100 Best Places To Take Kids In Maryland This Summer

Don’t get bored this summer. These are our top picks for the best places to take kids in Maryland!

There are approximately 100 days between the start of Memorial Day weekend and the end of Labor Day weekend (101 to be exact). Why not get out and explore all that Maryland has to offer? There are so many fun destinations activities for kids. You will never have to hear the dreaded words, ‘I am bored!’

These ideas will give your kids a summer they will absolutely remember. So, start making your plans now and have the best summer ever!

Go Strawberry Picking

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There are so many great places to pick strawberries. We love Shlagel Farm in Waldorf and Larriland Farm (they have tons of fruit picking all season!) in Woodbine so much!

Best Places to Pick Strawberries in Maryland!

Hike to Cascade Falls

The Orange Grove/Avalon Area of Patapsco Valley State Park is a natural wonderland for kids! The hike to Cascade Falls is super easy, and you can walk across the cool swinging bridge and explore the Grist Mill Trail area too!

patapsco valley state park cascade falls

Test your balance running across the tires at a tire playground.

There are great tire playgrounds at Patapsco Valley State Park Hilton Area, Calvert Cliffs State Park, Gunpowder Falls State Park, Tuckahoe State Park, and Seneca Creek State Park.

Get to know Port Discovery again!

If you haven’t visited Port Discovery Children’s Museum in a few years, you must make plans to visit this summer! The new’ish 4-story Skyclimber and the awesome Port Exhibit where kids can actually pretend to work at a functioning port are incredible additions to Port Discovery. And all the kid favorites like Water Works are still there too!

Go Shark Tooth Hunting

Movies, Movies, and more Movies!

See an outdoor movie.

Here are some of the best kid friendly options for outdoor movies this summer:

Outdoor Movies at City Park in Hagerstown
National Harbor Family Movie Nights on the Potomac— Select Thursdays throughout the summer. Click link for more details.
Columbia Lakefront Summer Festival
Rockville Movies In the Parks (various locations): Check the website for details on specific movies. The movies will run throughout August at 4 different parks in the Rockville area.
Movie Night at the Wine Bin (Old Ellicott City)
Ocean City Free Movies on the Beach:
- So many dates– every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the summer.
North Beach Movies on the Beach!

See a free (or super cheap) indoor movie!

Here are links to some good options this summer:

Regal Summer Movie Series 2024: Movies are back for Summer 2024! Regal is bringing back $2 Movies for Kids this summer! Just pop in on a Tuesday or Wednesday matinee! Check the website for details closer to the summer!
Cinemark Movie Clubhouse 2024: $1.75 per movie!

Go rollerskating

Great options for Maryland include Skate Zone (there are special hours during the summer for kids 10 and under), Laurel Skating Center, Hot Skates in Woodlawn, Temple Hills Skating Palace, and Wheels Skate Center in Odenton (kid only skating on Saturday mornings).

Try your hand at Black Light Monster Mini Golf!

Monster Mini Golf is so much fun for kids and adults. The black lights kick the fun up a notch and they have an arcade too!

Scale Mount Rushmore at Climb Zone

Great climbing courses that are suitable for even younger kids! There are also bouncy play features and more!

Click here for more info!

Perfect your high jump at an indoor trampoline park.

Here are a few favorites in Maryland:

Get Air (Maryland locations in Glen Burnie)
Launch (Columbia and Rockville)
Sky Zone (multiple locations throughout the state)

Pick Flowers at a local farm.

We love Rock Hill Orchard, Butler’s Orchard, and Larriland Farm for flower picking! Here are more ideas too!

Follow the yellow brick road to the Wizard of Oz Playground.

It really is as fantastic as is sounds!

Wizard of Oz Playground at Watkins Regional Park Yellow Brick Road Path

Kids bowl for FREE this summer!

Yep– Registered kids get to bowl 2 games every day for FREE all summer long! Here are a few participating bowling alleys in Maryland:

Greenway Bowl in Odenton,
Stoneleigh Lanes in Baltimore (Duck Pin Bowling)

Check out one of the new or newly renovated playgrounds in Maryland!

Maryland has been building new playgrounds or renovated existing playgrounds at a break neck speed since 2021. Check these gems out!

Sophie and Madigan’s Playground

Blandair Regional Park North Playground

Ballenger Creek Park

Kinder Farm Park Playground

Ride the Sky Liner at Urban Air Adventure Park

Really, the entire Urban Air Adventure Park is sooo much fun! There are trampolines, ninja course, battle beam, the amazing Sky Liner, and more! There are locations in Laurel, White Marsh, and Frederick!

