Maryland - 5 Suitcases https://5suitcases.com A family travel blog Sat, 03 May 2025 12:11:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://i0.wp.com/5suitcases.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/cropped-cropped-logo-4.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Maryland - 5 Suitcases https://5suitcases.com 32 32 95195983 Explore 5 States in 6 Days: A Complete Itinerary for West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, and DC https://5suitcases.com/our-6-day-itinerary-for-west-virginia-pennsylvania-maryland-new-jersey-delaware-and-dc/ https://5suitcases.com/our-6-day-itinerary-for-west-virginia-pennsylvania-maryland-new-jersey-delaware-and-dc/#respond Sat, 29 Mar 2025 13:11:14 +0000 https://5suitcases.com/?p=22368

On our quest to visit all 50 states, we embarked on a road trip that would take us to 5 states and Washington, DC.  Over 6 days we visited West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, and Washington, DC while hugging the Mason-Dixon Line.  

Fun Fact:  The Mason-Dixon Line separates 4 states: Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia.  It later became known as the border between the Southern slave states and the Northern free states.

All five states would be new destinations for the kids, and New Jersey and Delaware were new for me.  We tacked on a day in DC since it’s the kids favorite city (so far!).

Our itinerary has all of the elements of an epic family road trip:

  • Adventure
  • Rollercoasters
  • Waterslides
  • History
  • Culture

Seriously, what more could you want?

How We Ended Up Visiting These States

Each year we gift the kids a trip as part of their Christmas gift.  On January 1st, we randomly select the name of a state the kids haven’t visited and plan a trip to that destination.  For this trip, the kids pulled West Virginia.

Our family of 5 took a road trip from Florida up to West Virginia.  Since we were already in the area, it only made sense for us to visit a few other neighboring states so we could add them to the list of states we’ve visited.

Related Post:  How to Plan a Road Trip the Whole Family Will Love!

Using the strategy outlined in the post above, our itinerary quickly began to take shape, and Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, and Washington, DC were added to our trip.

Day One- Davis, West Virginia

The kids at Blackwater Falls State Park
The kids at Blackwater Falls State Park

After a long drive from Florida to West Virginia, it was time for a bunch of Florida kids to experience some snow! The first stop on our road trip was Blackwater Falls State Park, home to the longest sled run on the East Coast.  

The park has a conveyor belt, called the Magic Carpet, that carries passengers to the top of a hill.  From there, it’s a quick 1/4-mile descent to the bottom.  What an adventure!  Smiley, Stinky, and I had so much fun!  Scoop and Ashley didn’t love it, but they took advantage of the hot cocoa bar and fire while we went sledding.

West Virginia is known for having wooden “Almost Heaven” swings (pictured left) that are sprinkled throughout the state.  We hiked the short, but icy, trail that led to the swing and the gorgeous Blackwater Falls.

Next, we went back to the Canaan Valley Resort.  There was plenty of snow on the ground and the kids were dying to go sledding again.  Lucky for them, we brought along a set of roll-up sleds.  They spent hours zooming down the hills surrounding the resort.

Even Scoop had fun this go around!  What a great way to kick off our epic winter road trip!

Dining:  Canaan Valley Resort, Mama Mia Pie & Pasta
Lodging: Canaan Valley Resort

Canaan Valley Resort
The kids glimpsing at their first blanket of REAL snow

Day Two- Gettysburg & Hershey, Pennsylvania

The kids posing with an Abraham Lincoln Statue at Gettysburg
The kids posing with Abraham Lincoln Statue at Gettysburg

We got up early and made the 3-hour trek to Gettysburg.  Not only are we trying to visit all 50 states, but we’re also trying to hit up as many National Park Sites as possible.    

Gettysburg was the site of the bloodiest battle in US History.  The Battle of Gettysburg was a three-day battle in the American Civil War between July 1 and July 3, 1863, where an estimated 50,000 people lost their lives.  The battle is considered the turning point of the Civil War- where the odds turned from being in favor of the Confederacy to favoring the Union forces.

While we were at the Gettysburg National Military Park we:

  • Visited the Museum and Visitor Center
  • Paid our respects at the National Cemetery
  • Saw where Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address
  • Saw the battlefield

About a mile away from the famous battlefield is another National Park Site- the Eisenhower National Historic Site.  This was the home of the 34th President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and his wife, Mamie.  The home was closed for tours during our visit (tours are seasonal), but we were able to explore the grounds.  It was nice having the whole place to ourselves.

