Where What When

A Family Trip Guide for Chol Hamoed

Are We There Yet?

by Esther Strauss

One of the delights of Chol Hamoed is going places together as a family. Aside from real-time excitement and fun, family trips create particularly meaningful memories. It would take a full issue of the Where What When to describe all the places there are to go. In this abbreviated article, I list only some of the parks, farms, museums, amusement establishments, etc. along with their phone numbers and websites. For my complete list, see the WWW web site: www.wherewhatwhen.com.

Please contact your chosen destination ahead of time to check fees and hours of operation! Some places are only open on weekends during the school year.

I have attempted an informal rating system, based on enjoyment, price, and convenience of location. A star indicates that our family has been there and recommends the place: the more stars, the higher the recommendation.

VISITORS BUREAUS

Most jurisdictions have an office that takes care of tourism. They are a source of information, guides, maps, and coupons:

· Maryland Office of Tourism Development: 800-MD-IS-FUN, 877-333-4455, 410-767-3400; mdwelcome.org, marylandisfun.com, visitmaryland.org

· Baltimore County Visitors Bureau: 800-570-2836, 410-296-4886 (located in Towsontown Mall)

· Baltimore City Visitors Center : 877-BALTIMORE; Baltimore.org

· Anne Arundel County Visitors Bureau: 888-302-2852; visitannapolis.org

· Howard County Visitors Info Center : 800-288-8747, visithowardcounty.com

· Carroll County Visitors Center : 800-272-1933, www.carrollcountytourism.org

·Tourism Council of Frederick County : 800-999-3613, fredericktourism.org

·Hagerstown/Washington County Visitors Bureau: 800-228-STAY, marylandmemories.org

· Havre de Grace: hdgtourism.com

· Visitors Bureau of Montgomery County : 800-925-0880 visitmontgomery.com

· Calvert County Tourism: 800-331-9771

·  Garrett County Visitors Center : 301-387-4386; garrettchamber.com. Request a free pamphlet on working farms, corn mazes, etc.; Deep Creek Lake: 888-387-5237

PARK INFO

·   Maryland State Forests & Parks: 800-830-3974, 410-260-8186; dnr.state.md.us – Contact to get brochures on over 40 state parks.

·   Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks: www.baltimorecountymd.gov; 410-887-3871-Contact to receive a pamphlet listing over 100 parks in Baltimore County, including location, phone number, acreage, playgrounds, trails, etc.

·   Camping at MD State Parks: 888-432-CAMP; reservations.dnr.state.md.us

·   Private campgrounds in Maryland : 301-271-7012; mdcamping.com

·   Anne Arundel County Dept. of Rec & Parks: 410-222-7300; aacounty.org; Annapolis

·   Frederick County Bureau of Parks & Recreation: 301-694-1646

·   Harford County Dept. of Recreation & Parks: 410-879-5082; Belair

·   Howard County Dept. of Recreation & Parks: 410-313-4700; Columbia

PARKS

Many of these parks have playgrounds, trails, and/or streams and lakes.

Baltimore County Parks

·   Cromwell Valley Park*: 410-887-2503, near Syms in Towson . Hiking trails, horses

·   Double Rock Park**: 410-887-5300, in Parkville ; 102.7 acres, 4 pavilions, picnic area, playground, 4 baseball diamonds, walking trails, stream. Directions: 695 to White Marsh Blvd (exit on left); right on Walther, right on Putty Hill, left on Avondale, pass school, left on Hiss, right on Glen. Park on left at Texas .

·   Meadowood Regional Park **: 410-887-3678; Falls Rd at Greenspring Station. Playgrounds, bike trail, ball fields; 10 minutes from Pikesville

·   Putty Hill Park : 410- 887-5300, in Parkville . 14.8 acres, playground, pavilion, picnic area. Directions: 695 to Exit 30 South/Perring Parkway ; turn left onto Putty Hill at first light; park on left. (Jeepers is nearby.)