Explore nature at Wild For Water Day at the Robinson Nature Center.

This is really a fantastic nature center in Howard County. Check out the indoor exhibits and the trails!

Spend the day playing at Angel Park Playground

This is another fantastic destination playground, located in Baltimore County!

Challenge each other to go-kart races and batting cages.

Here is a great list of all the outdoor and indoor go-karting tracks in Maryland.

Visit the Enchanted Forest and feed the goats at Clark’s Elioak Farm.

Your kids will love the animals and all the fun play structures at Clark’s Elioak Farm. You will be so nostalgic with all the set pieces from the Enchanted Forest.

Take a leisurely walk around the gorgeous Centennial Lake

Then let the kids burn even more energy at their awesome playground!

Dig for dinosaur bones and lay on a bed of nails at the Maryland Science Center

The Maryland Science Center is fantastic for kids of all ages. And check out their special events throughout the summer like Bubble Days!

Indulge in a Blackberry or Raspberry Breakfast at Milburn Orchards

Then spend the morning playing in their BIG Backyard!

Bring your favorite stuffed friend along for the Teddy Bear Picnic (or the also awesome Super Hero Picnic) on the Walkersville Southern Railroad

We LOVE the Walkersville Southern Railroad at Christmas time, but honestly they have so many fun events throughout the summer too!

Check out a minor league baseball game.

If you time it right you will get baseball, games, and fireworks! Here are some great leagues to check out:

Pet the jellyfish and walk among the sharks at the National Aquarium

The Blacktip Reef and Shark Alley are soooo cool. You could really spend the better part of a day at the National Aquarium!

Feed Zebras and Buffalo on the Safari Experience at the Catoctin Wildlife Refuge

The Catoctin Wildlife Refuge is smaller than some other news, but it’s packed with great animal experiences!

Play Laser Tag and Go Bowling at Main Event!

Bottle Feed baby cows and enjoy a scoop of Maryland’s finest ice cream at South Mountain Creamery

The South Mountain Creamery is so much more than just ice cream. You have to check out the baby calves when you are there!

Play on the Irvine Nature Center or Oregon Ridge Nature Center nature playgrounds

Walters Art Museum drop in art projects.

Find the fart machine at the American Visionary Art Museum (it really works!)

Also, you can see the iconic sculptures from the Kinetic Art Parade!

Spend the Day at Matoaka Beach!

Matoaka Beach is such a pristine beach that you have to pay to access, but that keeps the crowds down pretty low. And it’s a great beach for shark tooth hunting!

Take a hike to Cunningham Falls and then cool off at the beach afterwards

This is a great kid friendly state park with an easy hike and beach access!

Check out some fantastic and FREE Summer Concerts or theatre!

Sign Up For the Ice Cream Tour at Prigel Family Creamery!

You can meet the cows, mix up your own flavors, and sample Prigel’s best ice cream!

Feed the fish and hang with the turtles at Brookside Gardens

After that see how many butterflies land on you during Butterflies Alive! Brookside Gardens is a really gorgeous park to visit with kids!

There are so many new animals and habitats to check out at the Maryland Zoo

Whether it’s the grizzly bears, the lions, giraffe, elephants, chimps, or just petting the goats– The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is perfect for kids of all ages!

Baltimore Museum of Art has free art-making workshops perfect for kids every Sunday afternoon

This Baltimore Art museum is actually very kid friendly.

Play Eye Spy and grab delicious kid-friendly lunch (don’t forget the milkshakes) at the Papermoon Diner

This is one of the quirkiest but most fun restaurants in Maryland. And the food is delicious too!

Spend the evening watching a Triple Feature at the Bengies Drive In

One of the best drive in movie theaters in the mid-Atlantic region.

Go Rail Biking with Tracks and Yaks in Frostburg!

Rail biking is so much fun and the trail in Frostburg is gorgeous! Tracks and Yaks opened a new location in Berlin in 2023 too!

Go underground and explore the Crystal Grottoes Cavern

The Crystal Grottoes Cavern is the coolest place underground you can visit in Maryland.

Ride a mountain rollercoaster at the Wisp Resort

Summer is just as fun as Winter at the Wisp Resort. This mountain coaster is an adventure your kids will not forget!

Visit Swallow Falls State Park and take in the breathtaking Muddy Creek Falls

Swallow Falls State Park is a must-do when you visit Western Maryland!

Spend the day at the southernmost tip of Maryland.. which happens to have great beaches– Point Lookout State Park

Spend the day at this gorgeous Chesapeake Beach, and check out the lighthouse too!

