Sugarloaf Mountain

Have a picnic at the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, MD and then cool down with some ice cream at a local favorite.

Sugarloaf Mountain (Point B), Rocky Point Creamery (Point C)

THINGS TO DO:

1.  Drive to Sugarloaf Mountain (43 miles, 53 minutes)

• Hike to the overlook (there are various trails of various lengths/difficulty)
• Climb rocks on the way
• Eat a picnic at the overlook

2.  If time, go to Rocky Point Creamery before heading home (10 miles, 17 minutes)

• Buy freshly made ice cream

THINGS TO KNOW:

Most hiking locations have a variety of trails from which you chose, but a lot of them only have one way to reach the main attraction.  What is great about Sugarloaf Mountain is there are a variety of trails and several of them reach the summit.  It is great to be able to decide how much you want to challenge yourself and how much time you want to take to get to the top.  It’s also nice to have a different view on the way up than on the way down if you decide to do a loop like we did.  Our first time there, we were informed the Orange trail that begins by the East View Parking Lot is the shortest, but also the most difficult way to the top, and the Green trail that begins from the West View Parking lot was slightly longer and easier.  We chose to park at the West View lot and begin our hike on the Blue Trail, then turn off onto the Red Trail to reach the Summit and return to our car via the Green Trail.  That made the steepest portion of the hike going down.  We’d recommend that route if you don’t consider yourself to be an expert hiker and if you have about an hour or two.  We'd also recommend to pack a picnic lunch to eat at the summit if you are hiking around lunch time.

Something else great about the mountain is the plethora of boulders.  It’s the perfect  natural playground.  Kids of all ages can find rocks all along the way that are just the right size to explore.  We saw little toddlers proudly conquering rocks two feet tall, school-age children discovering alcoves perfect for hiding in boulders that were 10-feet tall, and fully-grown kids scaling huge rock walls with all the ropes and gear. 

A few other things to note: You’ll find plenty of picnic tables near the parking lots, but you’ll want to make sure to remember the table cloth.  You’ll also find portable toilets, but don’t forget to pack your own hand sanitizer.  As with any hiking trail in the east, you’ll be covered by trees the majority of the time and you’ll find poison ivy (though the trails are wide enough that you can easily avoid brushing up against the poison ivy if you don’t venture off). Don’t forget the bug spray. 

After a hike, who doesn’t need some sort of reward?  Rocky Point Creamery is delicious.  It’s a little on the pricy side, but what creamery isn’t?  The ice cream is made from the milk that is produced by the cows on that very property and it tastes  delightfully fresh.  There’s just something fun and unique about supporting the local family farms.    

Fall in the Shenandoah

See the Shenandoah in Autumn and pick your own apples!  (or see it in the summer and pick your own peaches)

Shenandoah National Park - Meadow Spring (Point B),

Front Royal (Point C), Stribling Orchard in Markham (Point D) 

THINGS TO DO:

1.  Drive to Shenandoah National Park, specifically the Meadow Spring area (83 miles, 1 hour 44 minutes)

• Park at Meadow Spring Parking
• Explore this area with its network of trails through woods, streams, and cascades (easily tailored based on your interests and ability)
• Eat a picnic lunch either before you leave or during the upcoming drive

2.  Drive through Shenandoah National Park towards Front Royal, VA (34 miles, 1 hour 2 minutes)

• Stop at overlooks to enjoy the view
• Take time to enjoy other points of interest
• If time, stop at the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center

3.  Drive to Stribling Orchard in Markham, VA (12 miles, 20 minutes)

• Check-in, receive a picking pole, select the type of apples you want to pick, and walk or drive to the area of the orchard with those type of apples
• Have fun picking apples
• Visit the store

4.  At home, make Apple Crisp (recipe below)

APPLE CRISP

Ingredients:

1/2 box of yellow cake mix

4 cups of tart apples, peeled and sliced

3/4 cup of brown sugar

1 tsp of cinnamon

1/2 cup of melted butter

whipped cream or ice cream

Directions:

Grease a deep baking dish.  Place apples in bottom.  Combine sugar, cinnamon, cake mix, and butter.  Spread evenly over apples.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes (until apples are tender and crust is brown).  Serve with whipped cream or ice cream.


