Where You Need to Visit Before School Starts

August means the end of summer and the start of school is right around the corner. While you might feel you need to cram each weekend full of school supply shopping, there are still other fun, educational opportunities to be had.

Take your kids and travel back to the Civil War, hike through historic trails while looking for wildlife, or spend a day seeing American history in the eyes of a Marine. Educational opportunities are endless with this list of both fun and informative places to visit before the school doors open

Manassas National Battlefield Park

The pages of your child’s history book will come to life as you walk through the 5,000 acres of hallowed ground. Home to two major Civil War battles, you can touch the cannons that once erupted. Step inside the artifact-filled museum and learn how your kids can become enrolled in the Junior Ranger Program. Kids can take part in the cell-phone guided TRACK Trails adventures which lets them explore the Stone Bridge Loop Trail for a self-guided, outdoor adventure.

National Museum of the Marine Corps

This free museum lets people of all ages experience American history  through the eyes of the Marines.  Attend boot camp and stand before a drill sergeant for your first day of training. Kids can complete the gallery scavenger hunt or learn more about the Marines with the fun topic worksheets. Afterwards enjoy a tasty meal in the museum’s Devil Dog Diner.

Ben Lomond Historic Site

Explore the plantation home which served as a Civil War Hospital and learn about Civil War medicine practices as your kids handle the tools doctors used to treat the wounded. Try on period clothing and see graffiti which soldiers left behind on the walls. Also on site, you can discover one of the only public slave quarters left in Northern Virginia.

Manassas Museum

Visit the quaint museum tucked away in Historic Downtown Manassas to learn about the history of Northern Virginia starting with the Native Americans. See how this once sleepy railroad town was a major player in the Civil War.  After visiting the museum, explore Historic Downtown Manassas, filled with charming boutiques and locally-owned restaurants.

Leesylvania State Park

Spend the day with your kids enjoying the great outdoors! Borrow a free field pack and begin exploring the more than 580 acres! The field packs contain different self-guided hikes and provides the materials you need to do activities like bird watching, insect hunting, and identifying rocks and fossils.

From hands-on museums to outdoor adventures, there are numerous attractions the whole family can enjoy just 30 miles outside Washington, D.C.   Each place provides a lesson without the textbook, which will make them want to learn more! Prince William & Manassas is the perfect destination for any parent looking for fun, educational activities this August.

To learn more about our attractions and things to do in Prince William & Manassas please visit discoverpwm.com Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/pwcmanassas and show us how you make a memory in Prince William & Manassas with #discoverpwm.