·  Sunshine Playground at Hannah Moore Park **: 410-887-3871, Reisterstown .  63 acres, playgrounds, 3 baseball diamonds, picnic area, two pavilions.

·   Roger’s Forge Tot Lot**: 410-887-6747, in Towson ; great for ages 1 to 7. Directions: Falls Rd, right on Lake Ave. , left on Charles St. , right on Gittings, left on Blenheim.

·   There are also small playgrounds at Rolling Rd and Crosby (behind Security Mall); Rolling Rd and Chesworth ( Westview Neighborhood Park ); and Rolling Rd and Frederick Rd ( Senior Center with trails).

·   Merritt Point Park : 410-887-7155, behind Logan Elementary School off Merritt Point Blvd. in Dundalk .

·   Rosedale Park : 410-887-0294, on Philadelphia Rd across from Golden Ring Middle School .

·   Seminary Park : 410-887-7684, on Burton Ave. in Lutherville.

·   Oakley Elementary School in Lochraven and Maiden Choice Elementary School in Arbutus both have complete wheelchair-accessible playgrounds.

Baltimore City Parks

Chinquapin Run Community Park *: Northern Parkway at 1000 E. Lake Ave.

Gwynns Falls Trail: 410-396-0440; Contact Baltimore City Dept. of Recreation & Parks

Maryland State Parks

Cunningham Falls State Park ***: 301-271-7574; in Thurmont, past Frederick

Gunpowder Falls State Park : 410-592-2897; many different areas, Hammerman area has a beach and many playgrounds.

Northern Central Railroad Trail: This is also part of Gunpowder Falls State Park; a bike/hike trail that extends 19 miles beginning at Ashland near Hunt Valley going north to Pennsylvania. The trail then continues more than 20 miles in Pennsylvania . Call 410-592-2897 to get a map of the trail. Our family has ridden the entire 19-mile Maryland side of the trail by obtaining the map and each time parking our car where we ended the last time. The trail is very scenic with waterfalls and bridges as you get closer to Pennsylvania

There is a huge parking lot at Ashland off Paper Mill Road where you can rent bikes at Hunt Valley Village (410-527-9997), and a small parking lot at Monkton, where you can also rent bikes (call 410-771-4058).

You can also rent tubes at Monkton to tube down the river which runs alongside the trail.

The Sparks Nature Center is on the trail between Ashland and Monkton.

·   Patapsco Valley State Park : 410-461-5005; go to Hilton Area (“ Tire Park ”); very large playground, hiking, streams, wildlife

·   Susquehanna State Park*: 410-836-6735; look on MD State Park web site, near Havre de Grace

National Parks

·   Assateague Island National Seashore (also part Md State Park): 410-641-2120, nps.gov/asis/index; free roaming horses; on Atlantic Ocean; rated one of top 50 State Parks in the country; 3 1/2 hours from Baltimore.

·   C&O Canal National Historical Park*: 301-582-0813, nps.gov/choh; in Williamsport , MD

Anne Arundel County Parks

All these are near Annapolis .

·   Downs Park***: 410-222-6230, 8311 John Downs Loop, Pasadena, Md, 21122; 45 minutes from Baltimore; overlooks Chesapeake Bay; paved trails for cycling, ball fields, playground, basketball

·   Kinder Farm Park**: 410-222-6115; 1001 Kinder Farm Park Road, Severna Park, MD; closed Tuesday; largest playground in Anne Arundel County; 2.4 mile bike path

·   Quiet Waters Park***: 410-222-1777, 600 Quiet Waters Park Rd, Annapolis, MD, 21403; closed Tuesday; on water; six miles of paved hike/bike trails, playgrounds, ball fields

Calvert County Parks

Calvert Cliffs State Park: 301-743-7613

Carroll County Parks

·   Piney Run**: 410-795-3274, off Liberty Rd (Rt.26), 30 minutes from Pikesville ; boat rentals, trails, playground. Call Nature Center for critter feeding times and info on events, crafts, and activities: 410-795-6043

