Gone are the days of needing to use a garden hose as a sprinkler: the DC area is brimming with splash pads, splash parks, and water playgrounds to help kids beat the heat on a hot summer day. These splash pads and sprinkler sparks are full of fun features like fountains, dumping buckets, water cannons, spraying animals, and even mini water slides. And the best part is, most of them are absolutely FREE!

Here are 20 great splash pads, splash parks, and water playgrounds in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia to visit with kids for some wet and wild fun. And if you have older children who need a few more thrills, check out our list of the best outdoor water parks and amazing indoor water parks near DC.

Late spring/early summer is strawberry picking season in the DC area, and our taste buds are more than ready. From pick-your-own berry farms to full-on strawberry festivals, there are so many opportunities to pick and celebrate this delicious fruit.

Here are 12 strawberry festivals and places to go strawberry picking in Northern Virginia and Maryland, not too far from DC. While kids will love strawberry picking alone, several of the farms on this list also offer other fun activities like petting zoos, slides, playgrounds, and more.

For more fun on the farm, check out our Pick-Your-Own Guide to Farms in Washington, DC, which includes our roundup of even more places to go berry picking near DC.

Massanutten Resort is well-known among DC families as a winter ski destination, but it actually offers four seasons of family fun. My family was invited to visit Massanutten ahead of its summer-season kickoff to check out activities and experiences that go beyond the ski and tubing hills.

In full disclosure, this was not our first visit to Massanutten Resort. My family has visited during a winter ski season and over a fall long weekend. We had a blast each time.

During this trip, my 13-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son tried nearly every activity available and could not pick just one favorite. That's how much fun they had! Read on for my full review of Massanutten Resort and my tips on how to make the most of a trip there.

Check out our Guide to Family Day Trips and Weekend Getaways for more great places to visit near DC.

The Chesapeake Bay area is one of most beautiful places in the country for families to watch a sunset, splash at a beach, explore museums, and have fun outdoors. As the biggest estuary in the United States, the Chesapeake Bay boasts seemingly endless miles of coastline for nature lovers to enjoy.

I have vacationed in the Chesapeake Bay area my entire life and even lived there for several years. Now I have the joy of taking my own children back to enjoy it.

Read on for 10 great places to visit in the Chesapeake Bay region with kids. Then check out our Guide to Family Day Trips and Weekend Getaways for DC Kids for more great nearby areas to explore, like Williamsburg, VA and the Delaware beaches.