They’ve updated Dutch wonderland to include a new roller coaster I think there is plenty for kids up to 10. Then we started venturing to Hershey.

Anonymous wrote:Lancaster. You can stay downtown (we love the Marriott), do Dutch Wonderland, visit the Central Market, hit the outlets, explore the covered bridges/Amish, and eat some great meals m

Is a 7 year old too old for Dutch Wonderland?

When my kid was very young, we enjoyed Dutch Wonderland and stayed at Rocky Acres farm (Not fancy but a fun experience for kids)

Anonymous wrote:Waldorf

This made me laugh so hard. Sister and BIL are Charles Co cops. Yeah, just no to the 'dorf.

Newport RI

Anonymous wrote:How is CHICAGO a hidden gem?

That may be the best post.

Chicago
Niagara Falls
And the largest city in Canada

HIDDEN GEMS

hershey park in harrisburg with a trip to lancaster for the amish country

Laurel Highlands in PA and/or Pittsburgh

Mill Reef Club for those that can.

One of the best places I took my kids (now grown) was the Enchanted Woods at Winterthur. There was also a discovery room (may only be available on certain days) which my kids enjoyed. Skip the house tour, but you might check on the current exhibits and see if any would be of interest.
https://www.winterthur.org/fun-for-families/

We did it as an overnight - spent a day at the beach, overnighted near Winterthur, then spent the next day at the gardens and drove home. With a couple of extra days, you could explore the area or do something in Baltimore (MD Science Center, zoo, aquarium). You might even be able to spend some time at Assateague/Chincoteague (I haven’t been yet, but you might want to read Misty of Chincoteague with your child if you go).

The MD Renaissance Fair is also lots of fun and is held on weekends through the fall, starting August 23. Be aware, though, that there are no flush toilets, just port-a-potties.

You might consider Pennsylvania. I haven’t spent much time there, but there were lots of places I wanted to take the kids. I’ve heard the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia is terrific and there are all the historic landmarks, there’s Hershey Park (which was great when I went several years back, although I didn’t do the water park or the zoo) along with Hershey’s chocolate factory in Hershey, and Easton has the Crayola experience.

Rent a cabin at a state park like Westmoreland.

How is CHICAGO a hidden gem?

Anonymous wrote:Nobody is naming hidden gems. Op What does that mean to you?

Some people never leave the major cities, so towns with populations less than 20,000 are unknown to them.

Anonymous wrote:Nobody is naming hidden gems. Op What does that mean to you?

That's why you misdirect, like the little DC pricks did during law school to try to get a leg up.
OP I hear Lake Anna is AmAZING

Long Beach Island

Primland, Blackberry, white Elephant.