·   Westminster Community Pond

·   Moton Elementary School Playground

Harford County Parks

·   Lynn Stacey Getz***: Huge playground; in Belair, off I-95N (on your way to Herr’s Potato Chip Factory, Plumpton Park Zoo, and NY, NJ areas); directions: 95N to Exit 77B/Rt 24; turn left at light at Ring Factory Rd; turn first left into park

·   Rockfield Park***: 410-638-3528; Huge playground, largest in Central Maryland, next to John Carroll School, 500 block of Churchville Rd in Belair

·   Mariner Point Park : off Kerrey Drive in Joppatowne

·   Heavenly Waters Park : 702 North Tollgate Road

Howard County Parks

·   Centennial Park**: 410-313-4700; 325 acres, 2.5 miles paved pathway surrounding large lake; playground; boat rentals; Columbia area. Directions: 695W to 29S to 108W; right on Woodland Road

·   Cedar Lane Park: 5081 Cedar Lane in Columbia ; voted most popular playground in Howard County ; handicap accessible

·   Savage Park : on Fair Street

·   Rockburn Branch Park : on Montgomery Road

Montgomery County (Silver Spring and Rockville )

·   Cabin John Park***: 301-365-2246; 7400 Tuckerman Lane in Rockville

·   Wheaton Regional Park**: 301-962-1400; next to Brookside Gardens ; miniature railway, large playground; 45 minutes from Pikesville

Saint Mary’s County Parks

·   Point Lookout State Park : 301-872-5688

Sykesville

·   Cooper Park: 410-795-8959

FARMS

Some of these farms have pick-your-own, petting zoos, feed-the-farm animals, and weekend hay rides (ask if they’ll do it on weekdays for a group). Call beforehand for hours and to find out what they offer!

For a complete list of farmer’s markets and a pick-your-own directory, call 410-239-8505.

·   Baugher’s Farm*: 410- 876-5642; Carroll County , Westminster .

·   Clark’s Elioak Farm*: 410-730-4049, clarklandfarm.com; Ellicott City

·   Historic CiderMill & Petting Farm*: 410-788-9595; farmmd.com; Elkridge

·   Huber’s Farm & PYO*: 410-679-1941; hubersfarm.com; Exit 34 off 695

·   Larriland Farm*: 410-442-2605; pickyourown.com; 2415 Woodbine Rd , off I-70

·   Morris Meadows Rec Farm Museum : 410-329-6636, morrismeadows.net

·   Sharp’s at Waterford Farm*: 301-854-6275, sharpfarm.com; Howard County

·   Spring Meadow*: 410-239-8505, springmeadowfarms.com; Reisterstown

·   Weber’s Cider Mill Farm*: 410-668-4488, webersfarm.com; exit 30N off 695

CORN MAZES

·   Maize Quest: 866-UPICK-FUN, www.maplelawnfarms.com; up I-83 into Pennsylvania ; directions on the web site; they are Where What When advertisers

·Amazing Maize Maze*: 717-687-6843; cherrycrestfarms.com; 75-minute drive from Baltimore

·North Run Farm: 410-241-3392; www.northrunfarm.com; Directions: Take Park Heights toward Owings Mills; turn right on Greenspring Valley Rd. Farm is 1.7 miles on the right.

GARDENS

For general information, call 410-557-9570, marylandgardens.org

· Brookside Gardens **: 301-962-1400; next to Wheaton Regional Park in Silver Spring; 45 minutes from Pikesville

· Ladew Topiary Gardens : 410-557-9466, ladewgardens.com; Monkton; admission fee

· Sherwood Gardens *: 410-785-0444; Baltimore .

