My family and I have compiled a list of summer favorites and new adventures, most within an hour’s drive, but some worth a day or weekend trip. While we cannot possibly check every excursion off the list this summer, we will have plenty of sunny and rainy day options. Most state and county parks have little or no admission fee–an added bonus when sticking to a family budget. I encourage you to check the websites before you visit, as many sites offer free summer concerts or discounts during certain days/times of the week. I hope this list will inspire some new adventures for your own family, so pack a picnic lunch, grab the sunscreen, and enjoy the great outdoors! Been to some of these places? Tell us about it!

1. Glenn Dale Splash Park http://www.pgparks.com/Things_To_Do/Sports/Aquatics/Glenn_Dale_Splash_Park.htm

2. Saturday Family Art Studio at Glen Echo Park http://www.glenechopark.org/saturday-art-explorers

3. Friendship Farm Park https://www.charlescountyparks.com/parks/friendship-farm-park-0

4. Bethany Beach, DL http://www.townofbethanybeach.com

5. Attend a Blue Crabs game http://www.somdbluecrabs.com

6. Public ice skating at Capital Clubhouse http://www.capitalclubhouse.com/public-skating

7. Calvert Marine Museum http://www.calvertmarinemuseum.com

8. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden http://www.lewisginter.org

9. Free children’s movie at Xscape theater http://xscapetheatres.com/custdocs/Sponsor%20Sheet%20Schedule_Brandywine%202015%20w_Sponsors.pdf

10. Wings of Fancy at Wheaton Regional Park http://www.montgomeryparks.org/brookside/wings_of_fancy.shtm

11. Purse State Park http://dnr2.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/southern/purse.aspx

12. Bike on the rail trail–reopening in July!

13. Chapman State Park http://dnr2.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/southern/chapman.aspx

14. Mallows Bay https://www.charlescountyparks.com/parks/mallows-bay-park

15. Chapel Point State Park http://dnr2.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/southern/chapelpoint.aspx

16. Flag Ponds Nature Park http://www.co.cal.md.us/FlagPonds

17. Breezy Point Beach http://www.co.cal.md.us/visitors/beaches

18. Gunpowder Falls State Park http://dnr2.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/central/gunpowder.aspx

19. U.S. National Arboretum http://www.usna.usda.gov

20. Yards Park http://www.yardspark.org

21. Green Spring Gardens http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring/

22. River Farm Park http://www.ahs.org/about-river-farm

23. Jug Bay Wetlands http://www.jugbay.org

24. Port Discovery http://www.portdiscovery.org

25. Huntley Meadows Park http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/huntley-meadows-park/

26. Rock Creek Park + horse center http://www.nps.gov/rocr/index.htm

27. Great Waves Waterpark http://www.greatwaveswaterpark.com

28. Cascade Falls http://dnr2.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/central/patapscoavalon.aspx

29. Our Special Harbor spraypark http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/rec/leerec/lee-spraypark.htm

30. Pick fruit at Great Country Farms http://www.greatcountryfarms.com

31. Calvert Cliffs State Park http://dnr2.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/southern/calvertcliffs.aspx

32. Cove Point Park pool http://www.co.cal.md.us/Facilities/Facility/Details/8

33. Newtowne Neck State Park http://dnr2.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/southern/newtowne.aspx

34. St. Clements Island State Park http://dnr2.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/southern/stclements.aspx

35. Point Lookout State Park http://dnr2.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/southern/pointlookout.aspx

36. North Barnaby Splashpark http://www.pgparks.com/Things_To_Do/Sports/Aquatics/North_Barnaby_Splash_Park.htm

37. Maymont Nature Center https://www.maymont.org

38. See a children’s concert at Wolftrap http://www.wolftrap.org/tickets/ctitw.aspx

39. Great Falls Park http://www.nps.gov/grfa/index.htm

40. Night Hike with a naturalist at Smallwood State Park http://dnr2.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/southern/smallwood.aspx