I can’t believe it’s the middle of July already! The days of summer pass by so quickly and are my favorite times. We aren’t so scheduled and busy. We visit the Outer Banks with grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins for a fun and memorable week each year. Now that the kids are getting older, moving out of town and working, the fact that we are able to all be together is a feat in itself.
So what about the rest of the summer? As a mom of seven, and being a 7 on the Enneagram test (more on this gem another day), I’m always up for an adventure, Only two of the kids are still teenagers, and the rest are in their twenties. Some of us are always ready head out to a new park, or to a drive-in, or on a day trip to a destination one of us have learned of.
TIME AT HOME
is special to us as well. I know that our neighbors have to think that our family is crazy. The car situation with friends dropping by is probably a bit much some days. Game nights are a blast. Movie nights, both inside and outdoors, make for fun times as well. A few mornings, I’ve awoken to find several hammocks strung up between trees in the back yard. We now call these Hammock Parties around here. One of my favorite evening pastimes, from springtime through the fall, are nights that we sit around a Bonfire. After the football and Frisbee are put to rest, and the s’more fixins’ have dwindled (have you tried Reese’s Cups in place of Hershey Bars yet? It’s the bomb!), just hanging out and talking late into the night with family and friends is the best. It’s even better when someone with a guitar or ukulele is in the crowd. A few years back, we started an end of summer tradition we call Milkshake Madness. Supplied with gallons of ice cream and milk, candy bars, peanut butter, chocolate syrup, cup, straws and a few blenders, we make and create a memorable sugar overload night. We reminisce over our carefree summer experiences and look forward to the cooler autumn days to come.
So, are your kids beginning to say they are bored? It’s about that time, and it’s such a bummer. We wait and wait for school to let out and summer to begin, and within a couple/few weeks, the ‘B’ word starts slipping through lips. Boredom and kids are not a great combination. Kids do crazy things, like shooting bay window glass out with bb gun’s, or checking out what happens if you throw firecrackers in neighbors pools, or saying that they were trying to throw rocks over the roof of a house next door…but have a lot more fun seeing how many dents can be made in the neighbors garage door. I thought this would be the perfect time to share some ideas and adventures available around the Baltimore area. Many of these day trips in and around Baltimore we have tried, but some are on our list for this year. Please feel free to comment on other things your family enjoys.
HIKING and EXPLORING
(click for info and trails)
Blackwater Falls Davis, West Virginia
ADVENTURE & SPORTS
Alternate Routes Gym Our family’s #1 choice for fun… it’s the best!
Autobahn Indoor Speedway Crazy, fast & fun.
Charm City Skate Park 28,000 s/f venue for skateboarders, inline skaters & BMX bikers!
Escape Rooms: Breakout (York Road in Timonium) All In Adventures (Perry Hall Blvd., White Marsh)
Baseball Games: Oriole Park at Camden Yards: Leiodos Field at Ripkin Stadium
Terrapin Adventures: “…soar through the air, defy gravity, and enjoy Outdoor Adventures!” Located in Savage, MD
Guppy Gulch: Our 3rd annual trip to this water park in a quarry is later this month. Our kids LOVE it!
Hershey Park:Adventure Park in Hershey, PA. Love the roller coasters!
Maryland Zoo In Baltimore: One of my happy places to be! Baltimore has a wonderful zoo.
DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE
I won’t even try to compile a complete list of things to do downtown, but here a a few! The American Visionary Art Museum is so interesting, and The National Aquarium and the Maryland Science Center are perfect for all ages. Rash Field is undergoing improvements; it’s a fun stop for volleyball, for kids to play, and the view is beautiful. There are lots of places to shop, snack or grab a big meal around the Baltimore Harbor. I have to throw in my new favorite place to eat…Miss Shirley’s. This restaurant is open for Breakfast and lunch, from 7am-3pm. It’s so worth your time to give them a try. Fells Point isn’t too far from the Harbor. It’s a fun place to visit for shopping, food and a great atmosphere.
OTHER LOCAL IDEAS
Bengies Drive-In Theater has been around for years, and has the largest continuously operated screen in the USA. We try to arrive pretty early for a decent parking spot. There’s a field to play ball or Frisbee while you wait. Make sure to check out the website before heading over. Paint Nights and Cake Nights are so much fun – just Google for them to find an evening close to you.
MORE DAY TRIPS OUTSIDE OF BALTIMORE
Washington D.C. is close to Baltimore, and very rich in culture and history. The National Mall has many monuments and memorials to visit. The various Smithsonian Museums are in that same vicinity. Our next trip will include one we haven’t visited before – the International Spy Museum. Washington is also home to the Smithsonian National Zoo and very much worth the time to visit. Luray Caverns in Luray, Virginia is a couple of hours from Baltimore. Discovered in 1878, tourists are able to explore the ancient caverns daily. The tour is about 1 1/2 miles long and lasts 45 minutes to an hour. The city of Philadelphia is only about 1 1/2 hours away, and like Washington D.C., is so very rich in history and culture. Cape May, NJ is America’s oldest seaside resort. It’s a lovely town to stroll through, and can be reached by catching the ferry from Lewes, DE.
SERVICE WORK AND VOLUNTEERING
We have opportunities to serve and volunteer all around us! My husband has often commented that teenagers have ‘ingrown eyeballs’ – this ‘selfie’ generation often has a hard time seeing past themselves. I have absolutely loved witnessing my own kids, as well as students in our youth group, come alive when handing out food, clothing and toys on the streets of Baltimore City. Their hearts have softened as we have served dinners and played games with the families at the Ronald McDonald House . We have had the opportunity to volunteer alongside Somebody Cares Baltimore the last few years for Day Of Hope in Baltimore City. Many times, if you check in with a church, there are families in need of help with yard work and house repairs. Hospitals, shelters, libraries, and parks are often looking for volunteers. The list is endless, but the experiences and rewards are priceless.
YOUTH GROUPS
The teen years can be really tough. I often say that finding a youth group or a community that shares your values, as well as helping your kids find sports or hobbies that they enjoy, is a huge blessing and gift for your children during this tumultuous time in their lives. For our family, we are involved in Beachmont Christian Ministries Dodgeball and Teen Night. We also volunteer at the Corn Maze in the fall, and several of our kids have helped out as Junior Counselors for Summer Camp. My husband and I work with Metro Maryland Youth For Christ and our kids have been involved in our clubs. The three youngest have been involved in a parkour/freerunning/tricking gym for the last several years. I couldn’t be more thankful!
Summertime is a wonderful time to reconnect with our teens! Spend time together, pray together, laugh, enjoy the simple things, explore, listen to what’s on their hearts and love them with all you’ve got!
