Family Activities in Laurel, Maryland

Burn Off Some Energy

• Enjoy a little friendly competition when you bowl a game at the AMF Laurel Lanes (amf.com/laurellanes), a classic bowling alley with an arcade and a snack bar. The bowling alley has frequent specials, like the AMF Fun Pack that includes soda, popcorn, shoe rental and two hours of bowling for up to six people, so ask about specials at the counter. The Gardens Ice House (thegardensicehouse.pointstreaksites.com) has open skate hours where families can hit the ice together. If you̵7;re new to skating, the rink also offers beginners̵7; classes. Miniature golf fans will want to play a round at the Rocky Gorge 4 Season Golf (rockygorgegolf.com) 19-hole miniature golf course.

Get Outside

• Laurel is home to the Patuxent Research Refuge National Wildlife Center (fws.gov), the largest environmental education and science center operated by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Interactive exhibits focus on environmental issues, migratory bird routes, wildlife habitats, and endangered species. A highlight is the Viewing Pod, where kids can use spotting scopes, binoculars and radio tracking equipment to observe wildlife through a large picture window overlooking acres of natural habitat. The park̵7;s more than 12,000 acres are hard to explore on foot, so consider taking a Tram Tour to see the different ecosystems. Friday nights throughout the summer, families can relax by the lake and enjoy a free movie or concert at Granville Guide Park (cityoflaurel.org). Just bring your own blanket or chairs. If you̵7;ll be in Laurel for a while, the city̵7;s park department (cityoflaurel.org) runs a community garden, where families can rent a plot of land to grow their own fruits and vegetables -- and give back to the local food bank. The kids might really enjoy working side by side with other like-minded people.
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Learn Something

• The Prince George̵7;s County Memorial Library System (pgcmls.info) hosts family- friendly events at its Laurel branch year-round, including programs on responsible pet ownership, family game nights, ice cream socials and more. While the prospect of touring Riverside House (history.pgparks.com), built in 1801, might not have instant kid appeal, the historic house has fun family events throughout the year, including Rome at Riversdale, which celebrates the classical world̵7;s contributions to early American life with Roman games and battle demonstrations.

Try Something New

• Not all the shows at Laurel Mill Playhouse (laurelmillplayhouse.org) are family friendly, but past productions at this lively community theater included kid pleasers like ̶0;Guys and Dolls,̶1; ̶0;Annie̶1; and ̶0;Peter Pan.̶1; It̵7;s worth checking the schedule to see what̵7;s coming up. For more family fun, head over to Laurel Park (laurelpark.com) where the excitement of horse racing comes alive. The kids will likely love watching the races -- and they can "pretend" to bet on their favorite horses. You can also make dinner more interesting by visiting the Dutch Country Farmers Market (burtonsvilledutchmarket.com) where the entire family can enjoy sampling and purchasing local fare and produce.