Just a very short ride from D.C., you’ll find an awesome hiking escape in the Potomac, MD. Although some spots of the Potomac Gorge are for advanced and serious hikers only, there are several family-friendly spots along the river bank. We love walking the canal towpath and picnicking after we hike the Billy Goat Trail or the Gold Mine Trail. It’s a true escape for us, and it’s awesome to get a closer look at the beautiful falls, bridges, and experience the peace and quiet of the Potomac Gorge.

Right next to the huge playground and picnic areas of Wheaton Regional Park, these gardens are simply gorgeous—any season of the year. With a wide trail perfect for little guys’ scooters or bikes with training wheels, the path is mostly flat with great spots to stop for a picnic. In our crazy life, we really enjoy the serenity of walking through a perfectly manicured garden with flowers a bloom everywhere. And my kids love to try to find frogs in the fountains. If there are no frogs to be seen, any of the kind gardeners are usually up for helping the kids hunt one down.

Located just a short drive from D.C in the National Harbor is the home of the National Children’s Museum’s Launch Zone. The Launch Zone is a family-focused museum, open 7 days a week, where children can play, try out new exhibits, and give suggestions and feedback about what they want to see in the National Children’s Museum which is scheduled to open in 2013. The Launch Zone is packed full of cool hands-on activities and events, and is totally worth checking out.

Located just a short drive from D.C in the National Harbor is the home of the National Children’s Museum’s Launch Zone. The Launch Zone is a family-focused museum, open 7 days a week, where children can play, try out new exhibits, and give suggestions and feedback about what they want to see in the National Children’s Museum which is scheduled to open in 2013. The Launch Zone is packed full of cool hands-on activities and events, and is totally worth checking out.

This park is incredible. It’s huge, with several gigantic play areas for children, but the coolest part of this place is the miniature train. The train is a replica of a 1863 C.P. Huntington, a steam locomotive purchased by the Southern Pacific Railroad and named in honor of the president of the Southern Pacific Company. The train travels around the perimeter of the park and is about a 10 or 15 minute ride; children absolutely love it, and if they’re lucky, they can see deer or other small animals scurrying around in the woods as they ride. When the train is closed during the winter, little ones can throw on some ice-skates and skate around the indoor ice rink.