Looking for family friendly overnight trip ideas from Baltimore (Frederick: hotel, home)

[mls012]

Where else do you take your family for quick weekend trips? Other than..
Ocean City, Lancaster County (Dutch Wonderland), Sesame Place and Hershey Park?

I'm hoping for somewhere less than 3hours away. Any suggestions?

[bus man]

How old are the kids? What are your interests?

If you like easy hiking, you can't beat the C & O Canal. You could stay in Cumberland and hike or bike the 20 miles or so downstream to the Paw Paw Tunnel, which is fascinating to walk through.

If you like old trains, there's the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad in Cumberland or the Strasburg Rail Road in Lancaster. (There's also the Walkersville Railroad near Frederick, but I have no experience with that one.)

If you like museums, Washington is paradise. And don't forget the Air & Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center out by Dulles Airport.

Give us your ages and interests and we can surely give you more ideas.

[james777]

Kings Dominion in Virginia is also less than 3 hours. Annapolis for a day, with or without swimming at Sandy Point State Park. New York City for the museums.

[mls012]

Sorry I overlooked including these details bus man! I have 2 daughters, 3 and 8. I think they are still a bit too young to enjoy museums. Well may be one would be ok.. more than that in one visit would bore them I think and I'd love to go hiking but that again may bit a bit difficult with a 3 year old.

I think I'm looking for a touristy type town, that may have something for all of us. Some type of attraction for children, a bit of shopping, a bit of history or scenic view to the area to make me feel like I'm further away from home than I am. That's pretty vague...I know.

[Arianator]

Another place to check out would be Frederick.

There are a number of stores in the downtown section that would likely be of interest to you. In addition, Adventure Park USA is another option that's not too far from downtown.

[westsideboy]

Frederick, MD would fit the bill. I second Cumberland, but if you are not going to be partaking in the great outdoors, I would make sure you check the calendar to make sure there are some activities planned. Most weekends in the summer are booked, and our downtown and Canal Place are full of activities. Come during a weekday? Er, not so much.

www.mdmountainside.com

Winchester, VA is another option. They have a very neat interactive children's museum. Berkeley Springs, WV is one of my favorites too; natural warm springs coming out of the mountain, child friendly splash and play areas, big trees. Not a location with lots of "programming," but it is a great place to unwind for a day...must be the water.

[ersatz]

If you stay in Winchester, Western Maryland or West Virgina check out the historic train Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad - Where Eagles Fly!

It's beautiful, unusual, fun and a big WOW factor with the kids.

It's around 150 miles from Baltimore and can be reached in around 3 hours if traffic conditions are not a factor.

[bus man]

In Frederick, take a stroll along Carroll Creek through downtown; bring some bread so the kids can feed the ducks. On the west end of downtown, Baker Park (corner of N. Bentz St. & W. Church St.) has a nice playground. On the other end, there's Frederick Fudge & Ice Cream at E. Church St. & N. East St. One block north, at N. East St. & E. 2nd St., is the Roads & Rails Museum, complete with a cool model train layout.

In Cumberland, there's the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. And right next to that is Canal Place, the western terminus of the C & O Canal. Your kids might have fun climbing around the replica of an old canal barge. There is, or at least was, an inflatable bounce place at Baltimore St. & S. Centre St. Be sure and get a milkshake or ice cream at Queen City Creamery, on W. Harrison St. near S. Centre St.

Twenty or so miles southeast of Cumberland is the Paw Paw Tunnel along the C & O Canal. It's about a kilometer long, ramrod straight, and very pleasantly cool on a hot day. Be sure and bring a flashlight. I can't imagine a kid not loving it, unless they are highly afraid of the dark.

[mls012]

Thanks for everyone's suggestions, these are great! I'm going to look into these further.

[J_Lurk]

Philadelphia. We first went when the kids were 4 and 5. In season (now) they have story tellers on benches all over town. The kids got to be in the "continental army." We played putt putt in Franklin Park. It is a ton of fun, plus once you park at the hotel you can take the shuttle all over town.

I've heard good things about the various gardens in Wilmington DE too, but haven't tried that yet.

We also had a good time in Colonial Williamsburg, though that is just over your 3 hour limit depending on where you live.