes access to bathhouses with showers and changing rooms.  This is an important aspect for our family.  The showers are not glamorous (you have to push a button to turn the water on every 10 seconds), but they get the job done so you don't have to drive 3 hours home sitting (and chafing) in sandy clothes. 

There are two ocean swimming areas at Delaware Seashore State Park, Tower Ocean Road and South Inlet Day Area.  Tower Ocean Road is the best option if you enjoy or are interested in trying surfing.  Our family really enjoyed the day we spent at the South Inlet Day Area.  Both areas have bathhouses.  

If you want to save yourself the effort of packing beach equipment or don't want to bother purchasing beach gear that will only be used once a year, you can rent chairs for $5 and umbrellas for $12 to use all day.  There are also concessions available at both swimming areas.  Regardless of whether you buy or bring your own food, you'll have to take your own trash out of the park.

Our family enjoys visiting Delaware Seashore State Park because we like visiting the beach without the commercialism of a boardwalk.  However, the park is only about 10 minutes away from Dewey Beach and about 15 minutes away from Rehoboth Beach where we can find the typical beach stores if we need to purchase body boards or sand castle supplies on the way to the beach.  

We recommend staying until 4:00 p.m.  By the time you pack up and shower (be aware that there may be lines for the shower at this time),  it will be time for dinner.  There are plenty of great places to eat along Delaware 1.  After a full day in the sun and a good dinner, the kids will be sufficiently prepared to sleep on the way home.  And best of all, you just masterfully avoided traffic on the beltway!