Teddy Roosevelt Island is a great day trip for the fall season and one of our area’s best-kept secrets. It will be glorious during the next few months and perfect for viewing fall foliage. The island is named after Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt who in 1901 at age 42 became the youngest president in history, serving two terms.
With a network of walking trails – including a boardwalk through the marsh – strolling around this 88 acre little island with the kids is a breeze. By car, the parking lot for TR Island is accessible from the northbound lanes of the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Virginia. But since our trip included driving south from Silver Spring, we headed to
Rosslyn, VA where we found plenty of street parking, a short trek to the footbridge to the island and restaurants for our post-hike munchies.
Once we arrived on the island, we found no Visitor Center but we did find trail maps of TR Island at the sign post bulletin board. Make your pit stops pre-hike, for the park map indicates the only bathroom facilities are on the southern end of the island, the complete opposite side of where you enter!
At the center of this small island is an amphitheater with fountains and a larger-than-life 17-foot statue of Teddy Roosevelt surrounded by granite panels containing his
views on life. It’s an excellent place for the kids to run around and for parents to read the inscriptions of Teddy’s eloquent thoughts on nature and conservation. On our hike, we traveled through marsh, swamp and forest on dirt trails and a boardwalk. Markers along the hiking trails provided information on the plethora of wildlife (we saw a wild turkey!) and flora.
So, the next time you and the kids are in the mood for a nature walk, consider a hike through this island in the middle of the Potomac River. TR Island is such a serene place to enjoy nature while just a stone’s throw from DC!
Patti Lalley is a native Silver Spring-er and mom to a son in kindergarten. Her interests include finding fun, local activities for elementary school age kids.
For my husband and I, it’s not truly the fall season until we make a visit to the Cunningham Falls State Park. This Maryland State Park is a beautiful wooded park located off US Route 15 between Frederick and Thurmont in the Catoctin Mountains. This area’s main claim to fame is the presence of
Camp David. Since we did not have the special invite needed to enter the presidential retreat, we headed to the Falls. The 78 foot high Cunningham Falls are the largest cascading waterfall in Maryland.
There are nine trails ranging from easy to difficult to hike to the waterfall. Maps of the hiking trails are available from the park ranger stations. Here’s a complete trail guide.
In our pre-baby days, my husband and I would hike the Cliff Trail. This ¾ mile trail to the falls had us climbing over rocks on the way to the falls. This time we hiked the mile Lower Trail which provides the shortest and easiest access to the waterfall. My 6 year old son really loved exploring the rocky wooded terrain, pointing out the birds or animals he saw. For families that need a stroller or a wheelchair there is a ¼ mile Boardwalk Trail that ends at the base of the waterfall. (Note that the parking lot right by the Boardwalk Trail is open only to vehicles displaying the handicap symbol.)
After exploring the Falls, we ambled over to the beach area at the lake in the Houck Area of the Park. Now that summer is over, we had the place to ourselves. The 44-acre man-made Hunting Creek Lake offers swimming in three designated areas with lifeguards on duty from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Canoe and paddleboat rentals are available during the summer season. (Directions to Cunningham Falls.)
There is lots more to do in the Thurmont area. The 45th annual Catoctin Colorfest will be held this upcoming weekend, October 11 and 12, 2008. Over 300 arts and crafts will be on display in the town of Thurmont and admission is free! (Directions to the Colorfest.)
Finally, we always end our Thurmont area daytrips with a stop to Catoctin Mountain Orchard . They offer fresh fruits, vegetables, jam and jellies but our favorites for this time of the year are their juicy apples.
Patti Lalley is a native Silver Spring-er and mom to a son in kindergarten. Her interests include finding fun, local activities for elementary school age kids.
Photo courtesy sudama on Flickr and a gracious Wikipedia user
Photo by Jeannine Marie Soden
My 5 year old son has always loved airplanes. He’d gaze up to the skies and point every time he heard the rumble of a plane engine. We’d watch planes land right over our heads at Gravelly Point Park, and on his recent first airplane rides he loved the attention (and golden plastic wings) given to him from the pilot and stewardesses.
To encourage this new love, I took my son and some pals to visit the College Park Aviation Museum. Opened in 1998, it is a 27,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility located on the grounds of the historic College Park Airport, the world’s oldest continuously operating airport.
