Theodore Roosevelt Island

Spend an hour or two exploring Theodore Roosevelt Island in Arlington, VA.

Roosevelt Island (Point B)

THINGS TO DO:

1.  Drive to Theodore Roosevelt Island (2.3 miles, 5 minutes) and park in the lot just off of the George Washington Memorial Parkway.

2.  Cross the bridge, leading to the Island.

Bridge to Roosevelt Island

3.  Stop at the memorial plaza and read the inspirational quotes from the 26th President of the United States.

Memorial on Roosevelt Island

4.  Circumvent the island, stopping to see great views of Georgetown and Washington, DC and enjoying the nature found there.

View of Georgetown from the island

Scenes along the nature walk

THINGS TO KNOW:

The island is open, free of charge, year-round from 6:00a-10:00p.

The parking lot is only accessible to cars traveling northbound on George Washington Memorial Parkway.  You can also access the island by foot or bike using the Mount Vernon Trail (bikes are not allowed on the island, but bicycle racks are located near the footbridge).

The island has restrooms and drinking fountains.  Restrooms are closed during the winter, but the park provides portable toilets near the restrooms.

Most trails are well paved and wheelchair or stroller accessible.  However, the trails providing the best views of Georgetown are not.

Evening Hike at Bears Den

Take a short evening hike to Bears Den in Bluemont, VA and watch the sunset over the Shenandoah Valley.

Bears Den (Point B)

THINGS TO DO:

1.  Drive to Bears Den (58 miles, 1 hour)

Carving at Bears Den Day Use Parking Lot

2.  Hike either the Nature Trail (1 mile, easy); the Demonstration Trail (1.5 miles, moderate); or the trail to Tributary Bridge (2 miles, moderate)

3.  Finish your hike at the Bears Den Overlook and watch the sunset.

View from Bears Den Outlook

Sunset over the Shenandoah Valley

THINGS TO KNOW:

We did this as an evening hike, following dinner in Loudoun County, and loved it.  It was easy and had amazing views.  There were surprisingly only a few groups at the overlook that weekend, which made it simple to find a spot to sit and enjoy the sunset.  Another couple brought pizza and we liked that idea for the next time we go.

You could easily turn this into a day-long hiking trip.  Bears Den is on the Appalachian Trail, which allows you to modify your hike based on time and ability.  (You will find longer hike ideas on the website for Bears Den.)

The day-use fee is only $3.  Parking was a little tight since the day-use lot is also used for nearby camping (for an additional fee - rates found on the website).  If the lot is full, you can park on Route 7 and hike in 0.5 miles.  Camping, fires, and alcohol are prohibited at the overlook and you are encouraged to pack out anything you bring.

While watching a sunset is always more enjoyable without the kids, we were glad we went without our little one since there are cliffs, large boulders, and other assorted ways to fall.  By all means, take your children to this great spot, but be prepared to keep an eye on them while you apreciate the view.

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal

Spend the day exploring life along the C&O Canal.

Ferry Hill (Point B), Dam 4 (Point C), Williamsport Visitors Center (Point D),
Four Locks (Point E), Paw Paw Tunnel (Point F)

THINGS TO DO:

8:30a - Drive to Ferry Hill, Sharpsburg, MD (72 miles, 1 hour 29 minutes)

9:00a - While on the road, call Williamsport Visitor Center (301-582-0813) to reserve a free ranger tour at 1:15p

10:00a - Arrive at Ferry Hill

• Explore Ferry Hill Plantation, learn about families that lived there and how their lives were intertwined with the C&O Canal
• See exhibits
• Check out "hands on area" for kids

Ferry Hill

11:30a - Drive to Dam 4, Sharpsburg, MD (13 miles, 26 minutes)

12:00p - Arrive at Dam 4

• Get out of car and enjoy the scenery along the Potomac river
• Eat a quick picnic lunch

One of the Dams on the Potomac River

12:30p - Drive to Williamsport Visitors Center, Williamsport, MD (9 miles, 17 minutes)

