As summer is quickly approaching, I’m dreading our first year with no summer camp and no nanny (I know, I was spoiled) so I’ve been making lists of things to do, places to go, and buying stock in The Dollar Store craft aisle. Anything to allow me a few minutes peace and quiet to get some work done with 4 children between the ages of 7 and 9 running around our wood floored home like wildebeests. I digress; here are 5 hot day trips that are perfect for families:

Kings Dominion
You’ll find something for the whole family at Kings Dominion including 13 rides that will make anyone scream, family rides, and a kids section with a Nickelodeon theme. Live musical events and shows for those of us with motion sickness or weak hearts are also available, and of course you can stuff yourself silly at over 30 restaurants and snack stands. Admission to the WaterWorks is included so now you can also enjoy over 20 acres of water rides.

Rock Creek Park
Rock Creek Park is one of the oldest parks in the National Park Service with over 1700 acres of forest. Your family will love the nature center, planetarium and horse center. Bring your bikes and enjoy a day riding the nature trails and visiting one of the many historical points of interest and nearby monuments.

DC Zoo
No summer is complete without a trip to the National Zoo. But don’t think all there is to do is walk around. Planning in advance will help you catch some great programs. See the Eagles get fed, watch an elephant take a bath and even see how the elephants are trained, then move on to see the giant Octopus eat and learn about farming and how much care an animal needs.

Annapolis
Annapolis is such a pretty city full of history and fun activities. Take a walking tour or water cruise to learn more about Archeaology, Annapolis’ Naval history or introduce the story of Kunta Kinte to your children. The Maritime Museum is always a hit and there are plenty of theatre options and events as well.

Port Discovery Museum
When you just really need to let the kids run around and wear themselves out, the Port Discovery Museum in Baltimore is your answer. With a 3 story tree house, exhibits that challenge all senses, and interactive activities for children of all ages, they’ll never know they are learning because the fun never ends! If you are really adventurous, head to the Baltimore Aquarium as well!

I’m a Cancer that grew up in a town on the Susquehanna River. Weekends were spent at our river lot or on the water in our speed boat. During the winter I swam competitively and when I was old enough, I became a lifeguard. Suffice it to say, I love the water, and my kids are growing up the same way. We live on a large lake and they became proud swim team members at 6 years old. Finding indoor pools can be a challenge in our area to get us through the winter, so one of our favorite family activities is visiting indoor water parks. Each spring our entire extended family heads to Erie PA to visit Splash Lagoon. Luckily a little over a year ago a fabulous indoor park opened here at Massanutten Ski Resort, a short 1-2 hour drive from most of DC and Northern Virginia.

Although I’m not a big fan of amusement parks, water parks are a completely different story. On our first trip we left all the kids with the grandparents after spending 6 hours on the smaller rides, and headed to the BIG rides. I felt like a kid again. It’s amazing what 80 degree weather and warm water will do for your spirits. So, let’s dive right in!

First tip – get there EARLY! Seriously, if you want to grab a table for your family, get there shortly after opening, otherwise you’ll be living out of a locker and sitting on the floor for a break. If you have a family member that isn’t into water, it’s still a great time for them to watch everyone and keep an eye on your table and chairs, otherwise you may find someone has taken over when you return to dry off. Lockers are available for a fee and keys come with handy straps so you don’t lose it. Once settled we always head to the lazy river to get wet. It’s a nice way to get used to the water and scope the place out as you move around the falls. The younger crowd can start at the Frog Pond, made especially for babies and toddlers.

The body and tube slides are fairly tame at Massanutten, meaning they can be ridden by kids 7+ without any problems. Some are two riders, so they can team up with a family member or find a friend, and the lines go pretty fast.

The best part of the water park is the FlowRider. The Flow Rider is basically indoor surfing and it is totally wicked. The teachers are amazing, showing you how to find your balance, and if you do well they’ll quickly show you how to do some simple (ha!) tricks like flipping over on the board. Every couple of hours the teachers put on a show which is fantastic. My second tip for this trip – if you intend on trying out this ride, ladies wear a one piece suit, and boys make sure your string is tied TIGHT! You will lose your pants if you hit the water wrong.

After you’ve had a great workout on the FlowRider you can head over to the family hot tub, or ditch the kids and head to the adults only hot tub to relax.

Massanutten Resort
1822 Resort Drive
McGaheysville, VA 22840

Admission
$38
Under 42 inch $26
Discounts for Massanutten Owners
Season passes available

Living all the way out in Frederick County Virginia has its advantages, one of which is being 20 minutes from Berkeley Springs West Virginia, the country’s first spa. Last weekend my girlfriend and I took a day off from the kids and spouses and headed west.