THINGS TO KNOW:

As promised, this is another activity where you’ll be glad to have a National Parks Pass.  You will be charged a fee for your entire car at Shenandoah National Park unless you’ve purchased a parks pass.  Something that we really love about Shenandoah National Park is that it is so easy to enjoy, regardless of your age and physical abilities.  There are plenty of difficult hikes for those eager for a workout, but you’ll also find easier hikes if you’re more in the mood for a stroll through the woods. (The easiest hikes are near the Northern Entrance). If you have no desire to leave your car, you’ll still be able to enjoy the beauty on the windy roads and the scenic over-looks.  

You’ll find picnic areas at a few different places within this drive: at the Pinnacles, just south of the Thorton Gap Entrance; at Elkwallow, several miles north of Thorton Gap Entrance; and at the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center, which is only a few miles south of the Front Royal (North) Entrance.  The Dickey Ridge Visitor Center has a small gift shop and a few educational exhibits on the Park. 

Stribling Orchard is a beautiful orchard operated by the Stribling family for several generations. When you check in, make sure to get the map of the orchard so you can park near the trees where you plan to pick.  Don’t forget to stop by the charming store where you can buy several jams and honey from the beehives located in the orchard.  There are picnic tables available in case you just can’t wait until you get home to eat your fresh apples or the yummy bakery items. 

DelGrosso's Amusement Park

Spend the day with your family at DelGrosso's Amusement Park in Tipton, PA.  For those looking for the most economical way to visit the park, go on the weekend of the Annual Italian Food & Heritage Festival.

Washington, DC to Tipton, PA (Point B)

THINGS TO DO:

1.  Drive to Tipton, PA (189 miles, 3 hours 32 minutes) - parking is free

2.  Enjoy the park rides (included in all-day fun pass) - family favorites include:

• Crazy Mouse
• Paratrooper
• Yo-Yo
• Tipton Creek Train Station
• Tilt-A-Whirl
• Dizzy Dragons
• Fire Trucks

3.  Try the wonderful food - family favorites include:

• Fresh made pizza
• Murf's Potato Salad
• Funnel cake

4.  Other things to do include:

• Tipton Waterworks & Rapids (during the summer and included in all-day fun pass)
• Altoona-Tipton Speedway (not included in all-day fun pass)
• Championship Miniature Golf (not included in all-day fun pass)

THINGS TO KNOW:

Theme parks can be a challenge with kids.  Adults enjoy racing up and down hills or being spun until dizzy; however, children can make it difficult to go on rides.  If you are like us, you find yourself paying a lot of money to enter theme parks only to watch your kids sit in mini-car after mini-train after mini-plane going in circles.  Full admission seems a waste of money when you become merely a spectator of the more appealing rides rising over the tree line in the distance.

DelGrosso's Amusement Park eliminates this frustration.  DelGrosso's pay-per-ride option allows you to enter the park free of charge and pay only for rides you and your kids actually ride.  If you have no intention of getting on a ride, you can enter the park with your loved ones and applaud your children for holding on tight, capture their joyful expressions on camera, and be the guardian of strollers, jackets and purses for absolutely free!  Finally, what you pay is proportionate to how many rides you go on!

If you prefer, DelGrosso's also gives you the option to pay for an all-day pass that gets you on every ride (except the go-karts and miniature golf).

To make this park even more affordable, click on the "events" tab on their website to find out when dads, grandparents, and veterans ride for free; when you can purchase an all-day pass for $5 off the regular price; when you can purchase an all-day pass for just $5; or when everyone in your car can receive an all-day pass for only $10.  (This $10 per carload deal is ideal for those traveling from the Washington, DC area).  You'll also find free music concerts, antique car shows, and food festivals on the calendar.

The park is small, which makes it easily manageable for children's little legs and grandparents' tired legs.  It also make it easy to find members of your party after you've split up for a time.  The rides are similar to the types of rides you'd find at a traveling fair, so you won't find long roller coasters with loops here.  However, we found that the bigger park rides were enjoyable even for the roller-coaster-lovers in our family while still tame enough for the family members who lack a strong stomach or lack a little bit of height. Many of the rides were suitable for the entire family to enjoy together.  There were only a handful that the very smallest child could not ride and on the opposite end of the spectrum a handful that the adults could not ride.

One more favorite thing about this park was the food.  The pizza was delicious and made with DelGrosso's own sauce that is bottled right across the street from the park.  You can't get much fresher than that!  

