Greenbrier State Park in Boonsboro, MD

I know I rave about most of the places my kids and I explore, but this is one of the coolest places around here.  If you are looking for a fun summer day with your kids, Greenbrier State Park (map) will not disappoint. It is worth every mile of the drive, even at the current gas prices. My friend in Baltimore agrees, and her drive is even longer.

What’s so great about this place? Clean white sand, calm clean (as far as I can tell) water sans riptides, waves, sharks, and jellyfish, lifeguards on duty, perfectly placed lines denoting swimming area for little ones, sand castles, the sound of happy summer laughter…. Plus there’s more:

• camping

• boat launch

• visitor center
• hiking
• proximity to the Appalachian trail (where my children met a through hiker!)
• fishing
• and store full of junk food.

I feel so far away from my to do list here that it is easy to be completely present with my kids and enjoy a one day holiday.

As with any place that draws crowds, there as issues with litter that make me sad and mad, but Greenbrier is no worse than plenty of parks here in Loudoun in that department.

Tips for your visit

• There is a walk from the parking lot to the beach, so when you toss everything in your car make sure to consider how you will carry it all.
• The beach bathrooms are wet, busy, a bit grimy, and usually in need of a cleaning. If you decide to camp, however, the bathrooms there are incredibly well maintained.
• If you plan to camp, call and ask which loop is closer to the beach.
• Call ahead to find out lifeguard hours. The lifeguards are off duty for the 2008 season already but, according to the website, swimming at your own risk is allowed until the end of September so it is not too late to squeeze in an afternoon at the beach.