You have gotten many great suggestions. Maybe you can plan a few outings and then try to get them to research and come up with outings for the next weekend.

One word of caution - some parks get extremely crowded or even close if you don't go early. If you are going to Maryland state parks, check Maryland's DNR Twitter for updates on closures.

Adding to the suggestions:

Patapsco State Park (near Baltimore) - Avalon and Hilton areas
Quite Waters Park near Annapolis - you can rent kayaks and SUPs from a company there
Visit the Naval Acadamy and downtown Annapolis

I also like short weekend getaways. Some favorites of ours are toward Shenandoah National Park (visit Luray Caverns), hike, tube, etc.; Lancaster, PA (Amish farms, Wolf Sanctuary); Cambridge, MD (stay at Hyatt, drive to Blackwater Wildlife Refuge, Harriett Tubman Museum); Hershey for Hersheypark, etc.

Harpers ferry (explore the old town and hike)
Mt Vernon
Larriland farm
Great falls md
Great falls VA
Paddle boating at Rio
Sandy spring rope course

Is geocaching still a thing? Lots of places to do that.

Sandy Spring Adventure Park, Kayaking or SUP on the Potomac.

Anonymous wrote:Do zip lining or whitewater rafting/tubing/canoeing at Harper's Ferry.

Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:I think 11yos might get bored doing the same thing every weekend, but there are tons of places you could go on day trips that are roughly an hour-ish from MoCo

-Calvert Cliffs state park and nearby Flag Ponds park
-Sandy Point beach
-hiking in Great Falls
-nature walks/hiking in Rock Creek Park
-bike rides along various trails (can take the Capitol Crescent trail from Bethesda into DC, about 5 miles)

Thank you! Great suggestions.

Do zip lining or whitewater rafting/tubing/canoeing at Harper's Ferry.

I think 11yos might get bored doing the same thing every weekend, but there are tons of places you could go on day trips that are roughly an hour-ish from MoCo

-Calvert Cliffs state park and nearby Flag Ponds park
-Sandy Point beach
-hiking in Great Falls
-nature walks/hiking in Rock Creek Park
-bike rides along various trails (can take the Capitol Crescent trail from Bethesda into DC, about 5 miles)

Anonymous wrote:What about going fruit picking? There are definitely a few farms out north near 270. Can make a day of it. Also you could spring for a day at a water park in VA (there is a good one off of the beltway). At that age I feel like day trips is all they can really manage, and is less costly that thinking of it as a weekend getaway.

Thanks, fruit picking is a good idea.
I was actually not thinking of Summer activities to do, but more for FAll and beyond...

Anonymous wrote:Sign them up for Scouts.

Tried that a few years ago; but it was not a good fit....

What about going fruit picking? There are definitely a few farms out north near 270. Can make a day of it. Also you could spring for a day at a water park in VA (there is a good one off of the beltway). At that age I feel like day trips is all they can really manage, and is less costly that thinking of it as a weekend getaway.

Sign them up for Scouts.

Anonymous wrote:Does it have to be the same place every weekend? That sounds boring. They also seem a bit old for farms. Just take them out. So many places to hike, so many lakes, etc.

No, does not have to the same place at all. Just want to make a routine about it....

Does it have to be the same place every weekend? That sounds boring. They also seem a bit old for farms. Just take them out. So many places to hike, so many lakes, etc.

hello everyone,
If I let them, my 11 year old boys would sit in front of the computer ALL day.
Any suggestions as to where I could take them out of town on weekends, so they can enjoy a totally different environment and do different things as during the week? We live in a condo, so I would prefer to be out in nature on weekends. I wish we would have enough money to buy a condo near one of the beaches, though those are too far to go to every weekend. I am thinking of something max an hour away from MoCo. I remember, we used to know a family who would go out to a certain farm every weekend, but I do not know which one and what they did there every weekend.
Thank you for any good suggestions.