Hanover, PA Outdoor Activities
Recommended Outdoor Activities by Groupon Customers
Across Paintball Adventure Park's 36 acres and 12 fields, adrenaline-packed moments occur every Saturday and Sunday. Their three woodsball fields present a jungle-warfare-like environment, whereas the Village centers around a two-story wooden castle with elevated bridges, watchtowers, and paint-breathing dragons. Other battlegrounds challenge players' tactical skills as they maneuver through obstacles to flank the opposition and take the hill, or slip through the tight quarters of the six airball fields. Before battles, paintballers can also gear up at the shop with everything from paintball markers to protective gear, and groups of 10 and more can prowl the fields during private parties.
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.
Hidden throughout the 6-acre corn maze at River Valley Ranch are nine map fragments. Using these clues, lucky visitors can find the hidden bridge to exit the maze, only to discover a whole host of fall-themed activities to get lost in. From hayrides and pony rides to a moon bounce and a classic pumpkin patch, Maizefest takes advantage of every aspect of the fall harvest. Adults and older kids can race each other towards victory in an inflatable obstacle course, while smaller kids have their own corny fun inside homemade corn boxes, that are kind of like sandboxes, but with more corn. Should all that fall-themed fun kindle an appetite, the ranch also offers snacks or full meals at the concession stand, with options including homemade chili, barbecue, and funnel cakes.
Rolling hills and meadows cascade toward the organic-farming grounds that surround Paris Barns, where red-roofed buildings and metallic grain silos stand as pleasant punctuations against the lush landscape. The Virginian soil hosts more than 1,500 tomato plants, as well as other seasonal vegetables and herbs. The grounds also act as a certified wildlife habitat for goats, lambs, and alpacas, as well as more exotic animals such as flightless emus, which entertain visitors with their aggressive posturing and spot-on Groucho Marx impersonations.
In addition to harvesting their crops, the zen-minded farmers share their passion for sustainable living with the community at events and workshop that dish the ins and outs of organic farming. When the weather turns warm, the staffers shear wool from the resident sheep and alpacas, demonstrate crafts, and sell fiber-based arts. Meanwhile, beekeepers raid rows upon rows of hives for pure, organic honey.
Hemmed into the shadows of the Blue Ridge Mountains outside Bluemont, Virginia, family-run Great Country Farms spans 200 acres and is still growing. Here, the Zurschmeide family welcomes visitors to dip their toes into farm living on land that churns out produce including blackberries, peaches, pumpkins, and potatoes.
A multitude of attractions sprawl across the farm's grounds, from mazes to hayrides to a barnyard full of friendly cows, chickens, and pigs waiting for a handful of tasty feed or a blank check they can use to upgrade to the penthouse pen. Each season presents a variety of pick-your-own-produce opportunities as well as a full calendar of events at the farm, including Mother’s Day celebrations in the spring, barbecues in the summer, and a Cider Festival in the fall. When not hosting its own events, the farm opens its facilities to special gatherings such as weddings and birthdays.