12:50p - Arrive at Williamsport Visitors Center

• Explore the visitors center
• Take the 1:15p ranger tour, which includes a boat ride, lock demonstration, and history of the area
• Walk around and enjoy the area 

C & O Canal Ride

Lockhouse 

3:00p - Drive to Four Locks, Clear Spring, MD (9 miles, 17 minutes)

3:20p - Arrive at Four Locks

• Take the self-guided walking tour of the locks
• Enjoy the Potomac River

A view of two of the Four Locks

4:00p - Drive to Paw Paw Tunnel, Oldtown, MD (45 miles, 1 hour 12 minutes)

• Walk the tunnel
• Hike surrounding paths

Entrance of Paw Paw Tunnel

End of the Tunnel

When you go, see if you can find the dollar bill I left in the middle of the tunnel

6:00p - Head home (115 miles, 2 hours 11)

THINGS TO KNOW:

The C&O Canal National Historical Park is almost 185 miles in length, beginning in Washington, DC and ending in Cumberland, MD.  There are a lot of things to see and do along the C&O Canal.  In our research, we were looking for highly rated places, which would be of most interest to our family and at the same time be fairly close together.  We loved what we came up with, but you may find other things on the park website which better suit you and your group.

You can stop and see Ferry Hill any time of the year; however, it is only open with interactive exhibits between Memorial Day and Labor Day (Friday-Sunday, 10:00a-3:00p).  If you choose to visit the C&O Canal outside of summer, just be sure to modify your itinerary.  You will not need more than 10 minutes to drive up to and walk around the house.  If you want to stick with your itinerary, there are some Canal sites (lock and towpath) on the other side of the road.  Just follow the signs on the road.

If you are interested in taking a free boat ride on the C&O Canal in Williamsport, you will need to call the Visitors Center as soon as it opens at 9:00a to make a reservation.  Space is limited and reservations are only accepted same day.  Like Ferry Hill, boat rides are only offered Memorial Day through Memorial Day and only on the weekends at 10:30a, 12:15a, 1:30p, and 3:00p.  Because boat rides fill-up, you will need to be flexible with you itinerary--depending on the time of your ride.  We recommend shooting for 1:30p.

There are several dams on the Potomac River, which are beautiful.  We recommend either stopping at Dam 4 before Williamsport Visitor Center or Dam 5 afterwards.  Both are picturesque, but similar, so choose whichever works best for your schedule.

The Williamsport Visitors Center is a great place to get a good understanding of what life was like on the canal.  Ranger-led tours take visitors back in time, giving them first hand experience floating the canal, opening a lock by hand, and walking the quarters of those who worked the canal.  There are trails for walking, picnic tables for eating, grass to allow little children to run and amazing views.  The visitor center includes exhibits and a gift shop.  There are also restrooms and water fountains, which come in handy after time in the car and three stops.  The visitor center is open all seasons, but only on Wednesday through Sunday, 9:00a-4:30p.

The best way to explore Four Locks is by taking the self-guided walking tour.  The locks and canal no longer have water in them; instead they are covered with grass.  Our kids had a blast running around on the grass and exploring the locks.  While Four Locks previously was a thriving community, it now has only a few buildings.  Of interest, those wanting the full canal experience can register to stay at Lockhouse 49.  Next to Four Locks is a boat launch for the Potomac River.  The boat launch has public restrooms and a great picnic area.  If you have little ones, this is a good place to prepare for the 1 hour 15 minute drive to Paw Paw Tunnel.

We loved Paw Paw Tunnel.  After a long day, it was great to stretch our legs and go for a hike.  The hike rather flat and not strenuous, but it is dark and can be wet in the tunnel, so be sure to bring a flashlight and appropriate shoes.  Our family only walked through the tunnel and back.  The tunnel itself is only two-thirds of a mile long, but there is a little bit of walk from the parking lot to the tunnel (round trip was around 2 miles).  If you want something more challenging, follow the additional 2 mile Tunnel Hill Trail over the top of the mountain to see where the tunnel builders lived during construction.  There are portable restrooms, drinking water (seasonally), and picnic tables at the parking lot.  For those interested, there is also primitive camping for a fee.

