Snow and snow days were the topic of discussion during the
entire mid-Atlantic 2013 - 2014 winter season.
It seemed the students were out of school more than they were in
school. Even though the snow and cold
is long gone, it is difficult to stop thinking about the topic of inclement
weather and snow days.
Our schools have been left scrambling to make-up all of
these educational hours that were lost. Some schools have applied for waivers
for make-up days, so that fewer days need to be squeezed into the calendar
somewhere. All schools have adjusted their calendars. The last day of school has been pushed later by several days to a
week, or more, in almost all districts.
I am sharing this information because it impacts summer
vacation and travel. Both time available and plans that had already been made.
It is also heavy on my mind because special education schools that already have
an “extended year” program (the equivalent of summer school as a part of the
normal curriculum) seem to be taking a really heavy hit.
In other words, because I work in an extended year school
setting, I am only having a long weekend as a break for our first summer break.
You see, we typically have 7 - 14 days off in June and a slightly longer break in the late summer,
before the public school year resumes.
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| Overlook at Green Ridge State Forest |
Like most humans, because I feel restricted, I suddenly want
it all. I can’t stop thinking about
what I could be doing if I had the time.
We have so many highly rated places to see and things to do in this
area. I’ve only scratched the surface
of things to see and I want to return to every one of the places I’ve already
experienced.
Only one long weekend for break. Oh the decisions I need to
make.
I could head to the mountains for a week of primitive
camping and hiking at Green Ridge State Forest in western Maryland. A place so beautiful and diverse that I
would live there if I could.
I could head to the beach, dig my toes into the warm sand,
and hang out with the ponies at Assateague Island. Of course, this time I would stop and sit a spell at the beautiful visitor center
on my way in.
Maybe I will finally book my maiden visit at the Treehouse Camp at Maple Tree Campgound. I rarely want to stay at a campground that isn’t primitive tent camping, but I really want
to stay here.
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| orchids at Longwood Gardens |
Or I could finally visit the New River Gorge area in West Virginia via Adventures on the Gorge, which is a high
priority place on my bucket list. My son went white water rafting there and had nothing but good things to say. I can't wait to go for myself. I may or may not be brave enough for white water rafting, luckily there are many things to do and see in that area.
Maybe I’ll wander back up to Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania for a
picnic among the flowers and fountains with stop by at Brandywine Museum and to remind myself of the talent of Andrew Wyeth on the way home.
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| water sports at Hammerman |
Fortunately, if all else fails, I will be able to use that
long weekend (provided it doesn’t snow – just kidding!) at one of my favorite Baltimore county parks such as Hammerman or Pretty Boy Reservoir. Maybe I will be able to get my new Kayak
into the water.
You see, I want to do it all. The fewer days I have, the
more I want to do. Whether it is a
week long vacation a good distance from home, a staycation near home, or a
quick day trip just around the corner, there are so many great places to see in the mid-Atlantic. These are only a few.
Image Credit: Images are mine ©Dawn Rae – All Rights
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