5 Ways for Outdoor Summer Family Fun in Washington County, MD

May 26, 2016

Click on image to enlarge

Washington County is a great place to enjoy family fun outdoors. Its many parks provide a wide range of opportunities for outdoor recreation. During warm weather months it’s the perfect destination for families to get back to nature and breathe in the fresh air. Here are five family friendly ways to enjoy the outdoors in Washington County this summer:

Visit a Park. Parks are abundant in Washington County – from national parks to state parks, county parks, and municipal parks – there are many to choose from. Some are free to roam and others have a small entrance fee. They all offer places to take a stroll and most have opportunities for hiking and biking as well. Our national and state parks all have a historical connection as well, offering interpretive signage along the way to learn about the past. Washington County parklands offer unique experiences like boat rides on the C&O Canal in Williamsport, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Looking for a paved surface that’s easy for young cyclists and even stroller-friendly? Try the Western Maryland Rail Trail in Big Pool. Let your family learn about history as your youngsters find out about becoming stewards of national park lands. Go to Antietam National Battlefield, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park or any of our national parks and get your kids excited about earning Junior Ranger badges. Trying to escape the heat of summer? Cool off with a swim in the lake at Greenbrier State Park. While it’s not the same kind of park as the ones above, Family Recreation Park is worth a mention. It offers family friendly activities including paintball, go karts, mini golf, and more.

Go Camping. Camping is a great way for families to get in touch with nature and with one another! Campgrounds in Washington County range from primitive sites to cabins with running water, appliances, and air conditioning. If your family doesn’t mind giving up some of the comforts of home, there are ways to truly experience the outdoors sleeping under the stars. The Tree House Camp at Maple Tree Campground in Gapland offers a unique experience with tree houses and tree cottages on historic South Mountain. The Hagerstown KOA Campground and Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Resort are geared toward families, with fun activities and amenities. Both have tent sites, RV sites and cabins, plus families can enjoy pools, snack bars, mini golf and more.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game. Washington County is a great place to enjoy America’s greatest pastime: baseball. Hagerstown’s Municipal Stadium is home to the Hagerstown Suns, a Class A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. There’s nothing like an afternoon or evening at the ballpark with family and friends, enjoying minor league baseball and watching the antics of Suns’ mascot Woolie B. The Suns offer fun promotions throughout the season and great postgame fireworks.

Hunt for Hidden Treasure. Have you ever been geocaching? It’s a family-friendly outdoor recreational activity where participants use GPS information to locate hide and seek containers called geocaches. A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook with a pencil or pen for geocachers to enter the date they found it. There are more than 40 caches in Washington County, located on the Washington County Geo-Trail and the City Park Geo-Trail. They can be found in our national, state, county and town parks, as well as museums, wineries, historic sites and places of natural beauty and wonder. Geocaching is a great way to get your family out and engaged in all the county has to offer!

Attend an Event. Our Calendar of Events is jam-packed with great family friendly things to do in the outdoors during the summer months. If you love music, enjoy it outdoors at the City Park Summer Concert Series or the Salute to Independence at Antietam Battlefield. Celebrate the county’s agricultural heritage and enjoy a glimpse of life on the farm at the Washington County Ag Expo. Do your little ones love Monster Trucks? Get your tickets now for Monster Jam this July at the Hagerstown Speedway! And nothing spells family fun more than the Downtown Summer Slide Festival right in the heart of downtown Hagerstown. There are so many things to see and do - Washington County, Maryland, is a great destination for your next outdoor family adventure!

Visit a Park. Parks are abundant in Washington County – from national parks to state parks, county parks, and municipal parks – there are many to choose from. Some are free to roam and others have a small entrance fee. They all offer places to take a stroll and most have opportunities for hiking and biking as well. Our national and state parks all have a historical connection as well, offering interpretive signage along the way to learn about the past. Washington County parklands offer unique experiences like boat rides on the C&O Canal in Williamsport, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Looking for a paved surface that’s easy for young cyclists and even stroller-friendly? Try the Western Maryland Rail Trail in Big Pool. Let your family learn about history as your youngsters find out about becoming stewards of national park lands. Go to Antietam National Battlefield, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park or any of our national parks and get your kids excited about earning Junior Ranger badges. Trying to escape the heat of summer? Cool off with a swim in the lake at Greenbrier State Park. While it’s not the same kind of park as the ones above, Family Recreation Park is worth a mention. It offers family friendly activities including paintball, go karts, mini golf, and more.

Go Camping. Camping is a great way for families to get in touch with nature and with one another! Campgrounds in Washington County range from primitive sites to cabins with running water, appliances, and air conditioning. If your family doesn’t mind giving up some of the comforts of home, there are ways to truly experience the outdoors sleeping under the stars. The Tree House Camp at Maple Tree Campground in Gapland offers a unique experience with tree houses and tree cottages on historic South Mountain. The Hagerstown KOA Campground and Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Resort are geared toward families, with fun activities and amenities. Both have tent sites, RV sites and cabins, plus families can enjoy pools, snack bars, mini golf and more.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game. Washington County is a great place to enjoy America’s greatest pastime: baseball. Hagerstown’s Municipal Stadium is home to the Hagerstown Suns, a Class A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. There’s nothing like an afternoon or evening at the ballpark with family and friends, enjoying minor league baseball and watching the antics of Suns’ mascot Woolie B. The Suns offer fun promotions throughout the season and great postgame fireworks.

Hunt for Hidden Treasure. Have you ever been geocaching? It’s a family-friendly outdoor recreational activity where participants use GPS information to locate hide and seek containers called geocaches. A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook with a pencil or pen for geocachers to enter the date they found it. There are more than 40 caches in Washington County, located on the Washington County Geo-Trail and the City Park Geo-Trail. They can be found in our national, state, county and town parks, as well as museums, wineries, historic sites and places of natural beauty and wonder. Geocaching is a great way to get your family out and engaged in all the county has to offer!

Attend an Event. Our Calendar of Events is jam-packed with great family friendly things to do in the outdoors during the summer months. If you love music, enjoy it outdoors at the City Park Summer Concert Series or the Salute to Independence at Antietam Battlefield. Celebrate the county’s agricultural heritage and enjoy a glimpse of life on the farm at the Washington County Ag Expo. Do your little ones love Monster Trucks? Get your tickets now for Monster Jam this July at the Hagerstown Speedway! And nothing spells family fun more than the Downtown Summer Slide Festival right in the heart of downtown Hagerstown. There are so many things to see and do - Washington County, Maryland, is a great destination for your next outdoor family adventure!