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What my parents told me to do. And probably yours too. Here are some great locations for adventures, day trips, and longer expeditions. Kid friendly. We start at the top of the page with places in York County PA, and go south and east to the Bay and DelMarVa. Most of these are easy day trips. And most are free. Click on the pics to learn more.

Nixon Park

Nixon Park (part of the York County Park System), Jacobus PA. Trails, world class museum/visitor's center, hands on exhibits, touch room for kids, nifty gifty shoppe, books to read to your kids, borrow a back pack and explore the trails or the Sensory Meadow, attend one of many family oriented programs like Moonlight Boat Rides, Sunset Bike Rides, Reptile Week, Slalamander Stroll and others... mostly free, the rest is stupid cheap.

Lake Redman & William Kain Park

Jacobus PA. Rent a boat (kayak, canoe, rowboat, peddle boat) and explore the lake or fish from shore, or walk the trails, or use a picnic pavillion. Part of the York County Park System. Look for the night herons (above) at twilight, as well as bug-hunting bats, the red-jewel eyes of fishing spiders skating the water's surface, and long-jawed orb-weavers clinging like Spiderman to the overhanging shrubs.

Chestertown MD &
Downrigging Weekend

This colonial town up the Chester River is worth a visit any time of the year (waterfront, history, shops, galleries, great food, the Schooner Sultana), but on Halloween Weekend the waterfront becomes a floating timeline from 1630 to the 20th century. Tall ships from around the Bay and beyond fill the docks and river. You can tour the boats (and trick or treat on them) for free. Or sail on one of them for a fee (varies). Great photo op, bring cameras and lots of batteries! If you're camping: Bayshore Campground is the best.

Schooner Sultana
(sail on a "pirate ship")

Chestertown Maryland. This full sized reproduction of a 1768 topsail schooner looks like a pirate ship to most kids... and she's the perfect size for middle schoolers to handle. She sails on missions of fun and education around the Chesapeake Bay, taking school kids and campers on adventures of a lifetime. You can do a public sail on her (with your kids) for less $$$ than it takes to go to the amusement park. It's hands-on (uh, yeah, they let the kids drive the ship). Bring a camera.

Sae Hrafn
(go Viking!)

Sail on a Viking longship... you only have to go to Oakley MD, and hook up with the Longship Company (we launch at the Blimp Captain's house). We love visitors (it means we have more crew). We're a serious bunch of funloving historical reinactors. Come man an oar, raise the sail, sing bawdy sea shanties (OK, we'll modify that if there are kids). Free, though we do appreciate anyone who can make a donation.

Sail on a Privateer!

The Pride of Baltimore !! is a reproduction of the wicked swift and agile privateers of the War of 1812. You can tour the decks for free, or sail for a fee (still cheaper than the amusement park) at various places around the Bay and east coast. Haul a halyard and brace the sails. Bring earplugs so you can keep filming when they fire the cannons! She is sometimes seen in the company of the Privateer Lynx. And join her and others for Privateer Day in Baltimore MD, in April.

Calvert Cliffs State Park MD (bay beach, fossils)

Take a mile hike through the woods, past the swamp (swamps have trees, marshes have grass), past the beaver dam and water lilies to a Chesapeake Bay beach. Tall sand bluffs hide a fabulous treasure: fossils! Fortunately they readily wash out in any storm and can be found lying on the beach. You are allowed to take what you can carry in two hands (bring containers and a back pack anyway, you'll also need a lunch, water, wading gear and a towel).

York County Heritage Rail Trail

Bike it, hike it, ride it, mush it (above, William and Denali, Legolas and Nikki in background). Miles of level, packed sand, wonderful for horse hooves or joggers' feet or bikes... or a wheeled dogrig and three huskies. Woods, agricultural lands and small towns, historic sites (which have open houses, visitor's centers and events). Nice short "walk the dog" hike, or a longer trek. Organized bike events through Nixon County Park.

Lake Marburg
Codorus State Park

Trails to hike and horseback ride, sailing, rent a kayak or bring your own, ridiculously clear water, osprey nest, and nearby, an eagle nest with its own webcam (best visited online: click the osprey pic above. Codorus State Park offers many family friendly environmental programs too.

Pinchot State Park

Hike it, bike it, horseback ride it, kayak it. Boat rentals in summer, swimming beach on the Harrisburg (north) side, great trails for biking or walking dogs (MUST BE LEASHED!!!). Lots of wildlife, especially if you paddle or hike up Beaver Creek (look for the barred owls and great blue herons). Good fishing: Big Bass Lake. Great for picnics (shady beaches). This is a shallow, eutrophic lake, so sometimes in summer the algae and pondweeds can take over. I've mushed my huskies through the campgrounds in winter. Great for cross country skiing.

