Creating memories by adventuring with our kids in nature is so fun! Here is our list of 80+ places to explore nature with kids (while practicing social distancing). While we may not be able to go on a big beach vacation this year or have epic summer parties, we can take time to explore in our own backyard at these one-of-a-kind locations.
We have emojis by each child-friendly location specifying what they offer. Before heading to these places, please make sure they are open and accepting guests. At the bottom of the article, we have a checklist of what to bring when exploring nature with kids.
Check out the handy MAP at the bottom of this page too!
Emoji Legend:
🌳 – hiking
🌊 – beach
💦 – lake, pond, river, stream
⛺️ – camping
🚲 – bike trails
🛶 – canoeing
🐟 – fishing
🌸 – flower gardens
💛 – a favorite
80+ Places to Explore Nature with Kids in DC, MD, and VA
The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring Sandy Spring, MD (amazing ziplining) 💛
Annmarie Sculpture Garden Solomons, MD 🌳 🌸 💛
Audubon Naturalist Society Chevy Chase, MD 🌳 💦 💛
Battle Creek Cyrus Swamp Prince Frederick, MD 🌳 💦
Bethesda Trolley Trail Bethesda, MD 🚲
Beverly Triton Nature Park Edgewater, MD 🌳 🌊 🐟 (wade and walk, but no swimming)
Bladensburg Waterfront Park Bladensburg, MD 🌳 🌊 🛶 🚲
Breezy Point Beach and Campground Chesapeake Beach, MD 🌊 ⛺️
Brookside Nature Center Wheaton, MD 🌳 💦 💛
Burke Lake Park Fairfax Station, VA 🌳 💦 ⛺️
Cabin John Regional Park Trails Bethesda, MD 🌳 🚲
Calvert Cliffs State Park Lusby, MD 🌊 💛
Calvert Road Park Disk Golf College Park, MD 🌳 (disk golf course)
Cape Henlopen State Park Lewes, DE 🌳 🌊 ⛺️ 🐟
Catoctin Mountain Thurmont, MD 🌳 💦
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Trail (184.5 Miles with multiple entrances) 🌳 💦 💛
Colmar Manor Park Colmar Manor, MD
Colonial Beach Colonial Beach, VA 🌳 🌊 ⛺️ 💛
Cunningham Falls Thurmont, MD 🌳 🌊 💛
Dumbarton Oaks Washington, DC 🌸
Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve Alexandria, VA 💦
Eastern Shore, VA 🌳 🌊 🚲 💛
Eastern Neck Wildlife Refuge Rock Hall, MD 🌳 💦
Elms Beach Lexington Park, MD 🌊
Flag Ponds Nature Park Lusby, MD 🌊
Fletcher’s Cove Washington, DC 🌳 💦 🛶 🚲 🐟
Fort McHenry Baltimore, MD 💛
Franciscan Monastery Washington, DC 🌸
Glenstone Museum Potomac, MD (ages 12+) 🌸 💛
Gravelly Point Arlington, VA 💛
Great Falls McLean, VA 🌳 💦 💛
Greenbelt Park Greenbelt, MD 🌳 ⛺️
Greenbrier State Park Boonsboro, MD 🌳 🌊 🛶 ⛺️
Green Spring Gardens Alexandria, VA 💦
Gordon’s Pond Lewes, DE 🌳 🚲
Gunpowder Falls State Park Kingsville, MD 🌳 🌊 🛶
Gunpowder’s Hammerman Area Middle River, MD 🌳 🌊
Harper’s Ferry National Historic Park Harpers Ferry, WV 🌳 🌊 💦 🛶 🚲 ⛺️ 💛
Hillwood Estate, Museum and Garden Washington, DC 🌸
Holt’s Landing State Park Dagsboro, DE 🌳 💦 🛶
Huntley Meadows Park Alexandria, VA 🌳 💦
Jefferson Patterson Park St Leonard, MD 🌳 💦 🛶
Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary Lothian, MD 🌳 💦 🛶 💛
Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens Washington, DC 🌸 💦 💛