A little tip on driving directions:  It's worth it to just pay the money and go on the PA Turnpike.  We went out of our way to try to avoid that road and found that the instructions weren't clear and the roads in a few places were a little confusing.  We wasted enough time trying to get back on the right track that we decided we would've been better off on the Turnpike.  

Explore Great Falls, VA

Visit Great Falls, VA.  Hike a picturesque 5.1 mile loop and see the Potomac River's amazing waterfall.  Stop to see a historic mill close-by before going home.

Difficult Run Trail Head (Point B)

THINGS TO DO:

1.  Difficult Run

• Leave in the morning and pack a picnic lunch
• Drive to trail head (15.6 miles, 24 minutes)
• Park in the lot just off of Georgetown Pike, a couple miles before Old Dominion Drive
• Walk the 5.1 miles Difficult Run hike, which will take approximately 2.5 hours
• See trees, wildlife, and great views of the Potomac River

2.  Great Falls National Park

• About midway through your hike, stop at Great Falls National Park
• Explore the Visitors Center
• See the "Great Falls"
• Rest and eat lunch (if you didn't pack a lunch, a snack bar is open seasonally)
• Continue hiking and return to your car

Great Falls

3.  Colvin Run Mill

• Relax after your hike by driving to Colvin Run Mill (4.9 miles, 10 minutes)
• Shop in the General Store for something refreshing after your hike and for wheat milled at Colvin Run
• Tour the restored mill
• Wander around the grounds, taking the self-guided tours of the property (not that big)
• Return home (Colvin Run Mill closes at 4:00 p.m.)

Difficult Run Trail Head (Point A) to Colvin Run Mill (Point B)

THINGS TO KNOW:

Difficult Run Trail has a parking lot just to the south of the Great Falls Park boundaries.  The trail doesn’t follow the river, but instead leads through the woods to the ruins of Matildaville.  Its interesting to stand by the foundations and read about the history of the area. 

If you can’t handle hiking, drive directly to Great Falls National Park so you can still enjoy the view of the falls.  The park charges $5 per car, or $3 per person entering on foot, bike or horseback, unless you have a National Parks Pass.  Beginning in April 2013, it is a trash-free park, so be prepared to carry out all your trash with you when you go.  There are plenty of picnic tables and lots of grassy area if you prefer to lay out a blanket and sit on the ground.  There’s enough flat space for a game of soccer or frisbee.  The falls overlook is an easy stroll from the parking lot, if you’ve driven directly to the park.  One thing we love about the park is the plethora of boulders that captivate rock climbers of all levels.  Even small children have a blast crawling around on the rocks they can manage.  The visitor center has some educational exhibits on the area and a very small gift shop.

Colvin Run Mill is a small park and doesn’t require a lot of time to explore, but it is worth the stop.  Just down the road from the bustle of Tyson’s Corner, it is a serene park that transports you back in time.  Tours are available for a fee ($7 for adults and $5 for kids) or you can grab a brochure and do a self-guided tour of the grounds.  Check the website to find out when the mill is in operation and when you can see black smith and woodworking demonstrations.  Stop into the general store to complete that feeling that you’ve stepped back in time.  In our warehouse, bulk-buying culture, there’s something amazing about buying grains that have recently been milled a few steps away from the store in which you’re standing.  The store has recipes available for you to try a typical dish from the 1800’s.  If you purchase some cornmeal and want some of the best cornbread you’ve ever had, try this recipe.

Arlington's Point of View

Take several hours to honor those who serve our country and to enjoy Arlington, VA.

THINGS TO DO:

1.  Walk Around the Arlington National Cemetery Area (3.2 miles round trip)

• Park in the Arlington National Cemetery parking lot - there is a fee, but it is next to the visitor's center which has air conditioning, water fountains, and bathrooms
• Begin your walk at the Visitors Center (Point A) - stop and get a map and other information
• Walk to United States Marine Corps War Memorial (Point B)
• On your way back to Arlington National Cemetery, stop at the Netherlands Carillon (Point C) - this is one of the greatest views of Washington, D.C.
• Continue to the Women in Military Service for America Memorial (Point D) - take the time to walk the stairs to the top of the memorial and view the gallery inside the memorial
• Walk to President John F. Kennedy's Gravesight (Point E) - see the Eternal Flame and view the Arlington House
• Finish your visit by attending the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns (Point F) and visiting the Memorial Amphitheater

United States Marine Corps War Memorial

View of Washington, D.C. from the Netherlands Carillon 

Women in Military Service for America Memorial

Eternal Flame at President John F. Kennedy's Gravesite

Arlington House 

Tomb of the Unknowns

2.  Drive to Gravelly Point Park (4.7 miles)

• Have a picnic
• Watch the planes take off and land at Reagan National Airport

3.  Drive to the Air Force Memorial (3.0 miles)

• Take 20 minutes to walk around the memorial - this a yet another amazing place to view our nation's capital.