Check out the beach or Float on an inner tube down the Gunpowder River at Gunpowder Falls State Park

Gunpowder Falls State Park is a sprawling park in Central Maryland with so much to offer families!

See the waterfall that inspired a movie

Rocks State Park is another phenomenal Maryland State Park. The Kilgore Falls area of the park has the most gorgeous waterfall.

Play hide and go seek among the topiaries at Ladew Topiary Gardens

Ladew Topiary Gardens is so much fun for the topiaries, the secret gardens, the butterflies, and more!

Become a fairy and create fantastic art at the Annmarie Sculpture Garden

The Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Art Center in Southern Maryland is such a great idea for a whimsical day trip!

Pet the animals at the Green Meadows Petting Farm

There are so many animals to get close to at Green Meadows Petting Farm!

Visit a Hidden Beach in Somerset or Wicomico County

Some of our favorite hidden beaches include Deale Island Beach, Cove Beach Park, Roaring Point Park, and Raccoon Point Regional Park. They are all a bit of work to get to.. but the payoff is huge!

Tour the USS Constellation and other Historic Ships in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor

The USS Constellation has a fantastic history and is super fun to tour with kids.. or without!

Climb through the inside of a gigantic tree (fake) and slide down this super long slide at the Woodland Wonderland playground

This Prince George’s County playground is definitely destination worthy. A great place to explore and cool off!

Check out a new indoor playspace like KidzVille Indoor Playground

Kidzville is a relatively new indoor playspace, but it’s really fantastic for both older and younger kids!

Enjoy Sensory Friendly days and Toddler time at the B&O Railroad Museum

The B&O Railroad Museum is fascinating. But your kids will love climbing aboard the old trains!

fun things to do in baltimore B&O Railroad Museum_FB

Reserve a cabin or campsite now for a weekend of non-stop fun at Jellystone Park in Williamsport

Jellystone Park is like super fun summer camp for the entire family!

Paint a masterpiece at Artsy Partsy Family Paint Night or Open Studio time

Artsy Partsy is one of our favorite places to create art in Maryland!

Try a ropes course at TreeTrekkers, Terrapin Adventures or the Adventure Park at Sandy Spring

All three of these adventure courses have ropes courses for younger and older kids!

Burn a ton of energy at the South Germantown Regional Park Adventure Playground and then cool off at their amazing water park

The Adventure Playground is a medieval castle theme. And the waterpark is the perfect way to cool down this summer!

Plan a Day Trip to Havre De Grace or Berlin, MD!

Both of these towns are cute and great for kids! Havre de Grace has a fun playground and a lighthouse. Berlin, MD has fantastic restaurants and shopping, and is super close to Ocean City!

Tap into your kids STEM interests at the Kid Museum in Bethesda

The Kid Museum is open to the public on Sundays!

Get lost in imaginative play at either the Columbia Mall or Easton location of the Be With Me Playseum

We LOVE how the Playseum encourages imaginative play. Check out either location!

Rent a kayak or canoe and paddle over the ruins of 90 WWI-era sunken ships at Mallows Bay Park

This is a seriously unique and super cool activity in Maryland!

Ride the miniature train and then play on the massive playground at Cabin John Regional Park

And the shade at Cabin John Regional Park is fantastic on a hot summer day too!

Play with the otters and climb up the lighthouse at the Calvert Marine Museum

If you are headed to Southern Maryland, the Calvert Marine Museum is a must visit!

Make plans to see the famous wild ponies at the Assateague Island National Seashore

You can see these amazing ponies at the National Seashore or the State Park. Teh beach is pristine too!

Hang out on the Ocean City Boardwalk, grab some salt water taffy and boardwalk fries, and ride the rides at Trimpers

Ocean City’s Boardwalk has been named one of the best in the country!

Build a sand castle at the lovely Greenbrier State Park Beach

Greenbrier State Park might have one of the best lake beaches in Maryland!

Go camping at Rocky Gap State Park. Bring your hiking shoes and bathing suit

The trails are great for kids and so is the beach! Rocky Gap is a great place to visit in Western Maryland!

Get lost in a sunflower maze at Goldpetal Farms

There are typically 3 separate sunflower mazes, plus zinnias and more! Goldpetal Farms is simply gorgeous!

Introduce your kids to the iconic crab experience at Crabtowne USA

Bring Quarters for the room of over 100 video arcade games!

Check out the smaller, family friendly amusement park Adventure Park USA

The outdoor attractions are super fun (rollercoasters, rides, etc…). The indoor attractions are great too (laser tag, virtual reality, arcade games). Adventure Park USA is just a fun idea any day this summer!