While we could have spent longer exploring Gettysburg, we had more fun on the agenda for the day so drove an hour to Hershey.

Gettysburg with Kids
The kids exploring the battlefield at Gettysburg
Kids at Hersheypark
The Kids at Hersheypark

Our final stop of the day was Hersheypark.  Our daughter is a total theme park junkie, so I knew we had to visit Hersheypark, a place I visited when I was about her age.  When you purchase a regular ticket to the park, you can preview the park the evening before your visit.

After checking in to our hotel, we told the kids we were going out to dinner and surprised them with a nighttime visit to Hersheypark.  They thought we were sneaking in (lol) so it made it EXTRA exciting for them.

Check out the video below for their adorable reactions!

Dining:  The Chocolate Avenue Grill
Lodging:  Holiday Inn Express, Harrisburg

Day Three- Hershey, Pennsylavania

Day three of our trip was all about Hersheypark!  Since we visited during the winter months, and on a holiday, the park had limited hours.  However, since we previewed the park the night before, we didn’t feel like we missed out on anything.

The park opened a little later that day, so we started our day at Chocolate World which is a large shop that had a few add-on experiences for visitors to enjoy.  There’s also an eatery and a free ride that tells how chocolate was made, which we rode multiple times until the park opened.

We spent the rest of the day hanging out at the theme park.  The kids had a blast on the rides!  Unfortunately, the rollercoasters were all closed due to the cold temperatures, but we made the best of it!

Later in the day, we purchased tickets for the drive-thru light show.  We slowly crept through the 2-mile trail of holiday lights.

Dining: Applebee’s
Lodging:  Holiday Inn Express, Harrisburg

Day Four- Perryville, Maryland

The next morning was Christmas Day!  We got up bright and early and drove about 90 minutes southeast to Perryville, Maryland.

Originally, I considered visiting Philadelphia after our time in Hershey, but with it being a holiday (and many places would be closed), I opted to add a day at the Great Wolf Lodge in Perryville, Maryland to our itinerary, instead.  The Great Wolf Lodge is a massive, indoor waterpark and kid’s entertainment complex.  They have an arcade, bowling alley, mini golf, ropes course, and much more.  What better place to celebrate Christmas?  

Sure, it was un-traditional, but the kids had an absolute blast, and in the end, that’s all that matters!

Great Wolf Lodge Perryville

Day Five- Pennsville, New Jersey; New Castle, Delaware; and Baltimore, Maryland

William Penn statue, New Castle, Delaware
William Penn statue, New Castle, Delaware

With New Jersey and Delaware so close, we couldn’t NOT visit.  I went back and forth between visiting Camden, New Jersey, and Pennsville, New Jersey before ultimately deciding on the latter.  Although Camden had way more things to do, it was a little further away. Since we would be backtracking to Baltimore, timewise, it made more sense for us to go to Pennsville.

Pennsville is the home of Fort Mott, which is one of the very few things to do in this part of the state.  Fortunately for us, we love a good fort so our kids were thrilled to check it out!  Fort Mott is a post-Civil War outpost located on the Delaware River. There was plenty of signage for us to learn about the fort…mostly our kids just enjoyed running around with the muskets they bought in Gettysburg. 

Afterward, we drove to New Castle, Delaware.  Oh my gosh, ya’ll, it was the CUTEST colonial town!  Our first stop was the New Castle Court House, which is part of the First State National Historical Park.

At the courthouse, we learned how Delaware declared independence from Pennsylvania and Great Britain and became the first state.  We also learned about the famous Americans who once called New Castle their home.

Afterward, we strolled around the town making stops at the Historical Society, a colonial cemetery (Immanuel on the Green), the old pillory, and other key sites around the courthouse.  I seriously could have spent an entire weekend checking out this charming town.  It reminded me so much of Williamsburg, Virginia.  I guess that just gives us a reason to return!

New Castle Courthouse, First State National Historical Park

Related Post:  How to Spend a Day in New Castle, Delaware

The kids learning about the history of Fort McHenry

After a couple of hours in New Castle, we backtracked to Maryland.  We took the Fort McHenry Tunnel (our kids’ first tunnel experience) and made a pitstop at Fort McHenry.  Fort McHenry was the scene of one of the most influential battles in American History.  The Battle of Baltimore was a conflict between the British and the Americans during the War of 1812.  The battle was a turning point in the war.  After the British invaded DC (and torched it!), they headed north to Baltimore.

The Brits pounded Fort McHenry for 25 hours, but the Americans were able to defend their brick fortress successfully.  From this point on, the Americans had the upper hand during the war.

