We loved Baltimore with young kids. Aquarium, Science Center, Ft. McHenry, harbor ships.

Also in cooler months, Harrisonburg. Hike Shenandoah on the way down, great children's museum/playgrounds, indoor water park at Massanutten.

Are you going solo OP or will you have other adults with you?

Luray Caverns

Anonymous wrote:NYC isn’t too far for a weekend trip, fwiw. It’s an easy drive from the DC metro area. Just avoid rush hour. Stay somewhere with valet parking in a walkable area (near your primary destination(s)).

I wouldn't drive at all, driving in Manhattan is nuts. The train drops you right in Midtown and you can read the whole way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shenandoah!

What do you do with your kids there other than hike? (serious question, I've only ever been hiking there)

Charlottesville, TJ mansion, swim in a lake, fishing, kayaking, maybe they'll like the wineries if there are games like Cornhole?, bike riding, farmers markets

NYC isn’t too far for a weekend trip, fwiw. It’s an easy drive from the DC metro area. Just avoid rush hour. Stay somewhere with valet parking in a walkable area (near your primary destination(s)).

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weekend trips we did with younger kids:

Dutch Wonderland/Hershey/Amish Country
Pittsburgh (we added an extra day)
Philly
NYC - would never fly - the train is easy. Driving is fine.
Williamsburg/Busch Gardens
Richmond
Rehoboth/Bethany/etc
Chincoteague
Massanutten
Wisp/Deep Creek

Some of these we have done multiple times because there is so much to do.

+1

I would add York, PA (believe it or not). You can go on various factory tours there, which our kids loved, as well as a tour of a robotic dairy farm.

https://kidventurous.com/10-kids-york-pa/

(I don't know whether these are open on weekends.)

Other things to do include making your own soap at Sunrise Soap and visiting the downtown market.

York, Pa? Come on.

It sounds like something my kids would enjoy, tbh.

-op

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weekend trips we did with younger kids:

Dutch Wonderland/Hershey/Amish Country
Pittsburgh (we added an extra day)
Philly
NYC - would never fly - the train is easy. Driving is fine.
Williamsburg/Busch Gardens
Richmond
Rehoboth/Bethany/etc
Chincoteague
Massanutten
Wisp/Deep Creek

Some of these we have done multiple times because there is so much to do.

+1

I would add York, PA (believe it or not). You can go on various factory tours there, which our kids loved, as well as a tour of a robotic dairy farm.

https://kidventurous.com/10-kids-york-pa/

(I don't know whether these are open on weekends.)

Other things to do include making your own soap at Sunrise Soap and visiting the downtown market.

York, Pa? Come on.

Anonymous wrote:Shenandoah!

What do you do with your kids there other than hike? (serious question, I've only ever been hiking there)

Shenandoah!

Anonymous wrote:Weekend trips we did with younger kids:

Dutch Wonderland/Hershey/Amish Country
Pittsburgh (we added an extra day)
Philly
NYC - would never fly - the train is easy. Driving is fine.
Williamsburg/Busch Gardens
Richmond
Rehoboth/Bethany/etc
Chincoteague
Massanutten
Wisp/Deep Creek

Some of these we have done multiple times because there is so much to do.

+1

I would add York, PA (believe it or not). You can go on various factory tours there, which our kids loved, as well as a tour of a robotic dairy farm.

https://kidventurous.com/10-kids-york-pa/

(I don't know whether these are open on weekends.)

Other things to do include making your own soap at Sunrise Soap and visiting the downtown market.

Weekend trips we did with younger kids:

Dutch Wonderland/Hershey/Amish Country
Pittsburgh (we added an extra day)
Philly
NYC - would never fly - the train is easy. Driving is fine.
Williamsburg/Busch Gardens
Richmond
Rehoboth/Bethany/etc
Chincoteague
Massanutten
Wisp/Deep Creek

Some of these we have done multiple times because there is so much to do.

I have a newborn so of course I am fantasizing about trips with my older kids (currently 10, 7, 5, 3) once he’s bigger. (Maybe currently-3 would stay too.) Where would you take your kids for a weekend at these ages and what would you do? NYC seems to far to be worth it unless you fly or take a weekday as well, but Baltimore, Annapolis, Philadelphia, Williamsburg, all seem like good options.