Explore a National Park
photos courtesy of the inn at Bowman’s hill, National park service & The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium
Live the Suite Life The Inn at Bowman’s Hill, a nine-time AAA four-diamond award winner in New Hope, Pennsylvania, sits on 5 gorgeously manicured acres next to a wildflower preserve that’s awash in vibrant colors during the spring. Each of the four rooms and four suites at the inn features a king-size featherbed, fireplace and opulent bathroom. The Penthouse Suite—one of two newer suites at the hotel—has a shower that earned a spot on USA Today’s 2015 list of the “10 Hottest Hotel Showers for Two.” The suite’s oversize bathroom includes a two-person steam shower with multiple showerheads and a corner heated whirlpool tub with a ceiling that features 300 fiber-optic stars. Slightly more formal, the “General Washington” is the inn’s other new suite. It features leather reading chairs and a heated whirlpool tub beneath windows overlooking the grounds. Additional inn perks include a gourmet fireside breakfast, swimming in the outdoor heated pool (opens in March) and an in-suite couple’s massage. Inn rates range from $395 to $895 per night. 518 Lurgan Road, New Hope, Pennsylvania; 215-862-8090; www.theinnatbowmanshill.com
The National Park Service, which was created on Aug. 25, 1916, through an act of Congress signed by President Woodrow Wilson, is celebrating its centennial with events and a #FindYourPark social-media program for sharing personal park adventures. Though many parks offer free admission year-round, take advantage of no-fee entry at all 400-plus spots during National Park Week, April 16-24. Spring events in the midAtlantic region include the Valley Forge Revolutionary 5-mile Run in Pennsylvania, West Virginia’s Wildflower Weekend at New River Gorge and hundreds of other opportunities. Search www.findyourpark.com for listings by state. Kids can participate in Junior Ranger programs and earn badges for hikes, art projects and even dressing up as a Continental soldier. In addition, the White House’s Every Kid in a Park initiative (www.everykidinapark.gov) offers a free National Park pass, good through Aug. 31, for all fourth-graders and their families to experience our country’s natural treasures.
Find Beachside Adventure With a new oceanfront hotel and two new adventures nearby, Virginia Beach is a good option for a close-to-home spring break. Don a jumpsuit for a free-fall adrenaline rush at indoor iFLY Virginia Beach (www.iflyworld.com/virginia-beach), which opened last year. Vertical wind tunnels (in giant tubes) create wind speeds that give you the sensation of skydiving. Opened in 2014, The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium (virginiabeachadventurepark.com) has multiple zip lines and aerial trails through the forest that vary in difficulty for thrill-seekers ages 5 and older. A harness and two hooks ensure that you’re tethered to a cable at all times. Rest on cushy semicircular sofas overlooking Virginia Beach’s boardwalk at the Hilton Garden Inn (www.hiltongardeninnvirginiabeach.com). The hotel, which opened in 2014, features 167 large oceanfront rooms and suites, an indoor/outdoor pool separated by a rising glass door, and Lager Heads, a beachside pub-style restaurant with a patio. Rates from $179 per night. BethesdaMagazine.com | MARCH/APRIL 2016 333
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