During the battle, Maryland native Francis Scott Key witnessed the chaos at the fort from afar.  At dawn, he looked out and saw a large American Flag waving over the fort, which inspired him to write a poem that would later become our national anthem.

We really enjoyed the National Park’s Junior Ranger Program.  It was a great way for the kids to learn what happened at Fort McHenry.  They completed several different activities in an activity book and earned a Junior Ranger badge for their efforts.

By the time we finished with the fort, it was about 4 PM.  We planned to check in to our hotel and walk around the Baltimore Harbor.  However, after driving around, we realized that might not be the safest idea.  We noticed an increase in police presence, including 2 armed guards at Chick-fil-A.  It turns out, the harbor becomes a totally different place at night.  We took our dinner to go and walked back to the hotel to hunker down for the evening.

Dining: Chick-fil-A
Lodging: Staybridge Suites- Baltimore Inner Harbor

Map of the National Mall

Day Six- Washington, DC

The kiddos learning about the slave trade at the National Museum of African American History and Culture

On the final day of our Mason-Dixon Road Trip, we drove south to Washington, DC. DC is our kiddos’ favorite city to explore, so since we were in the area, we just HAD to make a pitstop.

On our last visit, we spent 4 days exploring the capital. This time, I wanted to hit some of the
sites we didn’t get to see last time.

We started our morning off at the National Museum of African American History and
Culture,  one of the newest museums in DC. The museum’s collection focuses heavily on the
slave trade, the lives of slaves, the Reconstruction Era, and the Civil Rights Movement.
Learning about this part of our nation’s history was an extremely somber (but necessary)
experience.

From there, we headed to the National Mall, also known as America’s Front Yard. The National Mall has more than 100 monuments, memorials, and museums. We started at the far end of the Mall and worked our way back toward the National Museum of African American History and
Culture.

Our first stop was the Lincoln Memorial. It was a cool spot to tie in our visit to this morning’s
museum and our time in Gettysburg (the monument has the Gettysburg address engraved in it).

The Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial

Related Post:  5 Inspiring National Monuments Every American Should See

From there, we made our way along the north side of the National Mall. We stopped by the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Constitution Gardens, Signers’ Memorial, and the
Lockkeeper’s House. Next, we cut across to the World War II Memorial before seeing the
Washington Monument.

Our last stop of the day was National Archives where we saw the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights. Although we could
have easily popped next door to the National Museum of Natural History or the National
Museum of American History, we chose to get on the road instead. We knew traffic would be
heavy and our hotel was two hours south.

Free Family Road Trip Starter Kit

🎶 Ready to hit the road with magic in the speakers?

Don’t forget to grab our FREE Family Road Trip Starter Kit — packed with printable checklists, kid-approved games, and snack ideas for your next adventure!

🎒 Includes:

  • Packing checklist

  • I Spy game

  • Travel Bingo boards

  • Snack list

  • Activity ideas

👉 Click here to download yours now!

Planning an Epic Road Trip

Now that you’ve seen how we spent 6 days traveling through West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, and DC, we hope that we’ve inspired you to take your own road trip.

Road Trip Playlist

Here are some handy posts to help you start planning your own road trip!

Save a Pin & Start Planning Your Adventure!

For future reference,  save our “Our 6-Day Itinerary for West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, and DC.”   Pin one of the images below to Pinterest.  Read about how you can start your own 50 State Challenge! Go ahead and follow 5 Suitcases on Pinterest while you’re at it!

📌 Save this post to Pinterest
📸 Follow us on Instagram @5suitcases
👍 Follow us on Facebook @5suitcases
▶ Subscribe on YouTube @5suitcases

*This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience

]]> https://5suitcases.com/our-6-day-itinerary-for-west-virginia-pennsylvania-maryland-new-jersey-delaware-and-dc/feed/ 0 22368 The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Fort McHenry with Kids: Fun for the Whole Family https://5suitcases.com/5-fun-things-for-kids-to-do-at-fort-mchenry/ https://5suitcases.com/5-fun-things-for-kids-to-do-at-fort-mchenry/#respond Sat, 08 Mar 2025 11:41:00 +0000 https://5suitcases.com/?p=22218

Are anyone else’s kids completely obsessed with visiting forts? Our kids have visited forts up and down the eastern seaboard and throughout the Caribbean and let me tell you, they haven’t met a fort they didn’t like!  When mapping out our Mason-Dixon Road Trip, I knew we had to add Fort McHenry to our itinerary.

