It might not feel like it right now but spring break is just around the corner. Let’s hope that corner is warm. But either way, we can get to planning some straight up fun times no matter what the weather has in store for us. We’ve rounded up a few spots that will spark a sense of some adventure into the new season while keeping those kiddos engaged and educated during their time off.
Photo: Visit Alexandria
Good Ol’ OTA
Keeping it local is what it’s all about these days. What better way to do that than to take a little bit of a breather this break and spend a night in Old Town Alexandria (OTA). Full of kid-friendly hotels like the Hotel Monaco which has daily happy hours for kids, pint-sized bathrobes and complimentary bikes to lend to tool around the town. Hop on a Potomac River boat cruise, play in a park or stop in at one of the many family-friendly eateries in town to experience local cuisine at its best.
Old Town Alexandria
King St. (Alexandria, Va)
Online: visitalexandria.com
Photo: R S. via Yelp
Dinosaur Park
Just a quick drive out of the city will take you to the land before time. Located in Laurel, Maryland, Dinosaur Park shows little ones that dinosaurs roamed the earth right in their own backyard. The Early Cretaceous Period represents with interactive tours, fossil hunts and a chance for tykes of all ages to sift through the dirt for their own treasure trove of bones.
Dinosaur Park
13201 Mid-Atlantic Blvd. (Laurel, Md)
301-627-7755
Online: pgparks.com
Photo: Ken Lund via Flickr
Historically Good Fun
While Williamsburg and Jamestown get all the glory, Yorktown and its battlefield located just off Rt. 17 make an excellent day trip that boasts an interactive Victory visitors center, Revolutionary re-enactments and many ways for kids to get acquainted with the settlers based along the York River. Set sail on a ship on that same river or grab a scoop of ice cream nearby and find some seashells at the beaches along it.
Yorktown Battlefield Visitor Center
1000 Colonial Pkwy. (Yorktown, Va)
Online: nps.gov/york
Photo: Stratford Hall via Facebook
Stratford Hall
The birth place of Robert E. Lee is one of Virginia’s most stand-out historic homes. Sure to awe even the tiniest historian, the Great Hall inside Stratford Hall has been around since Colonial times. Costumed guides tell tales of the past filled with fun facts and showy gardens. Look for birds while there and check out a festival or two while you are at it. This beautiful home offers lots of charm. Bonus: There’s a nearby Westmoreland Berry farm, too.
Stratford Hall
483 Great House Rd. (Montross, Va)
Online: stratfordhall.org
Photo: Anthony H. via Yelp
The Great Outdoors
For the outdoorsy set, the Maple Tree Campground based in Rohrersville, Maryland is the place to be. Complete with a new Hobbit House, this place is known for its quaint and insulated Tree House campsites. Pick a Tree Cottage if glamping is more your style or get totally one with nature with a tent site. Book now! Sites go fast.
Maple Tree Campground
20716 Townsend Rd. (Rohrersville, Md)
301-432-5585
Online: thetreehousecamp.com
Photo: Babe Ruth Birthplace/Sports Legend Museum via Facebook
Batter Up!
Play ball at Baltimore’s Babe Ruth’s Birthplace and Museum located just a few steps from Camden Yards. Actually, you might just want to follow the 60 baseballs in the sidewalk to get you there. Once you arrive, check out The Babe’s childhood home and the bedroom where the Bambino was born. When you are finished, take in the Sports Legend Museum located nearby. It’s a home run day!
Babe Ruth’s Birthplace & Museum
216 Emory St. (Baltimore, Md)
Online: baberuthmuseum.org
What are your family’s spring break plans? Let us know in the Comments section below.
—Victoria Mason
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