The College Park Aviation Museum is full of child-friendly activities including model and kite-making workshops, aviation crafts and stamps and each child leaves the museum with a goodie bag that rivals most birthday party swag. Be sure to check out the second and fourth Thursdays of every month at 10:30am for the Peter Pan Club, the museum’s pre-school learning club for three to five year olds.
Photo by Jeannine Marie Soden
My son and his friends loved interactive exhibits that provided hands-on learning about flight. They especially liked the simulator of the Wright Brothers’ plane, and more simulators will be on hand on Saturday July 12 from 12-4pm at the
“At the Controls Family Day.”
The College Park Aviation Museum
Open daily from 10am to 5pm
Cost: $4 for adults, $2 for children & students
Children under 2 are free
Map & Directions
Patti Lalley is a native Silver Spring-er and mom to a five year old boy entering kindergarten in the fall. Her interests include finding fun, local activities for elementary school age kids.
With the last day of school now past, parents in Silver Spring are turning to pools and parks to entertain the little ones. But what to do when rain clouds ruin the summer outdoor plans? You know, when you hear the rumblings of thunder and the pool shuts down and you say to yourself, “Yikes, what do I do with this kid now?”
APISS has some great indoor play suggestions, but here’s another one: duckpin bowling!
I recently took my five year old son and two pals to bowl at White Oak Duckpin Bowling Lanes. They had a fabulous time trying to knock down the pins. The five year olds did fine lifting and heaving the 3.5 pound balls. However, our three year old friend had a hard time bowling the ball down the lane. The manager that day, Dorothy, suggests kids be at least four years old to really enjoy this fun and challenging sport.
A longstanding Silver Spring tradition, the White Oak Lanes have been open since 1959. In terms of amenities, there are 24 bowling lanes, all with bumpers to avoid the confidence-crushing gutter balls. There’s a full grill snack bar with great french fries to satisfy any munchies. No reservations are needed for lanes. It’s all first come, first serve.
There are also duckpin lanes in College Park, Bowie and other locations in the 10 duckpin states. But we’ll be seeing you at White Oak on the next rainy day.
White Oak Duckpin Bowling Lanes
11207 New Hampshire Avenue
in the White Oak Shopping Center
Silver Spring, MD
301-593-3000
Open seven days a week, 10am-11pm and until 1:30am on Saturday
Monday through Friday 10-5: $3.50 per per person per game
Weekends and evenings:$4 per person per game
Shoe rental is always $3.25
Patti Lalley is a native Silver Spring-er and mom to a five year old boy entering kindergarten in the fall. Her interests include finding fun, local activities for elementary school age kids.
Photo courtesy jenniferrt66 on Flickr
The
Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts and the
Bethesda Big Train are great local teams in the Ripken league. Both are non-profit organizations incorporated in Maryland with the goal of assisting local youth baseball organizations and improving baseball fields in the downcounty area. Many players played in the league before signing to the majors, such as
John Maine and
Mark Teixeira.
The Thunderbolts and Big Train’s games feature lots of fun activities for kids. For example, in past years the Thunderbolts have featured races around the bases between innings by kids selected from the stands. At Big Train games mascot Homer the Dog walks through the stands greeting kids. And this Sunday, in honor of Father’s Day, dads and their kids are allowed onto The Big Train’s Povich Field for special games of catch at 7pm.
The Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts
Montgomery Blair High School Baseball Stadium
51 University Boulevard East
Silver Spring, MD
Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children under 18.
Free for kids under 5 and youth baseball and softball players in uniform
Game schedule
Home games begin at 7pm Mon-Sat, 6pm on Sunday, gates & concession open 1 hour prior
The Bethesda Big Train
Shirley Povich Field
10600 Westlake Drive in Cabin John Regional Park in Bethesda
Admission is $7 for adults, $3 per game for children under 18.
Free for kids under 5 and youth baseball and softball players in uniform
Game schedule
Home games begin at 7:30, gates & concession open at 6
Patti Lalley is a native Silver Spring-er and mom to a 5 year old son entering kindergarten in Fall 2008. Her interests include finding fun local activities for elementary school-aged kids.