Visit Maryland’s largest amusement park (and water park) at Six Flags America

Six Flags is a ton of fun and is located centrally for easy access to most of Maryland!

Try out a ninja course at Zava Zone

Challenge yourself on the obstacle courses at Zava Zone!

Cheer the knights and horses at the Medieval Times dinner show

This show brings all the excitement!

Pretend to be a pirate at Chesapeake Pirates

Ahoy Matey! Your kids will totally embrace their inner pirate aboard this ship!

Enjoy the Inner Harbor attractions like the dragon paddle boats and the World Trade Center!

Explore the Marsh Boardwalk trail at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary

This is such a unique place to go for a stroll among the marshlands.

Explore lighthouses and a living shoreline at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michael’s

A great day trip destination for Maryland’s Eastern Shore!

Transport yourself back in time and spend the day at the Maryland Renaissance Festival

This is a late summer must do! There are so many kid friendly activities at the Maryland Renaissance Festival too!

Spend the afternoon being creative at one of the many paint-your-own pottery studios.

These ones are particularly kid-friendly:

Climb the big blue mountain and ride the carousel at the Wheaton Regional Park

Check out all the reasons we love the Wheaton Regional Park!

Great Falls National Park (there are great views on both the Maryland and Virginia side!)

Go biking along the C&O Tow Path or Baltimore-Annapolis Bike Trail

Watch the planes fly in while playing on one of Maryland’s most unique playground at the Thomas Dixon Playground

Try to play on as many of Prince George’s Counties Imagination Playgrounds as you can!

We LOVE to play on the Medieval Dragon playground, the Comic Hero playground, the King and Queen playground, and the Little Critter playground!

Get lost in the Garrett State Forest Rock Maze!

Ride the rides, play in the corn crib, and watch the pig races at a county fair.

Some of the great county fairs are:

See two of the nation’s largest sunflower fields. McKee Beshers in July and Clear Meadow Farms in September.

Bite into a huge peach and let the juice run down your chin. Don’t forget to indulge in a peach slushie! We love the peaches at Baugher’s!

Baugher’s is excellent for pick your own all summer long. We think their peaches are delicious though!

Let your kids get lost in the huge indoor Hyperkidz playground

There are multiple locations for Hyperkidz and they are all fantastic fun!

Learn About Harriett Tubman at the Visitor Center and Check out this Mural in Downtown Cambridge!

Get your splash on at the Jolly Roger Splash Mountain!

If you want a break from the beach at Ocean City, this waterpark is so much fun!

Spend the day at a mountain lake (Deep Creek State Park and New Germany State Park are great bets!)

Visit one of the nature parks in the area like the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge, or the Merkle Wildlife Area

There are so many nature centers in Maryland that have tons of kid friendly activities!

Splash at an indoor waterpark. The North Arundel Aquatic Center is loads of fun

This is a great option for an indoor waterpark.

Do you have a budding pilot or astronaut?

Plan a trip to the College Park Aviation Museum or the NASA Goddard Visitor Center.

Explore Colonial History at the Piscataway Park or Historic St. Mary’s City

Living history museums are really great to get kids engaged in history!

Celebrate the 4th of July! Visit your local parade and make plans for an amazing fireworks celebration!

Here are some great ones!

Spend a day, or a week at Ocean City!

How could we NOT include Ocean City, MD on our list of the 100+ best things to do this summer in Maryland?!

FAQ

Where can I take my children for a day out in Maryland?

Great options for a day out with kids include:
– Maryland Zoo
– Port Discovery or the Maryland Science Center
– One of Maryland’s fantastic State Parks
– A day exploring the Chesapeake Bay
– Visit a destination playground
– Check out Ocean City and Assateague Wild Horses
– Go hiking in the Catoctin Mountain Region

What are good summer activities for kids?

– Go to a park and either play on the playground or go for a hike.
– Get out in nature and go on a nature scavenger hunt.
– Take advantage of all the free things to do in your area like kids bowl free, free movies and concerts, or programs at the library.
– Make slime or do other STEM projects.
– Learn a new skills like geocaching or baking.
– Get wet! Go to a water park, a pool, or just have a water balloon game in your backyard!

How do you make a boring summer fun?

– Play games! Indoor games, outdoor games, water games, glow in the dark games!
– Use your imagination! Dress up, put on a play.. or go to a play.
– Play tourist in your own city. Explore a new park or museum. Go geocaching or make up a scavenger hunt.