Air Force Memorial

4.  End the day at Hayes Park (3.0 miles) - especially if you are doing this day trip with children during the summer

• Cool down at the "spray ground" - be sure to pack swimming suits if you plan to do this - your children can change in the bathrooms
• Play tennis or basketball
• Play on the playground

Arlington National Cemetery (Point A); Gravelly Point Park (Point B);
Air Force Memorial (Point C); Hayes Park (Point D)

THINGS TO KNOW:

This is a great day trip that takes you to some wonderful memorials, but doesn’t pack in so much that you don’t have time to enjoy them.  

So that you can plan your bathroom/snack/water breaks: our walk around the Arlington National Cemetery area took about 3 ½ hours.  Had it been necessary, we could’ve gotten through it a little more quickly.  If we had the energy to get home very late, we could’ve spent more time enjoying this part of the day.  The gallery inside the Women in Military Service for America Memorial is a great resting spot if you need one.  If you’re too tired for the stairs to the top, take the elevator at the far end of the monument - it's worth the effort to go up there.  When you go to see the Changing of the Guard, try to get a spot on your right hand side as you’re looking at the tomb - that is where most of the ceremony takes place.  You will be asked to stand and remain silent through the 5-10 minute change, so find a place you can do so comfortably.

Gravelly Point Park is a lot of fun for the airplane and boat aficionados.  The picnic area is right next to the water and Reagan National Airport.  The planes fly right over your head and then make the sharp turn necessary to avoid D.C.  Be prepared for the loud noise of the planes’ engines.  We didn’t feel the need to provide earplugs for our family, but we did notice that some parents were protecting their children’s hearing.

The best place to get a photo while on the site of the Air Force Memorial is from the far corner of the parking lot.  As you drive into the parking lot, go all the way back to find the spot we stood to get the shot that we did.  We were pleasantly surprised to find that there is more to the monument than what you see from the road and we enjoyed walking around it and reading about it.

The “Spray Ground” at Hayes Park has a few little tricks.  The first important thing to know if you plan on playing in the water is that the water is only available from Memorial Day – Labor Day, and even then only during certain hours.  Check the website before you go.  Also, the sprinklers run on a timer so as to not waste water while people aren’t there. The local residents all know how to turn it on every 5 minutes or so.  

The Washington D.C. "Castle"

You see it all the time on I-495 and hear it referenced on traffic reports, take a couple hours and get a close up view of the "Mormon Temple" (11 miles, 28 minutes).

Washington, D.C. to Washington D.C. Temple (Point B)

Washington D.C. Temple

• Walk around the temple grounds
• Stop in the visitors' center and see a reproduction of the Christus statue
• In the spring and summer, go during the day and enjoy the flower beds
• During Christmas season, go in the evening and enjoy the Festival of Lights

Washington D.C. Temple at Christmas Time

THINGS TO KNOW:

The Temple Visitor Center (the picture above is the temple; as your looking at the temple from this view, the visitor center is located on your left up a small set of stairs) is open to everyone, regardless of your religion.  There is usually plenty of parking, but it is more crowded in December during the Festival of Lights.   There are permanent exhibits and there are frequently musical concerts, movies, and art exhibits - all free of charge.  Many of the performers and artists featured are local.   Check the website for a schedule of events.  There are restrooms and drinking fountains located inside the visitor center.  

Just Across the Potomac

Spend a peaceful morning on the VA side of the Potomac River.

THINGS TO DO:

1.  United States Marine Corps War Memorial

• Take a picnic breakfast and watch the sunrise over Washington, D.C. from the Iwo Jima Memorial

Sunrise at Iwo Jima

2.  Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

• Walk the nature trails on Theodore Roosevelt Island
• Photograph the wildlife