While we didn’t have enough time to make an appointment to enjoy a massage or steam bath, we did start the day by enjoying a wonderful lunch at Tari’s. Tari’s is one of those restaurants you want to come back to not only for the great food (my favorite is the crab dip, only available for dinner although sometimes you can convince someone to make it at lunch) but for the whimsical art that lines the walls. All of the art is for sale and you will be hard pressed to leave without something in your hands whether it’s a painting, sculpture or a book. The Country Inn is also worth a stop for their chili and enormous slice of corn bread, saving up carbs for a week is totally worth it.

Once our hunger was quenched we headed out to our favorite antique shops. Bath Bookworks is always interesting with the combination of antiques, art and handcrafted book bindery, but my favorite is the Old Factory Antique Mall at 282 Williams Street. I dream of living in the warehouse, converting to a huge loft with indoor swimming pool. With over 45 vendors, and my favorite dealer that specializes in Tibetan artifacts, I could go every week. We left with a couple of small purchases and headed over to the ice cream stand to cool off.

The best thing about Berkeley Springs is of course, the SPRINGS! As we ate our ice cream we cooled our feet in the 74 degree stream that runs right through the town square. It’s amazing to sit on the ground and think about all the people that have done the same since George Washington and friends drew up the plans for the town in 1776. No trip would be complete without taking a final drive past the Berkeley Springs castle. Built in 1885 by Colonel Samuel Taylor Suit as a summer cottage for his wife Rose Pelham, the castle is privately owned and closed to the public, but it still sends chills down my spine to gaze into the dark windows and dream of living there.

Berkeley Springs is great as a day trip, and even more romantic as a weekend getaway with plenty of choices in lodging. We’ve stayed at the Highlawn Inn in the private Carriage House and can highly recommend it as well as The Country Inn. The old theatre and public swimming pool are also great draws for kids to enjoy a relaxing afternoon.

The Mission – Spy for a Day

You can’t help but want to live the life of James Bond 007, or at least get on his good side. While Hollywood makes everything look easy, the life of a spy is not exactly a walk in the park (or a drive in an Aston Martin along the beach). I have problems remembering details of my one life while a spy has to remember details of multiple lives. Not remembering what I had for breakfast yesterday isn’t a life or death issue, when a spy forgets something, or makes a slip, they could very well endanger not only themselves, but an entire country.

The International Spy Museum in Washington DC (chosen because DC has more spies than anywhere else!) is the perfect place to not only learn about the actual spy gadgets, bugs, cameras, vehicles and weapons that are used by agencies the world over, including the CIA and KGB, but to also test your own spy skills. Interactive stations throughout the museum will put your observation, analysis and surveillance skills through the ringer.  Operation Spy is an interactive exhibit for children and adults ages 12 and older. The exhibit includes sound and lighting effects to go along with the physical and mental challenges of a short spy mission.

The best part about the Spy Museum is that adults will really enjoy it as well! Exhibits include a KGB pistol that looks like a tube of lipstick (that’s on my Christmas list) and a rectal tool kit (that’s NOT on my Christmas list) (and yes, it is exactly what it sounds like.) Car junkies will love James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5, and history buffs will be interested in the Cold War exhibit “War of the Spies”. The gift shop will delight parents as well with educational and interactive gifts including a codes and ciphers kit, edible papers, and invisible pens that are always amusing (at least the first ten or so times).

If you are looking for a really special event, the Spy Museum offers three different versions of a Scavenger Hunt that help you navigate through the museum, all while learning spy techniques like code breaking, and problem solving. Teams are set up for your group and each is given a special bag of spy tricks to help you answer the questions on the scavenger hunt. Private after hours events are also available. These options range from $950 to $9000 depending on the number of guests. Birthday parties are also available for children 9-13 years old. The party includes a private room, Top Secret Folio with tools for a team scavenger hunt, birthday cake and beverages along with paper products (all spy themed of course!), admission for everyone and goody bags, for $1500 for up to 15 kids and 3 adults.

The Stats

800 F St NW, Washington DC 20004
202-EYE-Spy-U  or  1-866-779-6873
http://www.spymuseum.org
9am-7pm

General Admission
Adults (12-64) $18
Seniors (65+), Active Duty Military & Intel Community $17
Child (5-11) $15
Children under 5, FREE

Operation Spy Admission
Adults (12 and up) $14

Combination Admission
Adults (12 and up) $25

Family Memberships - $175