Maryland Updates

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www.kidslovetravel.com

Updates to Kids Love Maryland

Changes:

CENTRAL - On page 73 -- Ellicott City is exit 13 off of I-695, not I-675. Page 186 under Strawberry Festival -- Sykesville is not on the Eastern Shore. It's in Howard/Carroll counties in the Central region. I'm only catching this stuff cause it's where I live... I can't even imagine the overwhelming task of finding all this stuff and writing it up! From Betsy Stein – Editor, Maryland Family Magazine -Thanks, Betsy!

Additions:

CENTRAL - Captain Salem Avery House Pier Opened summer 2007 Thanks to a new 75-foot pier, boaters have direct access to the Captain Salem Avery House, a Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network site. Exhibits at the house, also on the National Register of Historic Places, interpret the oyster industry from the 1860’s and also tell the story of the National Masonic Fishing and Country Club, a club of mostly Jewish members from the Washington, DC area. 1418 East West Shady Side Road, Shady Side, MD 20764, www.averyhouse.org; 410-867-4486 (Contact: Mavis Daly, 443-607-8277) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

CENTRAL- Hampton National Historic Site Reopened November 30, 2007 The mansion has reopened to the public after three years of interior renovation and installation of a fire-suppression system. Once the largest house in America, the site tells the story of enslaved African Americans, indentured servants, industrial and agricultural workers, and owners and interprets the economic and moral changes that made this lifestyle obsolete. www.nps.gov/hamp

CENTRAL – US NAVAL ACADEMY (pg. 44) The office phone is now 410-293-TOUR (8687). Regarding IDs, now guests 16 years of age and up must bring an ID. And the movie has changed to "Leaders of Character Serving the Nation."

CAPITAL - Monocacy Battlefield Visitors Center Opened Summer 2007 Located just south of Frederick on Route 355, the new Monocacy Battlefield Visitor Center tells the story of the July 9, 1864 Civil War “Battle that Saved Washington” – named because it delayed for a day the Confederate march on a defenseless national capital, giving time for Union reinforcements to arrive and secure Washington, DC. The new visitors center greatly expands the interpretation of the battle with several vignettes (describing the battle from Union, Confederate and civilian perspectives), a fiber-optic display of the days actions, and other interactive displays. 4801 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD 21704, www.nps.gov/mono.

WESTERN - Mountain Coaster at Wisp Resort Opened August 30, 2007 Popular in Europe, the Mountain Coaster at Wisp Resort is only the fourth one built in the United States, and the second on the East Coast. The Mountain Coaster is a hybrid of an alpine slide and a roller coaster. Riders travel 1,300 feet uphill before descending, twisting, turning, dipping and rolling for 3,500 feet downhill. The attraction will be open year-round, and will operate at night as well. 296 Marsh Hill Rd, McHenry, MD 21541, www.wispresort.com.

WESTERN - Queen City Transportation Museum Opened Fall 2007 Set in a 1925 romantic, castle design armory in historic downtown Cumberland, the museum features early transportation including carriages, carts, wagons, sleighs and automobiles (many items from the Thrasher Carriage Museum in nearby Frostburg). Exhibits include: Conestoga Wagons to Model Ts used to haul products and people on the National Road, a buggy & sleigh works carriage shop, a wheelwright shop, and an inn & tavern. www.mdmountainside.com/attraction.php?attraction=1054

SOUTHERN - St. Johns and Van Sweringen Exhibits, Historic St. Mary’s City Opening 2008 In the 17th-century the first Provincial Secretary of Maryland, John Lewger, built his house overlooking the St. Mary’s River. This house witnessed the rise and fall of Maryland’s first capital and the awakening of new ideas about government, religious freedom, individuality and class. Visitors will learn these stories and more through state-of-the-art audio, video and hands-on exhibits at his recreated home. In the 17th-century Garrett Van Sweringen operated a lodging house (built in 1677) that catered to the elite of the colony. Part of a very diverse population of immigrants (Van Sweringen was Dutch), this new exhibit will describe one man’s personal journey, his very-American aspirations and his experience in the New World. Route 5 & Rosecroft Rd, St. Mary’s City, MD 20686. www.stmaryscity.org

SOUTHERN - Bi-Plane Air Tours View the Chesapeake Bay and the sights of Southern Maryland in an open cockpit, double-winged airplane from 1,500 feet in the air. Nick Mirales, an aficionado of vintage aircraft, offers tours in a circa 1944 Boeing Stearman aircraft in warm-weather weekends and evenings spring through fall. Sightseeing tours depart from St. Mary’s County Airport flights (by appointment). www.biplaneairtours.com.

More fun information about:

Washington, DC - A teacher friend of ours (Mrs. H) shared with us some insights about a recent visit to Washington, DC. We thought some might benefit from a well-traveled educator’s perspective: White House - We obtained ticket through our U.S. Representative. They can be requested up to 6 months in advance. You are given a specific entry time. However, we arrived early and we were directed to go in. You are not allowed to take any purses, cameras, etc. into the WH and there is no place to check them. You MUST have a photo ID and go through screening. The tour is self-guided with guards and Secret Service people in every room. You aren't rushed through and they willingly answer questions. The entry has lots of interesting displays and artifacts. You are allowed to look in some ground level rooms and the tour goes through the state floor...East Room, Green Room, Blue Room, Red Room, State Dining Room and then out through the North Portico. It is definitely an impressive place to visit. Beautiful and historic! Kept thinking about all the events that had happened there! And wondered about those we will never hear about! Neat to see all the art and especially the First Lady and Presidents' portraits. Spy Museum - The Spy Museum came highly rated. I was rather disappointed with the physical size and space constraints. We were there on a Saturday in October, and there weren't any crowds...we got in right away; however it was almost claustrophobic (author’s note: maybe for effect – spies hide in small, hidden passages?). There were some great interactive displays but there were just too many people waiting to take a turn. We didn't stay very long. Seemed expensive for how much we got out of the experience. Loved the Bond car! The video they showed at the beginning was good. (author’s note: we almost always suggest watching the intro videos before entering any exhibit space – it may be the only reasonable way for your kids to process the timing of events/history. The old artifacts mean more when you know how famous they are.) The Smithsonian American Art Museum - Neat display of license plates from every state that write out the Preamble to the Constitution. They also have a neat collection of portraits of the Presidents, especially liked the Washington and Lincoln studies. (author’s note: ever study Lincoln’s eyes?) The Matthew Brady exhibit of Civil War photography is excellent.

Suggested Lodging & Dining:

CAPITAL – Frederick – SLEEP INN, 5361 Spectrum Drive (I-270 exit 31A or I-70 exit 54 south). (301) 668-2003 or choicehotels.com. This new property has a super friendly staff and is located in the middle of a large shopping and dining complex. Clean rooms and breakfast area. Comfortable beds and spacious. Microwaves and Refrigerators available. Their free deluxe continental breakfast lasts 4-5 hours each morning and features fresh pastries, hard-boiled eggs, cereals, juices, fruits, etc. Again, clean and fresh. Nice place to base from while visiting the many favorite historic attractions in Frederick (Civil War Medicine, Fritche House).