Not only do the kids love forts, but they also collect National Park Passport stamps.  Visiting the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine was a no-brainer!

I know what you’re thinking, “Okay, cool… your kids like forts.  But what is there for them to do at a fort?” Believe it or not, there’s plenty for kids to do at forts.  Here are our kids’ favorite things to do at Fort McHenry.

5 Things to do at Fort McHenry

Watching the movie at the Visitor Center of Fort McHenry
Watching the movie at the Visitor Center of Fort McHenry

Watch the Film

Your first stop at Fort McHenry should be the Visitor Center, where you can watch the film about the Battle of Baltimore.  The entertaining 13-minute video is a great introduction to the Battle of Baltimore on September 13th and 14th, 1814.  This famed battle inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner, which would later become the National Anthem.

The must-see movie is free to watch and runs every 30 minutes.  Even our kids, 7, 7, and 10 enjoyed the feature.  Be sure to stick around for the impressive ending!

The kids learning about the history of Fort McHenry

Visit the Museum

After watching the movie, spend time in the Visitors Center museum.  They have a great collection of artifacts including models, weaponry, and uniforms from the War of 1812 to World War I. 

Tour the Fort

The Star Fort is open daily from 9 am to 4:45.  Admission is free for ages 15 and under, and $15 for ages 16 and up.  Learn about the fort’s history from the War of 1812 through World War I.  Visitors can walk through the buildings and bastions to see what life was like for American soldiers during this time.  Our kids pretended to be soldiers and enjoyed popping in and out of the various rooms that were open to explore.

The kids getting sworn in as Junior Rangers at Fort McHenry
The kids getting sworn in as Junior Rangers at Fort McHenry

Become a Junior Ranger

The Junior Ranger program is a fantastic way for kids to learn about a National Park site.  Children can complete a series of tasks to earn a Junior Ranger badge.  These tasks can range from drawing a badge, word searches, BINGO, fill in the blanks, and locating facts about the site.  The number of tasks required to collect the badge varies based on the location, so be sure to ask the Park Ranger for specific details.

Don’t be jealous, grownups can earn badges too!  The Junior Ranger program is open to everyone!

The view of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge from Fort McHenry
The view of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge from Fort McHenry

Walk the Seawall Trail

Take time to walk the Seawall Trail and Ravelin Trail.  The grounds that the fort was built on offer beautiful views of the Patapsco River and Baltimore Harbor.  From the southern tip of the fort (and the Seawall Trail, you can see the now-collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Where is Fort McHenry located?

Physical Address:

2400 E Fort Ave, Baltimore, Maryland 21230

Read How We Visited 3 States in 1 Day! (Including a visit to Fort McHenry).

Other Cool Information

Distance From Major Cities

  • Washington, DC- 42 mi
  • Philadelphia, PA- 104 mi
  • New York City, NY- 190 mi
  • Pittsburgh, PA- 249 mi
  • Akron, OH- 375 mi
  • Buffalo, NY- 373mi
  • Cleveland, OH- 397 mi
  • Charlotte, NC- 443 mi

Distance from Nearby National Parks

  • Shenandoah National Park- 109 mi
  • New River Gorge National Park- 338 mi
  • Cuyahoga Valley National Park- 353 mi
  • Congaree National Park– 535 mi

National Parks Sites in Maryland

  1. ◽ Antietam National Battlefield
  2. ◽Appalachian Scenic Trail
  3. ◽Assateague Island National Seashore
  4. ◽Catoctin Mountain Park
  5. ◽ Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
  6. ◽Chesapeake Bay Watershed
  7. ◽Clara Barton National Historic Site
  8. ◽Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
  9. ◽Fort Washington Park
  10. ◽ George Washington Memorial Parkway
  11. ◽Greenbelt Park
  12. ◽Hampton National Historic Site
  13. ◽Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
  14. ◽Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park
  15. ◽Monocacy National Battlefield
  16. ◽Piscataway Park
  17. ◽Thomas Stone National Historic Site
  18. ◽Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail

FAQ About Fort McHenry

Is Fort McHenry worth visiting?

Fort McHenry is an excellent place to learn about the War of 1812 and the Battle of Baltimore, which inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner.  The fort is well-preserved and certainly worth a visit.

How much time do you need at Fort McHenry?

Plan on spending at least an hour at the fort to really enjoy it.  

