good vacation options for teen-preteen DC region

[cruiserpop]

looking for advice from experienced hands. Timeline, late June.
have a teen (15) and preteen (11) who will kill each other if in the same car for more than 5 minutes. With dog, experience has shown we can do 6 hrs on the road, about 400 miles/day. We've done the virginia beach thing ad nausiem, everybody wants to try something different, BUT involving water (not necessarily involving salt water). Any ideas invloving locations within 800 miles of dc, good for teen/preteen and involving access to water would be greatly appreciated.

(my immediate thoughts, Niagra falls/great lakes, outer banks or myrtle beach. any good mountain/lake stuff or favorite campgrounds appreciated)

[Morin]

Could try Williamsburg with Busch Gardens and Water Country..

Myrtle beach also has a lot of family things including the new hard Rock Theme park which is being built. not sure if it will be done by that time.

[ForestCreature]

How many days will you be out?   Cedar Point would be a great destination for any kid...including the big kids like myself.

[flyfisherman]

The mountains of western North Carolina ought to be in your range. Great Smoky Nat'l Park, lots of rivers, lakes and streams. Everyone needs to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway one time in their life - great mountain views. And those girls should be given a tour of the Biltmore Estate, just outside of Asheville, to show them what true opulence is all about (they'll never be the same!)

Should you decide to do something like this, better get hot with the reservations as the choice places go fast!


Fly

[fritz_monroe]

I haven't camped in the area, but how about Wildwood or Cape May, NJ?  Huge beach and big boardwalk.

There's also Deep Creek Lake area of Maryland.  Probably about 4 hours from DC.  If you go, stop at the Sidling Hill rest area.  Cool cut through the mountain.

[dthurk]

Outer Banks.

[wynot]

I presume that you are in the Maryland area (like us).

Eastern Shore - Roaring Point, Bivalve, MD
Eastern Shore - Dennis Point, kinda near Point Lookout
Trap Pond SP, Laurel, DE - Southern Delaware
Rocky Gap SP, Cumberland, MD
Natural Chimneys Regional Park, Bridgewater, VA
Elk Neck SP, NorthEast, MD

[cruiserpop]

Actually, Loudoun county, VA, but I can see MD (and WVA) from the top of the hill. We have done the whitewater outfitters out of harpers ferry (butts tubes on the loudoun county side), one of the best outings we've ever done. we've done the virginia beach thing to death, and we don't like the atmosphere at ocean city. we don't mind going west, north or south. we' haven't struck out verry far fform dc, and looking to experience the region.

[HouseInABox]

cedar point is amazing had two teens and an 8 year old travelling from eastern pa to cedar point they made it so can you --- cedar point is great you can camp their but you better make reservations now.  We stayed at a campground locally and drove into cedar point.  You can leave the water park and go to the beach right there at the resort.  They also have many water opportunities locally like you have at the beach.  

Johnstown, PA is an interesting trip.  The Ohiopyle State Park has white water rafting and for those not as adventurous they have a 4 hour float through mild rapids.   Kennywood Amusement park is near by and has a great reputation.  If you like historical sites they abound.  Johnstown is a story of opulence gone bad.  Fort Necessity which if timed right has renactments.  Pittsburg is close by with musuems and city life.

[Morin]

Another good one on the Eastern Shore of VA is Cherry Point Campgrounds.  Lots of activities and stuff to do.  A real nice CG.

[wynot]

Johnstown, PA is an interesting trip. The Ohiopyle State Park has white water rafting and for those not as adventurous they have a 4 hour float through mild rapids. Kennywood Amusement park is near by and has a great reputation. If you like historical sites they abound. Johnstown is a story of opulence gone bad. Fort Necessity which if timed right has renactments. Pittsburg is close by with musuems and city life.

If you go to Johnstown and have never been there before - it's real easy to get into the city, but very difficult to leave as no road appears to leave the place...
Don't bring your camper into the city if you can avoid it either, it was tough to park with it...
 
There's a nice campground up near Somerset which is almost brand new.  This allows you to hit a lot of the local stuff in the area.

[wynot]

Another good one on the Eastern Shore of VA is Cherry Point Campgrounds. Lots of activities and stuff to do. A real nice CG.

Almost forgot - Westmoreland SP in the Northern Neck of VA.  Awesome!
 
Bit of a haul from Louden County - but we do it from Washington County, MD!!

[chip]

Another good one on the Eastern Shore of VA is Cherry Point Campgrounds. Lots of activities and stuff to do. A real nice CG.

Did you mean CherrySTONE?
 
Cherry Point Campground is at Camp Lejoune, North Carolina...

[cruiserpop]

thanks to all! it will tak a while to sort through all of these! One remark, DQ is a Pittsburg gal, "yins". I can attest to most of the PA spots spoken of. I'm from Cape Cod, so I know most of the spots north of New York. We truly apreciate the feedback, and hope the postings give thought to others. will post back when we return. right now, gotta get the trailer ready!

[mmeier71]

thanks to all! it will tak a while to sort through all of these! One remark, DQ is a Pittsburg gal, "yins". I can attest to most of the PA spots spoken of. I'm from Cape Cod, so I know most of the spots north of New York. We truly apreciate the feedback, and hope the postings give thought to others. will post back when we return. right now, gotta get the trailer ready!

My vote is just come to Minnesota. As you mentioned you have Teens so they might wanna go to Mall of America and get their early back to school shopping done there while you are at it