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Maryland Adventure Bucket List
Fourteen outdoor Maryland things to do, from bay beaches to a big lake, to tick off at your own pace.
A real, editable checklist below — tick, tap a line to rewrite, drag to reorder.
Tick the circles, tap any line to change it, drag the dots to reorder.
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Fifty is the number both sources land on: a deck of 50 scratch-off cards and a parents' guide to 50 things to do with kids. That's a lot of ticking, and this list doesn't try for it. It sticks to the outdoors: fourteen things to do across eight places, so a few spots get more than one tick. Expect state parks, a national seashore, a canal towpath, a zoo and a farm park, with a family lean. Food stops, museums and city sights are left out.
Why these items are on the list
- Swim or go crabbing at Sandy Point. Take a dip in the Chesapeake Bay, or go crabbing with the kids. Holiday light displays run there seasonally.
- Paddleboat at Rocky Gap. Big lake for swimming, fishing and kayaking. Paddleboats are for rent.
- Hike Rocky Gap's Lakeside Loop Trail. It's 5 miles, so check the length against your youngest walker.
- Spot wild horses at Assateague. The island's famous for them. Beaches and nature trails are right there.
- Rent kayaks at Assateague. Kayak rentals are on offer, if you'd rather paddle than walk the trails.
- Join a ranger-led program. Assateague's rangers run programs about island wildlife.
- See Cunningham Falls' 78-foot waterfall. Trails are stroller-friendly, so little ones can come.
- Canoe or swim at Cunningham Falls. The park has swimming areas and canoe rentals, a good follow-up to the waterfall.
- Hike Patapsco Valley trails. Easy-to-moderate trails, waterfalls and swinging bridges. Fine for picnics or family camping.
- Bike the C&O Canal Towpath. Bike it or walk it. Stop at Great Falls for views and photo ops.
- Ride a canal boat in summer. Canal boat rides are a summer thing, so save this one for warm weather.
- Visit the Maryland Zoo. Giraffe feedings, otter and rhino training, and a hands-on Farmyard.
- Ride the Zoo Train. It does a tour around the grounds.
- Say hi to the Kinder Farm animals. Barnyard animals, short trails and a big playground. Hayrides and the pumpkin patch are seasonal.
Keep it open on your phone and tick stops off as you go. Skip the soggy ones, brag about the rest, and nobody checks your work.
When to use it
Useful when planning a weekend or a run of day trips, with seasonal extras saved for the right time of year.