Eastern Neck Island
(Bay beaches, trails)

Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge is tiny in size, big in possibilities. It lies just north of the Bay Bridge on the eastern side of the Bay, western side of DelMarVa, at the mouth of the Chester River. The water is somewhat salty, just enough for clams and oysters, blue crabs and rockfish, and visiting cownose rays. Fish it, hike it, walk the trails to small mooncurved sandy beaches. Play in the water, launch a kayak or boat on a trailer at Boggle's Wharf. Check out the nifty visitor's center/gift shop. Entrance is free. Check the tide charts and weather if launching a boat. If swimming, you may encounter sea nettles at certain times of the year: a diveskin, or surfer shirt or other water friendly clothing is proof against them. If camping, check out Bayshore Campground nearby.

Cape Henlopen
(ocean beaches)

Ditch Ocean City and the developed beaches for a real beach experience. Cape Henlopen State Park has a downright luxurious campground, gorgeous sand beaches, cool watchtowers from WWII, a terrific visitor's center, naturalist programs for families to learn about the Cape's environment, and the Great Horseshoe Crab Migration (don't miss it!).

Chincoteague
and
Assateague Islands
(ocean beaches)

Just south of the manic crowding and expense that is Ocean City, Assateague lies like a long narrow dragon, the tiny egg of Chincoteague tucked into the southern end of its tail. Assateague is home to the wild things, Chincoteague keeps most of its watermen's town quality. Assateague has several parks and wildlife refuges (all with excellent family programs, most free). Chincoteague has cottages, camps, condos to rent, shops, galleries, great food. Rent a kayak or take one of the guided tours of the backwaters. Uncrowded beaches. Home to the only wild horse roundup in the east.

Kalmar Nyckel
(more pirate sails)

The tall ship of Delaware is also seen in the Chesapeake Bay at times. She's a gorgeous blue, carved like a wedding cake, towering three masted full rigged ship. She does public sails including fun "pirate sails" aimed at kids. worth the price (about like taking your kids to an amusement park for a day, but this is cooler).

Susquehanna River
Wrightsville

Take the Wrightsville exit off Rt. 30 and go through this small river town to the John Wright Store and Restaurant. The parking lot behind the store leads to a boat ramp and a small park. From there you can launch a (properly stickered) kayak or fishing boat on a trailer, or sit on the shore and fish, or wade in the shallows and look for crayfish or macroinvertebrates. The John Wright Store has food and gifts (and a bathroom). Wear a PFD, there is some current (speed depends on rainfall) and the rocky bottom may drop off beneath you. Just downriver is another small park with river access and a boat ramp.

Susquehanna River
Long Level

Drive from Wirghtsville down along the York side of the river to Long Level. Look for Shank's Mare Outfitters. By the river is a nifty beach (sorry, no swimming signs abound), a trail, and a place to launch a kayak, or just sit and watch or fish. Shank's Mare has great outdoor gear, an ice cream shop, and rents kayaks (easy to use sit-ons).

Susquehanna Petroglyphs

Just south of the Safe Harbor Dam lie two rocks covered with ancient Native petroglyphs (rock drawings). These small islands in the Susquehanna are only accessible by small boat (kayaks are perfect). You can come out of the Conestoga River, or up from Pequea. If you go, walk softly, and leave something (sage, tobacco) for the spirits of the Rock.
More: click pic below...

Sassafrass River
​(on the bay)

Put your boat in at Turner's Creek Park and drift through beds of American Lotus blooming from nid-July to mid-August. Or walk the shores and trails, check out the visitor's center, no fee (unless launching a trailered boat). 

Betterton Beach
(Chesapeake Bay)

At the end of the Sassafras River lies the tiny town of Betterton. It used to be the beach destination before the Chesapeake Bay Bridge sent everyone to Ocean City. The beach is still fabulous, a long stretch of sand on a tidal freshwater river (no jellyfish in the summer) with small waves and occasional sea glass. Picnic tables, shady trees, a bathhouse and seabirds too. 

Rock Hall MD
(Bay beaches)

Just north of Eastern Neck Island, at the end of the Chester River, lies the tiny town of Rock Hall. Good eateries, fine fishing, excellent places to launch a boat, or visit the small, uncrowded sandy beach at Rock Hall. If you're staying overnight, nearby is the really awesome Bayshore Campground.

Point Lookout
(on the Bay)

This park lies at the mouth of the Potomac River and looks down the vast stretches of the Chesapeake Bay. You can camp nearby, fish, hike, swim. Pets are allowed in some areas. Gorgeous seascape ranges from backwater marshes to big open water.

Header: Sled dog team: Scotty and Breezy, racing Siberians, pulling Mona Kotchmar's rig at Micheaux State Park PA.