Save a Pin & Start Planning Your Adventure

For future reference, save our post: “5 Things to Do in Gettysburg with Kids”.  Get inspo for your next trip by browsing the Ultimate National Park Bucket List.  Plan your trip around Free National Park Days and learn about The National Park’s Awesome Junior Ranger Program.

While on our Mason-Dixon Road Trip, we also visited the nearby Eisenhower National Historic Site and Hersheypark.

Pin one of the images below to Pinterest.  Go ahead and follow 5Suitcases on Pinterest while you’re at it!

5 Things for Kids to do at Fort McHenry
5 Things for Kids to do at Fort McHenry
5 Things for Kids to do at Fort McHenry
5 Things for Kids to do at Fort McHenry

📌 Save this post to Pinterest
📸 Follow us on Instagram @5suitcases
👍 Follow us on Facebook @5suitcases
▶ Subscribe on YouTube @5suitcases

]]> https://5suitcases.com/5-fun-things-for-kids-to-do-at-fort-mchenry/feed/ 0 22218 How We Easily Visited 3 States in 1 Day https://5suitcases.com/crossing-3-states-off-of-our-list-in-1-day/ https://5suitcases.com/crossing-3-states-off-of-our-list-in-1-day/#respond Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:40:31 +0000 https://5suitcases.com/?p=22023

Over the years our kids have had countless hands-on experiences that have helped them learn more about themselves and the world around them.  As they’ve gotten older, they’ve developed a love of traveling like mine.  I thought setting a goal for them to visit all 50 states would be fun.

On January 1, 2024, we started a new family tradition.  We placed the names of the states the kids have not been to into a hat and selected one at random.  The kids chose West Virginia, so I planned a road trip to The Mountain State.  One thing led to another, and other states got added to our itinerary.

That week we went sledding in West Virginia and visited Gettysburg, Eisenhower’s home, and Hersheypark in Pennsylvania before we made our way down to Maryland.  That’s when things got WILD!  We crossed off not one, not two, but three new states from our list in just one day!

To mark a state from our list, we have to do an activity there, so I took to Google Maps to map out our road trip.  We knew, for sure, we would be at Great Wolf Lodge in Perryville, Maryland on Christmas Day.  Once I realized how close we were to Delaware and New Jersey, it was game on!

Crossing New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland off of our list of places we've been!

Crossing 3 States Off of Our List in 1 Day!

Maryland

We began and ended our day in Maryland.  We started in Perryville, Maryland where we celebrated Christmas Day at the Great Wolf Lodge.  

New Jersey

I struggled to find anything on the NJ/DE border.  I didn’t want to go as far north as Camden, and we had already hit up a theme park, so Diggerland was out.  There’s the old Quaker Hancock House, but my kids will pick a fort over a historic home any day, so that left us one option: Fort Mott State Park.

Fort Mott is a post-Civil War defense system built to protect the Delaware River.  The fort didn’t see much action, but troops were regularly stationed there.

Fort Mott State Park, New Jersey
The boys holding down the fort at Fort Mott State Park, NJ

The fort is still pretty much intact.  You can see the old railyard, towers, and gunneries.  The kids liked it way more than I thought they would- considering there’s not much to it.  They had a blast pretending to be soldiers and firing off the guns they bought in Gettysburg.

Forts, for them, have always been an opportunity for them to stretch their legs, run around, and use their imagination.  

Part of me wishes we went up to Camden, but I wanted to ensure we had time for what else was in store for us.

Delaware

Not only are we trying to visit all 50 states, but we’re also working towards visiting all of the National Park Sites…all 460+ of them!  So, naturally, it only made sense for us to stop by the First State National Historical Park in Delaware.  Delaware is small…but mighty!  It was the first state to declare independence from Great Britain, which takes a lot of guts if you ask me!

The New Castle Court House is where Delaware declared its independence from Pennsylvania and Great Britain.  The court hearing that inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe to write Uncle Tom’s Cabin also took place here.  Since Smiley did a report on her last year, it made for the perfect stop.

New Castle Courthouse, First State National Historical Park
The colonial architecture in New Castle, Delaware

When we got to the courthouse, we weren’t quite sure which door we were supposed to enter.  The sign said it was open, but the front door was locked.  After trying several doors, we finally found one that was open.  We crept inside and found a ranger main courtroom.  Startled, he asked us how we had gotten in there.  Whoops!  Apparently we broke in.  The ranger backtracked to the door we entered, locked it, and came back to show us around.  We learned all about the history of not only the courthouse and New Castle, but how Delaware became to be the first state.    The ranger was super informative and really good about answering all of the kids’ questions…and boy, did they have a lot of them!