HORSEBACK RIDING AND LESSONS

·Elk Mountain Trails: 301-834-8882, elkmountaintrails.com

·Inwood Stables: Call Patapsco State Park

·Misty Manor: 410-781-4810

·Patapsco Stables: 410-869-9989

·Renaissance Farm: 410-472-9803; in Sparks , Maryland

NATURE CENTERS

· Carrie Murray Nature Center : 410-396-0808

·Cylburn Arboretum NaturePreserve: 410-396-7839, cylburnassociation.org

·Irvine Natural Science Center*: 410-484-2413, explorenature.org

·Marshy Point Nature Center*: 410-887-2817, marshypoint.org

·National Wildlife Visitors Center*: 301-497-5760; patuxent.fws.gov, off 295, near Laurel

·Oregon Ridge Nature Center**: 410-887-1815; oregonridge.org

ZOOS

·Catoctin Zoo*: 301-271-3180, cwpzoo.com; Thurmont in Frederick County

·Maryland Zoo in Baltimore***, 410-396-7102, marylandzoo.org

· Maryland SPCA: 410-235-8826, mdspca.org; adopt a pet. Nearby on Falls Road

·National Zoo***: 202-633-1000, fonz.org; Washington , DC . See famous giant pandas and new tiger cubs. Free

·Plumpton Park Zoo*: 410-658-6850, plumptonparkzoo.org; Rising Sun, MD

MUSEUMS

If you have membership to a museum, check if there is reciprocity to any others.

· Antique Toy Museum : 410-230-0580; Mt. Vernon area of Baltimore

· B & O Railroad Museum *: 410-752-2490, 410-461-1945, borail.org; Ellicott City

·Baltimore Museum of Art*: 443-573-1700, artbma.org; Free; closed Mondays and Tuesdays

· Baltimore Museum of Industry: 410-727-4808; thebmi.org; downtown Baltimore

· Baltimore Public Works Museum : 410-396-5565; downtown Baltimore

· Baltimore Street Car Museum : 410- 547-0264, baltimoremd.com/streetcar

· Calvert Marine Museum : 410-326-2042; calvertmarinemuseum.com; Calvert County

· Carroll County Farm Museum *: 410- 848-7775; Carroll County

· Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum : 410-257-3892

· Chesapeake Maritime Museum: 410-745-2916, Eastern Shore

· College Park Aviation Museum : 301-864-6029, collegeparkaviationmuseum.com; College Park ; 45 minute drive

·Fire Museum of Maryland*: 410-321-7500; firemuseum.org; Lutherville

·Goddard Space Flight Center*: 301-286-8981; gsfc.nasa.gov/vc; 45 minute drive

· Hampton National Historic Site: 410-823-1309, nps.gov/hamp; Towson

·Jewish Museum of Maryland*: 410-732-6400, jewishmuseummd.org

·Maryland Science Center***: 410-685-5225; Carousel outside; downtown Baltimore

·National Aquarium in Baltimore**: 410-576-3800, aqua.org; downtown Baltimore

· National Museum of Dentistry: 410-706-0600, dentalmuseum.umaryland.edu; Greene Street in Baltimore

·Play Wise Kids**: 410-772-1540, playwisekids.com; Columbia

·Port Discovery***: 410-727-8120, portdiscovery.org, downtown Baltimore

· Ripken Museum : 1-410-273-2525, calripkenbaseball.org; Aberdeen

· Rose Hill Manor Park and Museums*: 410-848-7775; Frederick , Maryland

·Sports Legends & Babe Ruth Birthplace: sportslegendsatcamdenyards.com; in downtown Baltimore

· Steppingstone Museum : 888-419-1762, steppingstonemuseum.org; Havre de Grace; kids 12 & under free; limited hours

·USS Constellation Museum: 410-539-1797; Inner Harbor ; building and ship

·Walters Art Museum*: 410-547-9000, thewalters.org; Free; closed Mondays and Tuesdays; downtown Baltimore ; Egyptian mummy, knight’s armor, and more.                                                                                 

BALTIMORE INNER HARBOR

Aside from the museums located near the Harbor, mentioned above, there are other activities:

· Fort McHenry *: nps.gov/fomc; movie, historical scenes and enactments, climb on battlements

·Paddle boat rentals*

·Ride the Ducks: 410-727-DUCK, baltimoreducks.com; a duck-shaped tour bus

·Shop: Many luxury and specialty shops in Harborplace, including Haagen Dazs ice cream and Discovery Channel store with unique toys and electronic gadgets

·Top of the World Observation: 410-837-VIEW; viewbaltimore.org; go on a clear day

·Water Taxi: 410-563-3901; thewatertaxi.com

You can also buy a Harbor Pass for one-time visits to the Science Center , Aquarium, Port Discovery, Top of the World Trade Center , and Water Taxi by calling: 1-877-BALTIMORE or baltimore.org.

