Koons Clarksville

Chevrolet Buick GMC

Jun 16, 2022

Summer is prime time for fun and exploration in Maryland. As the temperatures warm, coastal destinations, picturesque parks, and theme park activities gain fresh appeal. If you’re itching to get out and enjoy the season, we have a diverse lineup of family activities for you to consider. Check out these options, then load up your vehicle for an unforgettable adventure.

Go Camping on Assateague Island

Assateague Island in Berlin, Maryland is a breathtaking retreat that feels a world away from the hustle and hassle of everyday life. Wild horses roam the sandy beaches, creating a picturesque escape like none other. This barrier island is home to the Assateague Island National Seashore and 14,000-acre Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Along the national seashore, you can hike 37 miles of beach, race along the coast in an Over Sand Vehicle (OSV), or swim in the surf. You can take your family back to a simpler way of life camping on the beach and crabbing, clamming, or fishing for your dinner.

Assateague Island has several designated launch areas for canoeing or kayaking and miles of biking trails for an invigorating trek. Stop in at the Tom’s Cove Visitor Center to learn more about beachcombing or dip a hand in the touch tank. Stretch your legs with a climb up the Assateague Lighthouse’s 175 steps for panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. End the day with a campfire on the beach and soak in the wonder of a summer escape you’ll never forget.

Explore Baltimore’s Inner Harbor

A mecca of entertainment, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor hosts enough dining, shopping, and attractions to fill an entire vacation. The National Aquarium houses creatures from all over the globe including bottlenose dolphins, sharks, jellyfish, turtles, eels, seahorses, and more. The aquarium hosts more than just aquatic creatures, with the golden lion tamarin, two-toed sloth, macaw, and other animals in residence as well.

The Maryland Science Center is a family favorite with exhibits catering to children of all ages. Kids can explore math in nature, play with electricity (safely!), conduct lab experiments, explore distant planets, and dig up dinosaur bones. For even more playtime, head to the Port Discovery Children’s Museum. Here, kids can scale the SkyClimber, captain a cargo ship, explore ancient Egypt, run a tot-size diner, and even play with water. 

Older visitors may enjoy historic highlights like the Baltimore Museum of Industry which features a recreated 1865 oyster cannery, 1910 pharmacy, 1929 garment loft, and 1936 print shop. The American Visionary Art Museum features an ever-changing collection of fascinating pieces that will delight art lovers of all ilks. If you’re traveling with adults, include time to visit Power Plant Live!, the harbor’s entertainment complex and pulsing center of nightlife.

Stroll the Ocean City Boardwalk

The Ocean City Boardwalk is a quintessential summer destination in Maryland. The boardwalk spans three miles from the inlet to 32nd Street. The family can hop on amusement rides at Trimper’s Rides or Jolly Roger at the Pier. When you need to cool off, indoor arcades abound with destinations like Marty’s Playland. You’ll find an abundance of candy shops with specialties ranging from saltwater taffy to creamy fudge. 

If you need something more substantial than sweets, make a stop at Shotti’s Point. Here, you’ll find filling options like fiery wings, handcrafted tacos, crab cakes, and street corn. If you prefer a more leisurely dining experience, hit the Taphouse Bar and Grille. Thirty-six taps deliver a wide selection of craft beers to accompany your meal. The menu features a variety of appetizers, wings, and sandwiches. Kids’ meals are available as well offering familiar favorites like chicken tenders or mac and cheese.

Experience the Thrills of Six Flags America

If you’re looking for a teen-friendly activity for your family this summer, Six Flags America offers plenty of exhilarating options. Thrilling roller coasters like Bourbon Street Fireball, Firebird, THE JOKER’s Jinx, Roar, and The Mind Eraser will keep them screaming in excitement. Renegade Rapids, THE PENGUIN’s Blizzard River, and Shipwreck Falls will help you cool off, while milder options like the Up, Up & Away Ferris wheel can give you a chance to recover between stomach-churning spins.

If you have younger family members in attendance as well, you can still find plenty of options among the family-friendly and kids’ rides to keep everyone whirling away happily. Six Flags America offers plenty of shopping, dining, and live entertainment to fill the day between rides.

Trek the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal trail spans over 184 miles between Washington D.C. and Cumberland, Maryland. This offers a seemingly endless range of opportunities to get out and explore with your family. You can drive along the route and stop off at highlights like lockhouses and visitors’ centers, or simply choose a section of the trail to explore more thoroughly. 

The Great Falls Tavern area is one of the most popular spots along the trail. Here, you can see the Great Falls of the Potomac, scramble along the challenging Billy Goat Trail, or take a replica canal boat ride. The Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center offers family backpacks filled with gear and activities that will help kids and caregivers make the most of their time in the park. All of the visitors’ centers along the trail offer Junior Ranger Program booklets to help educate kids on the highlights of the trail. 

Several prime hiking trails exist along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, offering easy options for an afternoon outdoors. Along the Ford Mine Trail in Great Falls, you can see the remains of gold mining operations from the 1880s through the early 1920s. The Paw Paw Tunnel Hill Trail offers interpretive signage along its two miles adding an educational element to your adventure.

Where do you plan to take your family this summer? Contact our team at Koons Clarksville Chevrolet Buick GMC and share your favorite Maryland destinations. We love having the best recommendations in town for our customers when they drive off our lot ready to tackle a new adventure.



Image via Unsplash by Sara Cottle | Licensed by Unsplash