by Melissa MooreWhere does your family go to enjoy the vibrant colors of leaves changing color? Maybe, you follow the crowds to Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive. Or, possibly you head to your favorite pumpkin patch, the one with pumpkins still attached to the vine, and hope that there are some colorful trees in the background for the perfect family photo. This year, with family in town from California, our family went searching for the most impressive display of color that we could find within a three hour drive of Washington DC, and we hit the road for the mountains of West Virginia. On our one day road trip adventure we visited both Blackwater Falls State Park and Seneca Rocks.
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On the northern tip of Loudoun County, VA, near Harpers Ferry, WV sits a breathtaking place for families to engage in exciting adventures. Whether you are looking for a day trip or a mini-vacation, Harpers Ferry Adventure Center offers tons of family-fun for a variety of levels and ages such as: Adventure Park: a three-level high challenge course with over 50 cable and rope bridges and ziplines, a low level for kids 5-12 who are at least 36" tall, and middle and upper levels for those 10 and older who are at least 48” tall. White Water Rafting: (must be at least 5 yrs old & 50 lbs.) An awesome half day trip offered for beginners on a beautiful 7 mile stretch of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers. Enjoy Class I-III rapids, get active, and view some wildlife. All trips include: the raft, a guide, PFD (Personal Flotation Device), helmet, paddle, beverage during the trip, and shuttle to and from the river. Water Tubing: Choose from Flat Water Tubing (must be at least 5 years old & 50 lbs,) White Water Tubing (ages 12 plus) or do a combo of both. Water tubing is one of Harpers Ferry Adventure Center's signature activities and the perfect way to cool off on a hot summer day! Kayaking: Kayak on the white water on an inflatable kayak dubbed a "Duckie" (must be 10 years and older) or paddle at your own pace on the flat water (ages 12 and up.) Canoeing: Paddle on the Potomac River alongside the historic C&O Canal towpath, Half and full day trips are offered, participants must be at least 5 yrs old and 50 lbs. Zip Line Tours: Play in the treetops and experience the best zip lining in WV! Tours include 7 ziplines and a skybridge. Must be 6 years old and 60 lbs to participate. Special rates offered for kids. Off Road Segway Tours: Teens and adults will love testing their balance and coordination in this fun tour complete with an obstacle course and mountain trip. Plus, Segways are less damaging to natural terrain than hiking boats, so the beautiful ride is also eco friendly! Camping: Extend your adventure by staying at one of the premium riverside camp sites Cabin Rentals: Prefer not to stay in a tent, try staying in a scenic mountainside cabin. Other family friendly activities offered include horseback riding, the giant jumping pillow, hiking, rock-climbing and fishing. We love that Harpers Ferry Adventure Center is just an hour from DC, rates are affordable, and the facilities are award-winning and top-notch. Plus, they are located just 1/4 mile from the river which cuts transportation time down to a minimum. Harpers Ferry Adventure Center 37291 Jefferson Pike Purcellville, VA 20132 540-668-9007 http://harpersferryadventurecenter.com Pictures are courtesy of Harpers Ferry Adventure Center, All rights reserved.
Harpers Ferry Adventure Center is a sponsor of our website. All opinions are our own. by Jay WilliamsonIf you have a toddler, you understand the reference. They may sit through their daily commute in a gray minivan affectionately renamed Gordon, and visit their grandparents on a plane, but no mode of transportation captures children’s attention the way trains can. Maybe it is the scale and power, or astute marketing, however if you have a young child you’ll eventually:
This post compiles a list of train museums and train-related events within driving distance of the DC metro area. I admit that I haven’t been to all of them, and the list is not comprehensive, so feel free to include tips and suggestions in the comments below. Main Stations: The Train Museums B&O Railroad Museum 901 West Pratt Street Baltimore, MD http://www.borail.org/default.aspx Just a short drive away, the B&O Railroad Museum features an impressive collection of locomotives and rolling stock. The museum bills itself as “the oldest, most comprehensive American railroad collection in the world” and it delivers on that promise. Its collection includes a number of cars – including a caboose – which you can go inside of. It also features many locomotives from earlier eras that enable children to encounter history and see how trains have changed over time. Many of the trains are housed in a roundhouse that fascinates kids with its gigantic scale and a turntable that is just like (!!!) the one they play with. Train rides are also available (extra charge), however the view is, on occasion, closer to The Wire than to the Island of Sodor. Regardless, the museum a great day trip and easily combined with an early dinner at the Inner Harbor. Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
300 Gap Road Ronks, PA 17572 http://www.rrmuseumpa.org/index.shtml Strasburg Rail Road 301 Gap Road Ronks, PA 17572 http://www.strasburgrailroad.com/ While the Railroad Museum and Strasburg Rail Road are separate institutions, they are directly across the street from one another, and offer a train-filled day in an idyllic countryside setting. Imagine Sodor without the accidents. Or, more specifically, train accidents. The Strasburg Rail Road offers multiple trains throughout the day that bring visitors on a 45 minute journey through Lancaster PA farmland. The engine and car types vary and enable you to tailor your experience to your family’s budget and interest level. The Rail Road also offers a variety of special events, such as an Easter Train, Days out with Thomas, Wine & Cheese Trains, and Christmas themed trains that are sure to be a hit. The Railroad Museum displays a diverse collection of over 100 locomotives and rail cars in its exhibit hall and restoration yard. The locomotives and rail cars are well displayed and visitors are permitted inside several of them, including a beautifully restored caboose. Ronks is approximately 3 hours from Washington D.C. While the trip can be done in a day, consider staying overnight at the Fulton Steamboat Inn, a wonderfully fun hotel that looks like a steamboat inside and out and lets you borrow a pet goldfish for the night. Equally important, the hotel has a great playground and pool. If you’re interesting in sticking with the train theme, consider The Red Caboose Motel. By Amy After a hot summer, record-breaking earthquake, Hurricane Irene, and a week of flooding, this weekend it was my turn to escape from DC to what Presidents, Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, and royalty have all agreed is one of the finest resorts in the world. Since 1778, the well-to-do have been traveling to the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia to experience the therapeutic effects of the natural sulphur springs and fresh mountain air. Although I consider myself more comfort-soled than well-heeled, the glamour of America's grand old resorts has always been a lure. With the advantage of an indulgent husband and special rate from the Greenbrier, my hopes for a memorable anniversary weekend were realized.
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