Warm Weather Adventures

By Alexis Kominos

It is finally summer time and school is winding down. Concert season is starting, the weather is getting warm, and people are excited and ready for a relaxing summer. There are many things to do over the summer to have fun and keep busy. What happens when someone wants a little more adventure? Many kids have the problem of wanting to do many fun things but not have the ideas or money to do so. Looking a little bit deeper, there are some fun summer activities that Maryland offers that give a bang for your buck.

Many kids have the problem of wanting to do many fun things but not have the ideas or money to do so. Looking a little bit deeper, there are some fun summer activities that Maryland offers that give a bang for your buck.

Daniel’s Dam: 
Daniel’s Dam is one place that many teens like to go to, but not many know about it. Daniel’s Dam is located in the Patapsco Valley State Park, where there are places to hike and water to swim in, and of course, the dam. In the summer, the water feels good and it is a great place to go to with some friends. There are marked and unmarked areas to swim and do other activities like fishing. If you choose to swim, make sure you are in the allowed area.  It is illegal to jump off the dam and swim within 300 feet of it, but people who choose to go are said to swim at their own risk. There are areas to barbeque and have picnics too. If you walk down a trail for a bit, there will be another lake area that has a rope swing, which is also a popular activity for many people. It is free to go and have a good time at Daniel’s Dam.
This next idea may be a bit more pricey, but it is very popular. Ocean City is one of the main places that people like to go to spend time at a beach. Some people go for a week or so, but it is possible to take a day trip if you are up for some driving. Ocean City has miles of beaches, a wooden boardwalk, many shops, and lots of places to eat. When you go at the right point in the year, the water feels nice and the weather is warm. While the price may be a bit more depending on if you stay the night or go for a day trip, but it is definitely worth it.

Merriweather Post Pavilion:
Another very popular activity to do in the summer is going to a concert. Merriweather Post Pavilion is one of the most popular places to go, and they have concerts all throughout the summer. Gillian Marx, a Junior at Glenelg High School, says she enjoys Merriweather concerts “it is expensive but, it is a good place to spend time with your friends. It’s mainly a social event but everyone is there having a good time.” It is located right by the Mall in Columbia, so it is close to most people in the local area. The prices vary depending on if you get lawn tickets, or tickets closer to the action. The ticket prices also vary depending on when they are bought. Merriweather concerts are very well known for people of all ages and it is worth the money to see many well-liked famous artists in real life.

Cunningham Falls:
Cunningham Falls is another great place to have some fun on a budget. There are many things you can do such as boating, hiking, swimming, fishing, and camping. The payment to enter depends on how many people are in the car, what you plan to do, and for how long. The prices are on the website. They are good and worth all the activities that they offer. There is a beach-like area, separate areas for fishing and kayaking, campgrounds that are accessible to anyone, and many other fun things to do. There are some rules due to it being a state park, so if you plan to bring some friends to have a good time, check out the website first.

Inner Harbor:
Lastly the Inner Harbor provides many things to do to take away boredom on a nice summer day. Drive out to Baltimore for a day and sightsee. Delaney Smith, a Junior at Glenelg High School, talks about what she does at the Inner Harbor. She says, “I like to go there to get dinner with my family and friends and to take pictures at the harbor. I also enjoy going to the aquarium. It’s a good way to spend the day doing something fun. ” Along with the National Aquarium, there is Ripley’s Believe it or Not, the Maryland Science Center, and so much more. There is also a wide variety of restaurants to feast at along the Inner Harbor. Some of those consist of Rusty Scupper, Hard Rock Cafe, and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. The budget varies depending on if you just sightsee, go in museums, or eat at restaurants too. The Inner Harbor is a wonderful attraction for all ages and for many different types of activities.

Summer fun consists of going to the pool, and hanging out with friends. But there are many different things to do that do not require a lot of money but are still a lot of fun. So, bring out your adventurous side, and swing on a rope swing, go kayaking on a lake, take a day trip to the beach, or jam out to some tunes with all your friends. You do not have the cash for a luxurious trip to the Bahamas? That is perfectly alright, Maryland has it covered.