What local things will you do with your teens this summer in DC?

[Anonymous]

My 13 year old still likes to hang with mom a bit over the summer, but so often I find that I end up just opening my wallet and eating out, going to a movie, etc. I can definitely do all those things in moderation but I’d also like to see if there are some great ideas out there that I could possibly try myself. She’s my youngest so you’d think I’d be good at this by now but I’m coming up empty. Anyone have some good ideas to share?

[Anonymous]

Here are things I have done with my DC of the same age.
Day trips: Tubing in Harpers Ferry, hiking Sugarloaf Mtn, Mt Vernon (you could bike the trails nearby), visiting different county parks and doing hiking trails and finding a place to stop for ice cream, finding new recipes and going to a farmers market to get the ingredients, visiting some historical landmarks such as battlefields and taking a ranger tour.
Looking forward to seeing other ideas posted here.

[Anonymous]

Memorials
Seneca Creek Park
Antietam — ice cream on the way there or back
Explore Shepherdstown, WV
Berkeley Springs, WV — a real spring
Rock Creek Park hiking or biking
Kayaking
All the museums
Frederick Douglass house
US Botanic Gardens
Arboretum — gorgeous
Tour Library of Congress

Baltimore
—take paddle boat out
—aquarium
—science center

[Anonymous]

Oooh…I love these ideas..keep ‘em coming!

[Anonymous]

Frederick Douglass house is amazing. Great history. Try to go on a day eve. You can get a tour w a park ranger. The best view of the city.

[Anonymous]

We did one of those double deck buses where you can jump off whenever you want.
Spy museum
Wax museum
Tour of Lincoln’s last days
Tour of the Capitol