Cedar Run Falls (Natural Water Slides)

Enjoy slipping and sliding down Cedar Run Falls in Shenandoah National Park.  Hiking to these natural water slides is a great workout and tons of fun.  Definitely a spot to check out!

Trailhead for Cedar Run Falls (point B)

THINGS TO DO:

1.  Drive to Whiteoak Canyon Parking Area (97 miles, 1 hour 58 minutes)

2.  Hike a couple miles (round trip) to Cedar Run Falls:

• Enjoy sliding on the natural water slides
• Have a picnic
• Hike to other water falls in teh area if you have time and energy

Our favorite natural slide

The view when you realize the hike was worth it! 

Smaller natural slide (the youngest kids enjoyed this), first falls found about a third to half of the way to our favorite slide

Other waterfalls in the area (youtube videos show some daredevils sliding down)

 

Hiking the trail

THINGS TO KNOW:

We began our hike at Whiteoak Canyon parking area (near Syria, VA).  While this parking area is not off of popular Skyline Drive, it is still a part of the Shenandoah National Park.  Be sure to pay the fee at the trailhead (it is free if you buy and bring an annual National Parks pass for $80).

To get to Whiteoak Canyon parking area, either: 1) follow Google maps' directions to "Whiteoak Canyon, Robertson, VA" or, if that doesn't work, 2) follow your GPS to Syria, VA, take Route 643 in Syria (about .8 miles) to Route 600, and stay on Route 600/Weakley Hollow Road (about 3.6 miles) until you reach the parking area.

There are portable restrooms at the parking lot, but there are not any good places to change into swimsuits.  Some of us changed into swimsuits in the van, while others wore their suits the whole time.  Personally, I didn't feel there was enough privacy to change, so I recommend wearing your swimsuits during the entire trip.

We carried towels to dry off, flip flops (in addition to our shoes, which were nice for playing in the water and drying off), bottled water, cameras, etc. in a backpack.  We put bug spray and sunscreen on the kids, but I was fine without it.  The next time we go, I plan to take a life vest for our youngest, who is still learning to swim.  This will allow him to have more fun on the slides, on his own.

The round trip hike to Cedar Run Falls is a couple of miles.  Don't be fooled by the fun, small slide found at the first waterfall area you come to on the hike; there are better slides up the mountain.  That first waterfall is only about a third to half of the way to our favorite natural slide.  The trail leading to the first waterfall was fairly flat.  After crossing the river, the trail became much more steep and strenuous, but everyone made on their own (even our 4 year old!).  We did give ourselves enough time to go as slow as necessary, to ensure everyone made it to the top (and it was worth it).

There are a number of waterfalls along the trail between the parking lot and Cedar Run Falls.  Depending on your group, I recommend you take time to explore the falls and see if you can find better natural slides than we found (see youtube video above).  Most of the other falls were well off the trail and difficult to get to with kids in tow.  That said, we didn't feel we missed out by not visiting them.  The two natural slides we found on the trail were plenty of fun for our family.

If you have more time and energy (which our family did not have), I recommend you back track to Cedar Run Link Trail (or do the entire loop found on the map) and visit Lower and Upper Whiteoak Falls.  My research tells me these falls are much more picturesque; however, they are not natural slides.

Kings Dominion

Summer's over, but that doesn't mean the fun has ended at Kings Dominion in Doswell, VA.  Visit Kings Dominion on weekends during October, before it closes until 2014.  Cooler weather.  Less crowded.  Same amazing fun.

Kings Dominion (Point B)

THINGS TO DO:

1. Kings Dominion (85 miles, 1 hour 23 minutes)

• Ride rides from morning until night
• If you are with little children, enjoy family friendly Halloween fun during the day
• If you like being scared, visit Halloween Haunt's scare zones, mazes, shows, etc. after 7:30 p.m.
• Shop for souvenirs and goodies to eat
• Play amusement park games

Dominator - our favorite

Intimidator - incredible drop and speed

Anaconda - a classic

Planet Snoopy - separate kids' ride area

Charlie Brown's Wind-up 

View of the park from Ferris Wheel, Americana

Measuring station (only in the front of the park)

Plenty of souvenirs and treats to buy...

