If your inner Indiana Jones is longing for adventure or, perhaps, your little ones have been inspired by Olympic gold medal swimmer Katie Ledecky…or, you’re simply looking for fun ways to cool off or heat up this summer, then the following list of regional activities, attractions, and ideas is your cue card. We’ve assembled—what we think—is a fun batch of adventures; something for everyone, for families large or small, couples new or experienced, or, simply, those in need of a solo mission to recharge and rejuvenate. And…you’re invited to add to this list. If you have an excellent idea or lead on an adventure please introduce us and your fellow readers by commenting on this article online at whatsupmag.com. Or, shoot us an email at editor@whatsupmag.com, subject line “Adventures.” Your name and idea could make it into a future article!
Without further ado, your adventure awaits….
Fly Like an Eagle…or PracticeLike a Dove
Ready to take the big plunge? Like…out of an airplane plunge? If you think you’ve built up the nerve to try skydiving (you won’t truly know until you’re at 20,000 feet in the plane), there are several local/regional operations that offer lessons and dives for novices to the experienced. And if you’re not quite ready to jump out of a perfectly fine plane, but want to feel the sensation of floating mid-air, good news…you can try skydive simulation in a vertical wind tunnel. All the feels of flying without the fear. A popular go-to is iFly in Baltimore, who can also steer you skyward when you’re ready to try the real thing.
Take Aim
To exercise your Second Amendment rights, we recommend learning responsible firearm safety and practice via local instruction and at a firing range first. Between Anne Arundel County and the several hubs on the Eastern Shore, there are a number of ranges that offer first-time shooting instruction and the opportunity to test various models of firearms. It can be a thrill to take your first shot. But if you’re nervous of the real deal, then perhaps a group paintball session is in order, which could feel a bit more recreational. Lists of local ranges and paintball courses can be found via Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources, Yelp, and a general Google search.
Raft with or without the River
Head westward and ye shall find thrilling rapids to raft. But…you needn’t necessarily worry yourself with rafting in precarious or dangerous waters. In fact, you can get all the thrills and spills in a safe, controlled environment. If the au natural Youghiogheny River—in Maryland’s Allegheny Mountains, where the state’s diehard rafters…raft—seems too intense to try, then head to Wisp Mountain at Deep Creek, to experience the world’s only mountaintop recirculating whitewater course in the world with gentle rapids in a controlled environment.
Super Soaked
What better way to cool off from the summer’s relentless heat than an adventurous waterpark, with slides, pools, lazy rivers, and all-manner of super soaky water fountains, jets, falls, and splash pads. A few of the most popular in the area include Six Flags America in Upper Marlboro, North Arundel Aquatic Center in Glen Burnie, Chesapeake Beach Water Park, and Frontier Town in Berlin (plus many more at the beach resorts).
Follow the Yellow Brick Road
Yes, there actually is a yellow brick road…in real life…at a park…and you can skip along it, just like Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion, at Watkins Regional Park in Upper Marlboro. The Prince George’s County park features a Wizard of Oz-themed playground, plus a small farm animal zoo, miniature train rides on a mile-long track, carousel, picnic shelters, and, even, camping. Perfect for a family adventure! Visit pgparks.com and search “Watkins.”
Calling all Princes and Princesses
Children will step into a fairyland, while parents (especially those that grew up in the region) will step back in time. Clark’s Elioak Farm, located just outside of Ellicott City, features the magical, fairytale structures and statues that once-upon-a-time lived at the famed Enchanted Forest—a Maryland theme park that operated from 1955 to ’95. Clark’s acquired the structures in the early 2000s. Restored and ready for youngsters to explore, the structures—which include Humpty Dumpty on a Wall, Willie the Whale, Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe, and many other Mother Goose gems—are a throwback to a bygone era that can be enjoyed today. The farm also features a petting zoo, hayrides, playgrounds, a pumpkin patch in the fall, and even a dinosaur forest! Visit clarklandfarm.com
Scale a Mountain
Via ferrata—never heard of it? You’re not alone. Although popular in the Dolomite mountains of northern Italy and other European ranges, via ferratas—Italian for “iron path”—are fixed-anchor mountain climbing routes, in which cables, pegs, ladders, stairs, and bridges are used to scale a mountain or rock outcrop. And just three hours from our metro corridor is one of only three via ferratas on the entire East Coast. NRocks in Circleville, West Virginia offers the climbing adventure you didn’t know existed. The Nelson Rocks outcrop appears an extreme terrain, yet the course is open to newbies. With guided instruction, climbers of the via ferrata are treated to breathtaking landscapes and scenery, safely. For more intel, visit nrocks.com.