After our tour, we walked to the New Castle Historical Society to learn more about the town.  Just around the corner, there was a neat little cemetery at Immanuel Episcopal Church on the Green.  We stopped by to see the graves of George Read (signer of the Declaration of Independence), and several Senators, Representatives, Governors, and Revolutionary War Patriots. Surprisingly, the kids enjoyed walking around the cemetery.  They made up a game called “Find the Oldest Dead Person” and went from gravestone to gravestone in their quest to find the oldest.

Around town, we also visited the site of the gallows and jail and walked down the cobblestone streets surrounding William Penn’s statue.  

Oh my gosh, ya’ll, I am so glad we stopped!  The town of New Castle is so stinking cute like it could seriously be the set for a TV show (is it?).   I could have easily spent a weekend exploring the town.

William Penn statue, New Castle, Delaware
William Penn statue, New Castle, Delaware

Related Post:  How to Spend a Day in New Castle, Delaware

Maryland

With New Jersey and Delaware under our belts, it was time to head back to Maryland.  I’m not quite sure spending Christmas Day at Great Wolf Lodge counts as doing something in Maryland 😂 so we headed back to Baltimore, for good measure.

On the way into the city, the kids had their first tunnel experience.  We took the Fort McHenry Tunnel, which cuts through the Baltimore Harbor.  To this day, they don’t believe that we were actually underwater 😂.

Our second National Park passport stamp of the day came from Fort McHenry…because you can never visit too many forts in one day!  Fort McHenry had an incredible Visitor Center/Museum.  We started our visit by watching the park’s film about the battle that inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the “Star-Spangled Banner.”  The video was extremely well done and ended with the screen being raised into the ceiling, unveiling a spectacular view of the fort.

By the time it we left Fort McHenry, it was late afternoon, so we decided to check into our hotel.  Our hotel was located near the Boston Harbor, a part of town with loads of things to do.  We dropped off our bags and walked to Chick-fil-A to grab dinner.  When we walked into the Chick-fil-A, we noticed there were 2 armed guards….in fact, there were armed guards in all of the shops and eateries in the area.  After seeing that, we decided it would be best if we took our dinner back to the hotel and called it a night.  

Baltimore can get sketchy after dark, and we’d rather be safe than sorry.

The kids learning about the history of Fort McHenry

Free Family Road Trip Starter Kit

🎶 Ready to hit the road with magic in the speakers?

Don’t forget to grab our FREE Family Road Trip Starter Kit — packed with printable checklists, kid-approved games, and snack ideas for your next adventure!

🎒 Includes:

  • Packing checklist

  • I Spy game

  • Travel Bingo boards

  • Snack list

  • Activity ideas

👉 Click here to download yours now!

Planning a Road Tip

How to Plan a Road Trip

Want to plan a killer road trip but you’re not quite sure where to start?  We’ve mapped out our tried and true way of planning a road trip the whole family will enjoy!

In this post, we outline:

  • How to pick a destination
  • Our research tips
  • Budgeting
  • Lodging tips
  • Our road trip essentials

Read about how you can start your own 50 State Challenge!

Conclusion

Within a span of just a few hours, we drove from Maryland to New Jersey, to Delaware and back to Maryland!  We visited two forts, got two National Park passport stamps, and learned about colonial history and the fight for independence.  I’d say that was a pretty successful day!

Save a Pin & Start Planning Your Adventure

We visited these sites on our Mason-Dixon Road Trip.  While we were in the area, we also stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge in Perryville, learned about the Battle of Gettysburg, visited President Eisenhower’s home, and visited our favorite city, Washington, DC.  

📌 Save this post to Pinterest
📸 Follow us on Instagram @5suitcases
👍 Follow us on Facebook @5suitcases
▶ Subscribe on YouTube @5suitcases

]]> https://5suitcases.com/crossing-3-states-off-of-our-list-in-1-day/feed/ 0 22023 The Great Wolf Lodge Perryville, Maryland: A Review https://5suitcases.com/the-great-wolf-lodge-perryville-maryland-a-review/ https://5suitcases.com/the-great-wolf-lodge-perryville-maryland-a-review/#respond Sat, 08 Feb 2025 12:13:10 +0000 https://5suitcases.com/?p=21853

This year, as part of the kid’s Christmas gift, we booked a trip to the Great Wolf Lodge in Perryville, Maryland.   Over Christmas Break, we struck out on a week-long road trip.  Since few places are open on Christmas Day, I thought it would be the perfect place to spend the holiday.