INDOOR AMUSEMENT

·Jeepers**: 1-800-JEEPERS; exit 30A off 695 in Parkville

·Players**: 410-876-7667; 519 Old Westminster Pike, Westminster

·Four Seasons Sports Complex: 410-239-3366, 4seasonssportscomplex.com; miniature golf, moonbounce, obstacle course; Hampstead , MD (north of Reisterstown )

·Fun Quarters*: 410-549-9065; Eldersburg

· Sports Park : 410-715-3054; Columbia ; batting cages, skate park, miniature golf

MINIATURE GOLF

·Tom Mitchell’s***: 410-833-7721, mitchellsgolf.com; large park with       playground nearby; Reisterstown

·Rocky Gorge and Golf**: 301-725-0888; Laurel , MD ; 30 minutes from Pikesville

BOWLING

·AMF Pikesville*: 410-486-1444; Reisterstown Rd next to Target

·AMF Westview: 410-744-4000; Baltimore National Pike

POTTERY

Paint your own pottery:

·Amazing Glaze: 410-532-3144; Mt. Washington

· Baltimore Clayworks*: 410-578-1919; Mt. Washington

·Glazed to Perfection: 410-552-9797; Liberty Rd , Eldersburg

ICE SKATING

· Columbia Ice Rink: 410-730-0322, Columbia

·Mimi Dipietro Ice Rink: 410-396-9392

·Mount Pleasant Ice Arena: 410-444-1888

·Northwest Ice Rink*: 410-433-4970, 410-433-2307, northwesticerink.com

ROLLERSKATING

·Skateland: 410-825-3013, Towson

·Skateland: 410-661-7778, Belair Road ; exit 32B off 695

·Skateland: 410-282-0223; Old North Point Rd

MISCELLANEOUS

·Leakin Park Trains**: 410-448-0730; Baltimore ; free miniature train rides the second Sunday of the month, weather permitting

·Go Karting: 410-721-2900; Crofton , Maryland

·Pirate Adventures: 410-263-0002; chesapeakepirates.com; Annapolis ; kids dress up as pirates, face paint, sail for treasures

PLACES 1-4 HOURS AWAY

Maryland

·Crystal Grottoes Caverns*: 301-432-6336; crystal.grottoes; Boonsboro, MD; 75-minutes

·Scenic Railroad: 800-TRAIN50; Cumberland , MD

Washington , DC

·Smithsonian Museums***: 202-633-1000; smithsonian.org or si.edu; all are open every day except 12/25 and are free!

o       Air and Space Museum***: nasm.si.edu

o       American History Museum***: americanhistory.si.edu

o       Museum of Natural History***: nmnh.si.edu

o       National Museum of American Indian: nmai.si.edu; new as of 2004

o       Postal Museum **: si.edu/postal

·National Zoo***: fonz.org; 202-633-4800; 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW ; see the pandas and tiger cubs

·White House*: Since 9/11, you need to make a reservation in advance through your Senator

·White House Visitor Center, Washington Monument, Capitol, etc: 202-426-6841; make reservations at reservations.nps.gov

Virginia

·Virginia Office of Tourism: 800-626-6486; free 216-page guide to Virginia travel; virginia.org; virginiasattractions.com; chooseyourvirginia.com;

· Virginia State Parks : 800-933-PARK, state.va.us/-dcr/

· Great Falls Park ***: 703-285-2966; 75 minutes from Baltimore ; magnificent waterfalls; rock climbing

·Luray Caverns**: 540-743-6551; luraycaverns.com; largest caverns; US Natural Landmark; Next to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive

· Norfolk *: 757-664-6620; norfolkcvb.com

West Virginia

· West Virginia Office of Tourism: 800-225-5982

·Historic Harper’s Ferry***: 304-535-6748, nps.gov/hafe/home.htm; 70 mins from Balto

Pennsylvania

· Pennsylvania Office of Tourism: 800-VISIT-PA

·Herr’s Potato Chip Factory**: 800-63-SNACK; herrs.com; 1 hour from Baltimore ; make reservations for free tour with (kosher) chip bag at the end

·Martin’s Potato Chip Factory: 800-272-4477

·Hershey’s Chocolate World**: 800-HERSHEY, hersheypa.com; 90 minutes from Baltimore ; free ride with free snack at the end

·Wolfgang Candy Company: 800-248-4273, 717-843-5536, wolfgangcandy.com; 50 E 4th Ave , York , PA ; kosher chocolate tours; fall hours: Mon – Fri, 10:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.; voted one of “Top Five Tasty Tours”

· Longwood Gardens : 800-737-5500, longwoodgardens.org; Kennett Square, PA

·Strasburg Railroad: 717-687-7522; strasburgrailroad.com; 90 minutes from Baltimore ; Strasburg , PA

Gettysburg , Pennsylvania

· Gettysburg Visitors Bureau: 717-334-6274; gettysburg.com for brochure of 33 places to go in Gettysburg

·Civil War Trails: Call to get info on Gettysburg and other Civil War museums and historical sites: 888-248-4597, nps.gov/gett

· Land of Little Horses : 717-334-7259, landoflittlehorses.com; AAA “point of interest”; shows, hayrides, carousel, train, horse rides; miniature horses, some the size of dogs

·Explore & More Hands on Children’s Museum: 717-337-9151; exploreandmore.com

Lancaster , Pennsylvania

·The Amish Farm and House*: 717-394-6185; amishfarmandhouse.com

·Discover Lancaster County History Museum : 717-393-3679; discoverlancaster.com

·Amish Experience Theater: 717-768-3600 ext. 210, amishexperience.com

Philadelphia , Pennsylvania

·Franklin Institute Science Museum***: 215-448-1200, fi.edu; 222 North 20th St. Philadelphia , PA 19103; very close to Please Touch

·Please Touch Museum**: 215-963-0667; pleasetouchmuseum.org; ages 1 to 7; 210 North 21st St. Philadelphia, PA  19103; very close to Franklin Institute

·U.S. Mint*: Since 9/11, you need to make a reservation through your Senator

·Betsy Ross House*

· Liberty Bell *

·Historical Sights*

Delaware/New Jersey

·Cape May-Lewes Ferry: 800-64-FERRY, capemaylewesferry.com; ferry ride; different packages available, including ferry and shuttle service to zoo, lighthouse and/or historic museums

· Cape Henlopen State Park : destateparks.com/chsp/chsp; bike trails, WW II observation tower

New Jersey

·Liberty Science Center***: 201-200-1000, lsc.org

·Liberty State Park***: 201-915-3400, njparksandforests.org; ferry to Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty

Winter Sports

Once Sukkos is over, it’s time to think ahead to winter vacation and snow tubing!

·Ski Round Top***: 717-432-9631, skiroundtop.com; 20 minutes north of York , Pennsylvania ; 70 minutes from Pikesville

·Ski Liberty***: 717-642-8282, skiliberty.com; 70 minutes from Pikesville in Fairfield , Pennsylvania

Summer Activities

Thinking way ahead to summer vacation! Here are some small, less expensive amusement parks, and more:

· Lakemont Park ***: 814-949-7275; Altoona , Pennsylvania ; you can pay as you ride

·Land of Make Believe***: 908-459-9000, lomb.com; in Hope , New Jersey

Rafting, canoeing, kayaking, tubing!

·River & Trail Outfitters: 1-888-I-GO-PLAY, rivertrail.com; Knoxville , Maryland

·Indianhead Canoes: 1-800-874-2628; Delaware River , NY or Pennsylvania