Lake Arrowhead Beach Luray, VA 🌊 🛶 🐟
Lake Anna State Park Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA 🌳 🌊 🛶 🐟
Leesylvania State Park Woodbridge, VA 🌳 💦 🛶 ⛺️ 🐟
Locust Grove Nature Center Bethesda, MD 🌳
Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum Sterling, VA
Matapeake Clubhouse & Beach Kent Island, MD 🌳 🌊
Mayo Beach Park Edgewater, MD 🌊
McKee-Beshers WMA Poolesville, MD 🌻 🌳 🚲
Meadowside Nature Center Rockville, MD 🌳 💦 🐟 💛
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens Vienna, VA 🌳 💦 🛶 🐟 🚲
Metropolitan Branch Trail Washington, DC 🚲
Mount Vernon Mount Vernon, VA 🌳 💦 💛
Monocacy National Battlefield Frederick, MD 🌳 Our Experience
National Arboretum Washington, DC 🌳 🌸 💛
North Beach North Beach, MD 🌊
Patapsco Valley State Park Ellicott City, MD 🌳 💦 🛶 ⛺️ 🐟
Patuxent Research Refuge Laurel, MD 🌳 💦 🐟
Point Lookout State Park Scotland, MD 🌳 🌊 🛶 ⛺️ 🐟
Pohick Bay Regional Park Lorton, VA 🌳 💦 🛶 ⛺️ 🐟 💛
Purse State Park (Nanjemoy WMA with Mallows Bay) Charles County, MD 🌳 🌊 🛶 🐟 💛
Prince William Forest Prince William County, VA 🌳 💦 🚲 ⛺️ 🐟
Quiet Waters Park Annapolis, MD 🌳 💦
Riverbend Park Great Falls, VA 🌳 💦 🐟
River Farm Alexandria, VA 💦 🌸
Rock Creek Park Washington, DC 🌳 💦 🐟 💛
Roosevelt Island Washington, DC (parking in Arlington, VA) 🌳 💦
Sandy Point State Park Annapolis, MD 🌳 🌊 🐟
Scott’s Run Nature Preserve McLean, VA 🌳 💦 (no swimming or wading)
Seneca Creek State Park Gaithersburg, MD 🌳 💦 🚲 🛶 🐟
Shenandoah National Park Virginia 🌳 💦 🚲 ⛺️ 🐟 💛
Sky Meadows State Park Delaplane, VA 🌳 💦 🚲 ⛺️ 🐟
Sugarloaf Mountain Dickerson, MD 🌳 💛
Terrapin Nature Area Stevensville, MD 🌳 🌊
Tudor Place Washington, DC (opens July 30) 🌸
Turkey Run Park McLean, VA 🌳 🚲
Underground Railroad (Woodlawn Manor) Sandy Spring, MD 🌳 💛
Watkins Nature Center Upper Marlboro, MD 🌳 💦
Westmoreland State Park Montross, VA 🌊 ⛺️ 🐟
Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park Sandy Spring, MD 🌳
Wye Island Natural Resources Management Area Queenstown, MD 🌊 🛶 🐟
Pro Tips:
- Pack your belongings or even your vehicle the night before.
- Leave first thing in the morning.
- Go during a weekday for even fewer crowds.
- Leave when you feel like it is getting uncomfortably crowded.
- Getting excited about your adventure? Check out these additional tips for hiking with kids.
What to Bring to Explore Nature with Kids:
- A bag to take your trash with you.
- Cash! Some places require a small fee before entering.
- Bring plenty of water (and backup water too).
- Snacks. Lots of snacks.
- Towel if you plan to be near water.
- Comfy walking shoes, sun hat, sunglasses.
- Sunscreen and bug repellant. Don’t forget to check for ticks!
- Baby carrier if you have a baby or toddler.
- Travel urinal for girls or urinal for both genders or disposable urinal.
- Hand sanitizer and/or wet wipes.
If we have left a gem of a spot off the list or if you think we need to add/delete an emoji, please be sure to email us at info{@}dcareamom.com!
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