We spent the holidays two years ago with a 4-night stay at the Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, Virginia.  The kids loved it, so we thought we’d surprise them with another visit.  

If you’re unfamiliar with Great Wolf Lodge, it’s a hotel chain known for its indoor waterparks.  Each Great Wolf Lodge is jam-packed with family-fun amenities to help make your vacation one to remember!

Accommodation Options at Great Wolf Lodge Perryville

The accommodation options at the Great Wolf Lodge are Standard Suites, Themed Suites, and Premium Suites. Most rooms will sleep 4 comfortably however, some options can sleep up to as many as 13 people!  

Great Wolf Lodge Family Suite
Great Wolf Lodge Family Suite

Family Suite

Sleeps 4-6

Standard suite includes two queen beds as well as a living area with a full-size sofa sleeper.

  •  2 Queen Beds
  •  Full Sleeper Sofa
  •  Full Bath
  •  Living Area
  •  Table & chairs

Themed Kid Cabin Suite

Sleeps 6-7

Standard suite features a log cabin-themed sleeping area, three twin beds, a queen bed, and a full sofa sleeper.

  •  1 Queen Bed
  •  1 Twin Bed
  •  1 Bunk Bed
  •  Full Sleeper Sofa
  •  Full Bath
Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg- Wolf Den Suite
Great Wolf Lodge - Wolf Den Suite

Themed Wolf Den Suite

Sleeps 4-6

The standard suite includes an in-suite cave-themed sleeping area, a queen bed, and a full-size sofa sleeper.

  •  1 Queen Bed
  • 1 Bunk Bed
  •  Full Sleeper Sofa
  •  Full Bath

Junior Cabin Suite

Sleeps 4

The Accessible bathtub suite features a log cabin-themed sleeping area.

  • 1 Queen Bed
  • 1 Bunk Bed

Deluxe KidCabin Suite

Sleeps  10-13

The standard suite includes a private bedroom with two queen beds, an in-suite log cabin with bunk beds and a day bed, one queen bed, a full-size sleeper sofa, and two bathrooms.

  •  3 Queen Beds
  •  1 Bunk Bed
  • 1 Day bed
  •  2 Full Sleeper Sofas
  •  2 Full Baths

Deluxe Junior Kid Cabin Suite

Sleeps 8-10

This accessible bathtub suite includes a private bedroom with two queen beds, an in-suite log cabin with bunk beds, one queen bed, a full-size sleeper sofa, and two bathrooms.

  • 3 Queen beds
  • 1 Bunk Bed
  • 1 Full Sleeper SOfa
  • 1 Full bath

Deluxe Wolf Den Suite

Sleeps 8-12

This standard suite includes an in-suite cave-themed sleeping area with a queen bed, a private bedroom with two queen beds, and two bathrooms.

  • 3 Queen Beds
  • 1 Bunk Bed
  • 2 Full Sleeper Sofas
  • 2 Full Baths

Grizzly Bear Suite

Sleeps 6-8

This standard suite features a king bed in the primary bedroom, two queens in the second bedroom, and a full-size sleeper sofa in the main area.

  • 1 King Bed
  • 2 Queen Beds
  • 1 Full Sleeper Sofa
  • 2 Full Baths

Check In/ Check out at Great Wolf Lodge Perryville

Before arriving at the Great Wolf Lodge Perryville, you’ll receive a text with information for a pre-check-in.  You’ll identify your estimated arrival time and have an opportunity to ask any questions.

Checking in at this GWL was much more simple than our previous stays.  The front desk was conveniently located on the left side of the lobby.  There are kiosks available for quick check-ins.

The front office staff was very courteous and helpful.  Considering how busy they were, they maintained composure, which is impressive.

Great Wolf Lodge Perrvyille

Great Wolf Lodge Perryville Amenities & Attractions

  • Water park
  • MagiQuest
  • Gift Shop
  • On-Site Restaurant
  • Oliver’s Mining Co.
  • Moonstone Mirror Maze
  • Ten Paw Alley (bowling)
  • Howlers Peak Ropes Course
  • Northern Lights Arcade
  • Build-A-Bear Workshop
  • Howl in One Mini-Golf

All About the Wolf Passes

The Great Wolf Lodge offers passes that bundle activities and special memorabilia.  Purchasing the passes can help save you money in the long run.  The passes are Wolf Pass ($99.99),  Paw Pass ($79.99), and Pup Pass ($59.99).  

We’ll explore the benefits of each of these passes in a future post.