Catch a Wave
Yes, there is surfing daily at Ocean City and, yes, you can learn how. If you’ve ever gotten the itch to “catch a wave and sit on top of the world,” as the Beach Boys famously sung in ’63, you’re not alone. And you don’t have to be—thankfully, there are several surf shops that offer lessons for novices, which, depending on the weather, will take you to the daily designated surf location/street and help you hang ten. Just type “surf lessons ocean city md” in your browser search bar to book lessons and hook up with instructors.
Tangle Dangle
Criss-cross, climb, and zip your way through a ropes course, an adventure that’s requires agility, balance, and smarts. In Savage Mill, you’ll find one of the area’s most popular courses, fully outfitted with 18 obstacles up to 40 feet high, a zip line, climbing tower, giant swing, and more. Visit terrapinadventures.com.
The Race is On
Fulfill your destiny, your dream, and your every desire to drive the best, the fastest, and most exotic cars. If you’ve longed for burning rubber in a Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, or McLaren, there’s a race track calling your name. Xtreme Xperience and Dream Drive Exotics bring top-tier vehicles to racetracks nationwide, offering once-in-a-lifetime car driving experiences. Visit each online for upcoming dates/tracks in our region.
Ice, Ice, Baby!
A great way to beat the heat and get in some cardio is ice skating. And lucky for us, there are several indoor rinks in the region to get your skate on (McMullen Hockey Arena, Piney Orchard, Bowie Ice Rink, The Gardens Ice House, Talbot County Ice Rink). Most rinks cater to all levels, from learn-to-skate programs for novices to figure skating teams, and even adult hockey leagues. Or just try on a pair of skates and hold hands with a loved one as you make way around the rink.
Reel ’Em In!
The Chesapeake Bay and its many tributaries are well-known for world-class striped bass fishing—with Chesapeake Beach, North Beach, Solomons Island, St. Michaels, and Rock Hall being popular charter marinas—but there are oodles of other species also worth hooking into. Large and smallmouth bass in the Susquehanna R., invasive snakehead in Mattawoman Creek, pickerel and yellow perch in the Severn R., bluecats in the Potomac R., brown trout in Gunpowder R., and that’s just a few of the more than 50 species swimming Maryland waters. Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources or tidalfish.com are your best sources for local information and to connect with charter captains and local fishing guides.
Rock On!
Indoor rock-climbing gyms are safe, comfortable environments to do some thrill seeking. Try your hand (and legs) at bouldering, which is free-climbing on short walls above padded surfaces or go a bit higher and tether to long lines for vertical climbs. Newbies can learn the ropes (literally) via personal or class instruction; Earth Treks is the largest gym in the region. Other go-to climbing walls include Pip Moyer Recreation Center in Annapolis, YMCA locations, and several local gyms.
Circumnavigate
Pretend you’re the famed explorer Magellan for a day and circumvent an island. You needn’t travel the world’s seven seas to get a taste of aquatic adventure. A kayak trip will do just fine and a great place to explore is Eastern Neck Wildlife Refuge, an island located south of Rock Hall. You can drop a kayak, canoe, or small boat at one of two launch sites and, if your arms are up for the challenge, circumvent the entire island. Along the way, you’ll encounter a vast abundance of Chesapeake flora and fauna. Plan your trip via fws.gov.
Space Out
Take an extraterrestrial adventure without leaving Earth. Let your imagination soar at any of several flight/space museums within the metro region. See the space shuttle Discovery and the famed Enola Gay at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, learn about NASA endeavors at their Goddard Visitor Center in Greenbelt, awe at the 1903 Wright Flyer and Spirit of St. Louis at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum in D.C., or explore the cosmos at the Maryland Science Center’s planetarium.
Might asWell Jump!
How spritely are you? Find out at a trampoline park, where these indoor gyms’ floors are wall-to-wall covered in trampolines. You can jump, bounce, and “all fall down” in good fun, whether you go for an open gym session or specialized trampoline games that mimic dodgeball or basketball. There are multiple parks in the region, just Google “trampoline park.”
