Things to Do in Carlisle

Contrary to cartoon portrayals, visitors to Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Hagerstown need not fear having picnic baskets stolen by tie-sporting ursine bandits. Instead, they get to slip down a pair of 400-foot water slides in a heated pool with hydro-therapy jets, putt beneath the waterfalls of an 18-hole mini golf course, and zip through the 1,000-foot pedal-cart track of the Cindy 500 Speedway. Families can hone their soaking skills in preparation for laundry day at a pair of balloon-launcher battle stations, or master stealth with outdoor laser tag. Throughout the campground, visitors kindle excitement at facilities as varied as an outdoor theater, koi pond, and an arts-and-crafts center with ceramic painting and a stuff-it-yourself Create A Critter shop.

Campfire rings at each campsite—from big-rig spots with hookups to wooded tent zones—make it easy to roast s'mores without summoning the family dragon from his kennel. Cabins and cottages range from basic structures to luxury cabins with kitchens and cable TV. Nearby Boonsboro and Shepherdstown make historic and charming day trips, and campers can drive just over 75 miles to get to Baltimore or Washington, DC for big-city exploration.