Dining Options

Barnwood-  This sit-down restaurant serves up a variety of burgers, salmon, steak, and pasta.  Enjoy a glass of local wine or a handcrafted cocktail while you unwind from a fun-filled day.

Campfire Kitchen-  This laid-back restaurant serves a scrumptious breakfast menu ranging from eggs, bacon, signature wolf waffles, and more.  In the evenings, enjoy a carved meat station or Italian-inspired foods.  

Hungry as a Wolf– This pizza joint is open for lunch and dinner.  They serve pizza, meatball subs, fresh salads, and cheese bread.

Timbers- Enjoy mouth-watering burgs, fresh salads, and hearty sandwiches at this lunch and dinner eatery.  

Wood’s End Creamery- Indulge your pack’s sweet tooth with hand-crafted ice cream treats.

Dunkin’ Donuts– Grab donuts and coffee for breakfast lunch or dinner!

Our Honest Review

The Good

  • Before our arrival we received a text from “Willow” our “assistant” for our trip.  Willow is actually anyone who is working down at the front office.  They asked us if we had any questions or special requests.  I was able to text back and forth with them before we arrived.
  • At this location, all of the amenities are on the first floor.  This was excellent news! When we stayed at the GWL in Williamsburg, the MagiQuest Game spanned multiple floors and we heard kids running/yelling/being obnoxious late into the evening.
  • Great Wolf Lodge has an app that you can download that will tell you all of the events going on throughout the day.  You can also pre-order some of your meals via the app.
  • The indoor water park was great.  There was something for every different thrill level.  There are complimentary towels and life jackets available.
  • The lifeguards in the waterpark are the most intentional lifeguards I’ve ever seen– and being from Florida, we see a lot of them.  They make very calculated and deliberate sweeps of the pool areas to ensure everyone is safe. I was very impressed.
  • Someone is always cleaning!  The overall cleanliness of the place is pretty impressive considering how many kids are running around the place.

The Bad

  • The wait times for food was pretty long.  When you order meals on the app, you’re supposed to get a notification when they are ready.  We didn’t get notifications for 2 of the meals we ordered. 
  • The hotel has quiet hours that begin at 11 pm, which is pretty late considering the hotel is geared towards children.  
  • The GWL nickles and dimes you for everything.  The only amenity that is included with your fees is the water park.  You have to pay for everything else.

The Ugly

  • This is our second trip to a Great Wolf Lodge…or as my wife calls it, “The Lawless Land.”   At both locations, the kids are absolutely out of control.   We’ve stayed at kids’ hotels  (Legoland Hotel) and never experienced anything quite like this.  This wasn’t necessarily the Lodge’s fault, it’s more on the parents.
  • There doesn’t seem to be any enforcement of any sort of rules– this extended to the waterpark.  We’ve been to several waterparks and there is always someone reminding kids to walk- that didn’t happen at all here.  We saw several kids fall.

Tips for Visiting the Great Wolf Lodge Perryville

  • Make sure you pack towels and/or cover-ups for the pool.  The hotel has towels, but you can only use them in the pool area.  If you’re visiting during the colder months, it can get chilly walking through the lodge in a wet bathing suit.
  • Consider buying one of the passes (Wolf, Paw, Pup) to save money on the add-on attractions.  Trust me, after seeing all the other kids running around (literally) playing MagiQuest, your kid will want to, too.

Location & Booking Information

Address: 1240 Chesapeake Overlook Pkwy, Perryville, MD 21903

Visit the official website to book your stay.

Save a Pin & Start Planning Your Adventure

For future reference, save our post: “Great Wolf Lodge Perryville:  The Good, The Bad & The Ugly”.  Check out our post, “10 Great Wolf Lodge Tips that are Perfect for YOUR Family” to help you plan your trip.

While on our Mason-Dixon Road Trip, we also visited the nearby Hersheypark, Fort Mott State Park, New Castle, and Fort McHenry.

Pin one of the images below to Pinterest.  Go ahead and follow 5Suitcases on Pinterest while you’re at it!

Great Wolf Lodge Perryville
Great Wolf Lodge Perryville
Great Wolf Lodge Perryville
Great Wolf Lodge Perryville

📌 Save this post to Pinterest
📸 Follow us on Instagram @5suitcases
👍 Follow us on Facebook @5suitcases
▶ Subscribe on YouTube @5suitcases

]]> https://5suitcases.com/the-great-wolf-lodge-perryville-maryland-a-review/feed/ 0 21853