 THINGS TO KNOW:

The great thing about Kings Dominion is that there is something for everyone: wooden roller coasters, steel roller coasters, family rides like the scrambler and Ferris wheel, kiddie rides, shows, games, water slides (not open during the fall), shopping, dinosaurs, games...

If you're attending the park with children, make sure you stop at the measuring station at the front of the park so you know how tall your child is; this will save you from waiting in line and getting to the front only to be turned away because your child doesn't meet the minimum height requirement.  Also, make sure to pick up a park map because it lists the height requirements for the rides; that's the type of feature our family loves because it saves us from even walking to the rides for which we don't qualify and allows us to spend our time enjoying ourselves rather than walking away from a ride in disappointment.  If you have small children, you'll love Planet Snoopy, an entire section of the park dedicated to the smaller guests.  It creates an environment where the little ones are less likely to be run over by taller kids running to get in line for their favorite roller coaster.  (For those visiting in the fall, Planet Snoopy rides are closed during the evening--at least they were when we were there).  A family care station in Planet Snoopy provides a clean and comfortable place for nursing and diaper changing.  Every parent who has ever tried to care for their baby in a dirty public restroom will think this aspect of the family park absolutely heavenly.

Once you're in the park, plan to either continue spending some extra money or exercise a great deal of self-control.  The park admission covers the rides, but there are several additional fun activities that cost money.  There are fun souvenir shops, candy shops and clothing shops.  Dinosaurs Alive is a walk-through tour that costs an additional $5 per person. (During October, this attraction is also family-friendly trick-or-treating area.)  You'll find plenty of kiosks offering treats as well as games spread throughout the park.  Most locations take credit cards, but some kiosks only take cash.  If you plan to spend money on the extra fun in the park, you might want to have a little extra cash on hand,  though if you forget to bring it with you, the park does offer an ATM.  In addition to the kiosks and restaurants selling treats and cold drinks, there are also vending machines throughout the park offering drinks for several dollars each as well as water fountains at each restroom location.  If you plan to purchase meals inside the park, consider purchasing the dining plan online in advance.  It will save you a little bit of money. Kings Dominion's website has a thorough list of food vendors, each with a complete menu (minus the prices) and the site also tells you exactly what each location offers as part of the meal plan.  Take a look before you go to decide if the restaurants and meal plan are of interest to you. Another money saving option is packing your own food.  You can't bring food into the park, but you can get a stamp on your hand when you leave the park which will allow you to enter again.  There are picnic tables in the parking lot for anyone who wants to utilize that money-saving feature.  You are even permitted to leave the parking lot and return without paying for parking a second time as long as you keep your parking receipt.  (If you go to Kings Dominion in the fall, you are not permitted to re-enter the park after 7:00 pm, so plan meals around that timeline.)

We loved Kings Dominion in the Fall.  The weather is cooler and it's less crowded.  It just so happened that we didn't wait any more than 45 minutes for any of the rides that we rode and we walked right on to several rides.  However, because we attended in the fall, we didn't have the opportunity to enjoy any of the water slides because they close for the season after Labor Day.  (Even though we didn't get wet, we noticed one particular feature that we wanted to point out for those who attend the park and take full advantage of the water rides: the Family Dryer. For $5, your family can stand inside a booth that is essentially an over-sized hand dryer so you can enjoy the water rides, and then enjoy the rest of the park without walking around dripping wet.  Nice touch).   We did notice that the wait time increased as the day went on because of people coming to the park after 4:00 p.m. (Twilight Admission) for the Halloween Haunt.  Kings Dominion recommends the Halloween Haunt for ages 13 and older.

In addition to the reduced wait time and the nicer weather, the daily admission is a little bit less in the fall.  There are many ways to save on admission; see Kings Dominion's website for details.  As an added bonus, Kings Dominion is offering a free one day pass through October with the purchase of a 2014 season pass ($81 each).  What a great deal!

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.