Vacation spots, one tank of gas away
Thanks for all your tips about how to get away with the family on one tank of gas. Here are some of your and my favorites:
--Knoebels. Several people have recommended this spot north of Baltimore in Elysburg, Pa., which bills itself as "America's Largest Free Admission Park." You pay just for the rides you go on, which beats the usual all-inclusive fee if your family tends to get pooped halfway through the day. There are roller coasters and all the usual rides, along with a Carousel Museum and a Mining Museum.
--Dutch Wonderland, Lancaster, Pa. This is our family's favorite destination for a summer weekend getaway. If you're staying over, the Preview Plan is a particularly good deal; you can enter the park three hours before it closes for free if you've bought tickets for the next day. The rides are the perfect scale for toddlers, preschoolers and younger elementary-schoolers, and the setting is charming and laid-back. I love the trees, which keep you in the shade during a long amusement park day. Now, if the food offerings could be improved...
(Associated Press photo at Colonial Williamsburg by Steve Helber, 2006)
--While you're in Amish country, take a ride on the Strasburg Railroad, which features Day Out with Thomas (the Tank Engine) this week. You can also visit the National Toy Train Museum and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.
--Check out the Maize Quest Fun Park in New Park, Pa., suggested by Michelle, which is even closer to the Baltimore area.
--Colonial Williamsburg. It says something when a destination's URL is simply history.org. Here's a link to the resort's monthly specials.
--Historic St. Mary's City. Closer to Central Maryland than Williamsburg; open Wednesday through Sunday in summer, this living-history site of Maryland's first years as a 17th-century English colony makes for an educational trip. That's a reconstructed 1675 building on the site in the Mystery Destination picture.
--Chincoteague Island/Assateague Island. Of course there are the ponies. For details on Chincoteague, check out Baltomommie's recommendations.
--Ocean City. Lots of folks love it. This summer, we've got dispatches from the beach on our new Beach Life blog.
--The other Ocean City. When The Sun did a story in 2004 on one-tank getaways because of the "high price of gas" (oh, aren't we nostalgic for those days?), we profiled the family-friendliness of Ocean City, N.J.
Please add to the list below. For more help in planning your trip, check out What's the Deal, The Sun's travel blog, and the Beach Life blog.
Baltimoresun.com's 
Comments
I recommend Berkeley Springs, WV. It is just a neat place, and very close by. The nearby state park, Cacapon, has cabins, a lake, and golf course.
http://www.berkeleysprings.com/
Posted by: Betsy | June 19, 2008 12:38 PM
Historic Downtown Lancaster is a gem waiting to be discovered. More than 75 galleries/shops/restaurants celebrate the monthly First Friday art stroll, as well as Music Fridays on the third Friday of the month. And history abounds in this city where more than half of its real estate is honored in national historic listings. www.downtownlancaster.com www.lancasterarts.com www.buildingcharacter.biz
Posted by: No1Fan | June 20, 2008 10:46 AM