Summer Day Trips Worth The Drive

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Living in Severna Park and the surrounding communities comes with the benefit of having endless entertainment possibilities within an hour in all directions. Here’s a list of a few ways to spend a summer day.

Washington, D.C.

While throngs of travelers fly in every year to visit our nation’s capital, we have the ability to explore some of the top tourist attractions in the country with just a quick car or train ride. The options are endless when it comes to spending a day in the District. Here are a couple of ideas.

Monuments and Museums

Get your steps in as you spend a day taking in the sights at the National Mall.

It’s easy to alternate indoor and outdoor activities by popping into one of the many Smithsonian Institute museums that line the National Mall.

If you’re planning to visit with young children, consider working the National Museum of American History into your plans. This museum offers Wegmans Wonderplace, an interactive, hands-on area where wondering minds and wandering hands have a safe space to play and learn.

www.si.edu/museums

Yards Park

When the Washington Nationals moved to their current stadium in Navy Yard in 2008, the neighborhood had little to offer in terms of entertainment beyond the ballpark — baseball fans might remember that those games rarely went well for the home team.

The last decade has brought a wave of change to the southeast waterfront. Visitors can now spend a day at Yards Park exploring the pedestrian bridge and boardwalk along the Anacostia River, enjoying a picnic on the expansive green space or splashing in the wading pool. The dining options range from fast casual to fancy.

Sports fans now have two options to take in a game — along with Nationals Park, the D.C. United Major League Soccer squad relocated to the area in 2018 with the addition of Audi Field.

However you decide to spend a day in D.C., the opportunities for fine dining are in bountiful supply — to include 23 Michelin star rated restaurants scattered throughout the city.

www.capitolriverfront.org/yards-park

Mount Vernon – Alexandria, Virginia

Pay homage to the first U.S. president and take in breathtaking views of the Potomac (and Maryland, from the Virginia side) at George Washington’s Mount Vernon.

Visitors can tour the mansion where Washington lived and perished, explore the expansive estate and brush up on history at the museum and education center. A grounds pass also includes admittance to George Washington’s Distillery and Gristmill. Tours of these facilities are available Saturdays and Sundays from April to October, and whiskey tastings are available on Saturdays in May, June and September.

Outside food and drinks are not permitted at Mount Vernon, but visitors can enjoy a sit-down meal at the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant or a quick snack from the food court.

This is a busy season for Mount Vernon, so guests are advised to purchase tickets in advance.

5514 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway
Alexandria, VA 22309

www.mountvernon.org

Baltimore

There’s no shortage of activities a quick drive north in Baltimore.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

The Baltimore Orioles are off to a hot start this season. For families planning to cheer on the hometown team with children in tow, the Orioles offer free upper deck tickets for children ages 9 and under.

www.mlb.com/orioles/fans/kids/cheer-free

Fans can level up their Baltimore and baseball history knowledge with a pregame stop at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum, located a few blocks from the stadium.

216 Emory Street
Baltimore, MD 21230

www.baberuthmuseum.org

Edgar Allan Poe House Museum

Literary buffs may enjoy learning about another famed Baltimorean and author of “The Raven” at the Edgar Allan Poe House Museum, located west of Downtown Baltimore.

Reservations are required.

203 North Amity Street
Baltimore, MD 21223

www.poeinbaltimore.org

George Peabody Library

Bibliophiles can take in the splendor of the stacks of the George Peabody Library. This relic of the 19th century is now a branch of the Johns Hopkins University Sheridan Libraries. Visitor access is limited to the ground floor, but non-flash photography is permitted.

17 E. Mount Vernon Place
Baltimore, MD 21202

www.library.jhu.edu/library-hours/george-peabody-library

Beyond the Bay Bridge

Terrapin Nature Park

Just beyond the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Stevensville, nature lovers will find 276 acres to explore at Terrapin Nature Park.

Whether you are working up a sweat along the three-plus-mile trail or basking in the sun along the shoreline, this park can easily fill a day with exercise, wildlife sightings and Chesapeake Bay views.

191 Log Canoe Circle
Stevensville, MD 21666

www.qac.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Terrapin-Nature-Area-97

Cambridge

Nestled along the Choptank River, historic Cambridge provides outdoor adventures, local shopping and a dose of history.

History buffs can visit the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center, located in downtown Cambridge and roughly 10 miles from her childhood home.

424 Race Street
Cambridge, MD 21613

www.harriettubmanmuseumcenter.org

For a full day of fun in the sun, the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay offers day passes for those guests wishing to enjoy the amenities without the need for a hotel stay. A day pass includes access to the resort’s three pools and two hot tubs, mini golf as well as an assortment of seasonal activities.

100 Heron Boulevard, US-50
Cambridge, MD 21613

www.resortpass.com/hotels/hyatt-regency-chesapeake-bay-golf-resort

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