Staycation Ideas: Having Fun Near Home This Summer

Put the “YAY” Back in STAYCATION! OK, so we may have added a “Y” in there, but the “HOW” is what you’re here for!

In this era of cancelled trips and well-founded caution, there are still many options to have fun with friends and family in the great outdoors. This year, it’s just a lot closer to home. It’s easy to have fun without leaving town!


Adventures On the Water

Kayaking or Canoeing | Now is the time to dust off those water vessels and take advantage of all the lakes and rivers in this area! Don’t have your own? Terrapin Adventures offers our famous Kayak Nature Tour all summer long! Groups of four to 14 people can sign up for a private, or register for one of our public tour dates! You can also rent kayaks at Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis.

River Tubing | The most relaxing adventure you can have! Rent a tube, sit back, and relax while you float down a nice, cool body of water this summer. You can probably guess what we;’ll say next: Terrapin Adventures offers River Tube Rentals every day of the week! Only 10 tube rentals per day, so book ahead and secure your tubes early. We recommend tubing at Patapsco Valley State Park, but you can take the tubes anywhere! If that doesn’t work, try the Gunpowder River or tubing at Harpers Ferry.

Fishing | Step one: Acquire a license from the Maryland Dept of Natural Resources. Step two: Fish at any local pond like Lake Elkhorn, Lake Kittamaqundi, or along the Patuxent River!

Boating | Rent a boat that fits your needs from Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis.

Adventures on the Ground

Lawn Parties | Bring your own chair, food, and of course…s’mores (as long as there’s a fire pit)! Keep your distance while enjoying the company of your favorite people. Make those summer camp dreams come alive!

Hiking | Who needs equipment when you have two feet? Maryland has a number of state parks with scenic hikes! We like Cunningham Falls in Thurmont, the Billy Goat Trail in Great Falls, and the Middle Patuxent Watershed area in Howard County.

Drive-In Movies | Kick-it old school and relive the glorious nights spent at the local drive-in movie theater! Entertainment without breaking a sweat. Both Savage Mill and the Howard County Fairgrounds are hosting drive-in movies this summer!

Visit a Petting Farm | Clark’s Elliot Oaks Farm provides all the cuteness you can handle this summer! A great way to spend the afternoon for parents with younger kids. 

Bike Trails | Patapsco Valley State Park is known as the “Moab of the East” for mountain biking! You can pedal along paved trails from Savage Mill to Lake Elkhorn. If you’re starting in Savage, you can Rent Bikes from Terrapin Adventures! The D.C. area has tons of bike paths — from the Capital Crescent Trail, Mt. Vernon Trail, and Anacostia River Trail.

Adventures for Your Taste Buds

Make-Your-Own-Ice Cream | Our Summer Camp director leads our campers on this tasty adventure each week: Learn how to make Ice-Cream-In-A-Bag! A few simple ingredients (and a lot of shaking) creates your very own sweet, summer treat! Or just visit a Snowball or Ice Cream Stand if you don’t want to make your own dessert.

Pick Fresh Produce | Visit Larriland Farms in Lisbon, MD and taste the freshest fruit and vegetables you’ll find! We’re thinking about berries in the summer and all the apples and pumpkins you could dream of in the fall.

Visit an Outdoor Brewery | Plenty of patio space on tap to meet your friends outside while enjoying the creative brews from Maryland’s own Guinness Brewery.

Adventures in the AIR

Adventure Parks | In Howard County, you can zip, swing, climb, and SOAR through the air at Terrapin Adventures. We’ve got mid-week and weekend adventure packages for thrill seekers ages 5-85 years old! In Montgomery County check out the Adventure Park at Sandy Springs. In Frederick, look for Tree Trekkers.


Let us know your favorite local place to be outdoors! We’re here for all your adventure needs; from our amazing aerial Adventure Park to our exciting Tours Beyond the Park.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 8th, 2020 at 11:56 am. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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