Meredith Kiryakov

Latest posts by Meredith

Top Free and Affordable Summer Camps in DC, Maryland, & Northern Virginia

Submitted by Meredith Kiryakov on Sun, 02/16/2025 - 10:36am

Even tweens and teens can enjoy summer camp through Alexandria Parks & Rec. Photo courtesy of the Alexandria Department of Parks & Recreation

Free and adorable summer camps can be hard to come by, especially in the DC area. But they do exist—if you know where to look!

We've found 14 summer camps in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia that are reasonably priced and full of fun (and even a couple of free ones). From traditional day camps to coding and STEM camps to music and art camps, there’s an affordable summer camp option to fit every child’s interest, from preschoolers all the way through teens. Registration has already begun for many of these popular camps, so sign up soon!

For more summer camps in the DC metro area, including great picks for preschool summer camps near DC, be sure to bookmark our Washington DC Summer Camp Guide and our Camp Directory, where you can search for summer camps by type, age, and town.

Best Snow Tubing Near DC for Families

Submitted by Meredith Kiryakov on Fri, 01/17/2025 - 10:03am

Glide down Massanutten Resort's 16 snow tubing lanes. Photo courtesy of Massanutten Resort

Snow tubing is the perfect way to have wintry family fun. Unlike skiing or snowboarding, there’s no skill required for snow tubing, so it’s the perfect introduction to winter sports for kids. Even toddlers can tube at some locations!

Here are 12 great places to go snow tubing near DC with kids, all within a roughly three-hour drive. Most of these snow tubing spots are part of larger resorts that offer skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, and/or other winter sports.

If your family can't get enough of the snow after tubing, there are plenty more ways to have wintry adventures. Just check out our Winter Activities Guide for DC Kids, which includes our lists of fun outdoor ice skating rinks near DC and the best ski resorts in the US for family vacations. Stay warm!

10 Campgrounds Near DC to Go Family Camping with Kids

Submitted by Meredith Kiryakov on Fri, 07/19/2024 - 12:00pm

Enjoy a family fire at the Cherry Hill Park campground. Photo courtesy of Cherry Hill Park.

Family camping is a great way to bond with kids in the great outdoors. But for some children, there's only so much hiking and s'mores-roasting they can do before they start to get bored and cranky. And some kids just don't do well completely roughing it. That's why it's helpful to find a campground with extra activities and comfortable amenities for families.

We’ve got you covered with 10 family campgrounds within a four-hour drive from DC that offer fun family activities like pools, mini golf, arcades, and more, as well as some with cozy sleeping arrangements such as cabins, tree houses, and RVs. We tried to include a range of price points to fit any budget.

Once you've chosen your destination, visit our Camping Travel Guide. There, we share everything from classic and funny campfire songs to kid-friendly ghost stories to help make your family camping trip a success

Best Outdoor Water Parks Near DC for Family Fun

Submitted by Meredith Kiryakov on Fri, 06/21/2024 - 11:45am

Water parks are a fun way to beat the heat this summer. Photo courtesy of Splash City at Kings Dominion

Outdoor water parks near DC will soon be opening up, and they'll be just in time—summer in the DC area often brings stifling heat and sticky humidity. From calm misters and lazy rivers to thrilling wave pools and water slides, these outdoor water parks near DC offer plenty of fun ways for kids of all ages—and their grown-ups—to cool off.

Here are 15 great outdoor water parks in Northern Virginia and Maryland that will keep families splashing, sliding, and laughing all summer long. For more fun ways to beat the heat outdoors, check out our lists of free public swimming pools, parks with beaches, and splash pads, splash parks, and water playgrounds near DC. Find even more thrills in our DC Theme Parks and Water Parks Guide.

Best Strawberry Picking and Summer Strawberry Festivals Near DC

Submitted by Meredith Kiryakov on Sun, 05/12/2024 - 1:20am

Full up your buckets with juicy red strawberries. Photo courtesy of Great Country Farms

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 11 places to go strawberry picking in Northern Virginia and Maryland that are not too far from DC, plus four fun strawberry festivals. 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.

Fun Sports Summer Camps Near DC: Soccer Camps, Baseball Camps, and More

Submitted by Meredith Kiryakov on Sun, 03/10/2024 - 9:05am

Kids ages 5-14 can improve their soccer skills at DC Way Soccer Camp. Photo courtesy of the camp

Summer break is the perfect time for kids to get outside, move their bodies, and enjoy some healthy competition with their friends. There are plenty of sports summer camps near DC to help them do just that.

Whether your child is a seasoned athlete looking to improve their skills or they just want to burn off energy playing classic games like kickball, there is a sports summer camp in the DC region for them. From soccer camp and basketball camp to golf camp and horseback-riding camp, here are some great sports summer camps in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia.

For more summer camps near DC, including affordable summer camps and STEM summer camps, check out our Washington, DC Summer Camp Guide. Find a full listing of local summer camps in our Camp Directory, where you can search for summer camps by type, age, and neighborhood.

Best Swimming Lessons for Kids Near DC

Submitted by Meredith Kiryakov on Sun, 08/13/2023 - 8:40am

Two thumbs up for water safety! Photo courtesy of SafeSplash Swim School

Swimming lessons teach kids one of the most important life skills—one that will keep them safe in pools, lakes, and other bodies of water. Lucky, there are plenty of swim schools in the DC area that offer swimming lessons for kids, from beginner swimmers as young as 3 months old to experienced swimmers looking for a competitive edge.

Dive into our list of 12 great schools that offer swimming lessons for kids in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. Then find more kids' classes and programs—including baby swimming classes in DC—in our Guide to Classes for Kids Near DC. You can also check our directory of classes to find the perfect class for your child.

21 Fun Things to Do with Teens and Tweens in DC

Submitted by Meredith Kiryakov on Fri, 07/28/2023 - 12:00pm

Kids can suit up in hazmat gear, dodge lasers, and crack codes at Beat the Bomb. Photo courtesy of Beat the Bomb

It can be challenging to find family activities that will entertain your teens and tweens—they're generally too old for playgrounds and a bit too young to wander around DC alone. Plus, that teenage attitude and desire for independence can put a damper on fun family activities.

However, the DC area is brimming with fun activities, and these 21 things to do with teens and tweens near DC can get even the most jaded teenagers off the couch and away from their screens. You never know—they may be having so much fun, they won't even worry about being seen in public with Mom or Dad.

For more fun things to do in DC with the whole family, check out our guide to the best museums in DC for kids, a roundup of thrilling water parks, and a list of our favorite mini golf courses.

Meredith Kiryakov

Latest posts by Meredith

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