The Best things To Do With Kids In Deep Creek Lake, MD In Every Season

Looking for the perfect four season family getaway within a short drive from Pittsburgh and the Washington DC Metro area? Deep Creek Lake, Maryland is the place! These are the top things to do with kids in Deep Creek Lake in every season!

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Year-Round THINGS TO DO For Kids in Deep Creek

Swallow Falls Canyon Trail

Swallow Falls Canyon Trail is an easy, kid-friendly 1 mile round trip hike that takes you through 4 water falls. Muddy Creek Falls–the tallest waterfall in the state of Maryland, lower Swallow Falls, Upper Swallow Falls and Tolliver Falls. This is a year-round activity because every season is spectacular at Swallow Falls.

In winter, it is a breathtaking winter wonderland with snow covered trees, streams and waterfalls. In very cold temperatures, the waterfalls will completely freeze, which is really neat to see. You will want to wear snow boots when you visit in the winter. In the spring, the falls are usually running pretty hard, giving another unique perspective.

Summer is a lot of fun at Swallow Falls. During the summer, wear a swim suit and bring water shoes to wade in the river and even venture behind the falls. We like these water shoes because they have a sturdy sole, which is important for walking on rocky ground. Also, the rocks in the water can be very slippery, so having shoes with traction helps. Bring water, and a lightweight towel to dry off with.

Fall is the most beautiful season to visit Swallow Falls. When the leaves are at peak, it is really breathtaking.

DEEP CREEK FUN ZONE

Head to Deep Creek Fun Zone for family friendly fun! Fun Zone offers something for everyone in your family. They have two go-kart tracks, bumper boats, miniature golf, laser tag, a ninja factory and the Fun Zone arcade, which features over 50 games!

Deep Creek Fun Zone is also a restaurant, so stay for lunch or dinner. They do offer dining & game packages. Check out this You Tube video on Deep Creek Fun Zone.

DEEP CREEK FUNLAND

Deep Creek Funland is another option for family fun. Funland has miniature golf, go-karts, bumper cars, a carousel, a climbing wall and an arcade. They also offer offer dining, their menu has pizza, sandwiches and salads.

FUN UNLIMITED

The Fun Unlimited arcade is fun for all ages! Boasting over 100 games both vintage and modern games, there is something for everyone at this arcade. Adults can BYOB into the arcade, too.

DISCOVERY CENTER AT DEEP CREEK STATE PARK

Take your kids to the Discovery Center at Deep Creek Lake State Park. The Discovery Center features exhibits, children’s programs, an aviary, special events and a gift shop.

MOUNTAIN COASTER AT WISP

Take a ride on the Mountain Coaster at Wisp Resort. The Mountain Coaster is a lot of fun for all ages. Children between the ages of 3 and 8 can ride with an adult. The coaster cars have manual brakes that the rider controls, so you can go as fast or as slow as you are comfortable with. The coaster is open year round, but if you go in winter, be sure to dress for the cold! Check out this video from a rider’s POV on the mountain coaster.

INDOOR POOL, GYM & BASKETBALL COURTS AT CARC

Kids love to swim! In cold weather, get a day pass to Garrett Community College’s CARC (Community Aquatic and Recreation Center). CARC has two indoor pools, a competition pool, kept at 80 degrees, and a warm pool, kept at 90 degrees. There is also a state of the art gym and basketball courts. Some vacation rentals come with a pass to CARC, so if you are renting a home, be sure to check before purchasing a pass. Click the link above for information on purchasing a day pass.

CANDYLAND

Candyland in Oakland is one of Deep Creek’s hidden gems and kid-heaven!. This store is home to over 900 varieties of candy, including throw-back, nostalgic candies dating back to the 1950’s. If you can think of a type of candy, they probably have it! The majority of the candies can be mixed in a pay-per-pound form, while others are sold individually. Candyland is a treat for all ages!

OAKLAND B&O TRAIN MUSEUM

If you have any kids that love trains, definitely check out the Oakland B&O Train Museum. You can tour the museum on your own or sign up for a guided tour of both the museum and the trains.

BOWLING AT THE ALLEY

The Alley is Deep Creek’s only bowling alley. With 12 lanes of bowling, they also offer shuffle board, pool tables, darts and arcade games. Spend an afternoon bowling as a family!

ESCAPE ROOMS AT WISP RESORT

For older kids, the escape rooms at Wisp Resort are a lot of fun. The price is per group of up to 10 people, so you can play as a family. Check out Wisp Escape Games.

DEEP CREEK POTTERY

Bring the kids to Deep Creek Pottery to paint their own pottery. This is a fun activity for all ages!

GARRETT 8 CINEMAS MOVIE THEATER

Is there a popular kids movie currently in theaters? Garrett 8 Cinemas is located across the street from the Honi Honi and Uno’s Restaurant, giving you the option of doing a meal and a movie! This is a good rainy day activity, too.

LAUREL CAVERNS

If you are up for a day trip, drive to Laurel Caverns-Pennsylvania’s biggest cave. Laurel Caverns is only an hour drive from Deep Creek and features over four miles of cave passageways for your kids to explore.

Almost Year-Round Activities for Kids in Deep Creek

These activities are great for all of the seasons except winter!

HORSEBACK RIDING

Circle R Ranch and Western Trails both offer horseback riding for kids ages 7 and up in Deep Creek. There are pony rides for children under age seven.

ATV RENTALS

For older kids, go on a guided ATV tour with Western Trails! You can drive the ATV and your kids can ride along as you follow your guide through the trails at Western Trails.

HIKE THE ROCK MAZE

The Rock Maze hike is a lot of fun for kids! This easy 1 mile roundtrip hike takes you to maze of boulders that you can climb, navigate the passageways between and is really fun for all ages! The hike is flat and suitable for even very young kids. Use this address in your GPS to access the trail: 3739 Snaggy Mountain Rd, Oakland, MD 21550.

MINIATURE GOLF AT WISP RESORT

Wisp has opened a new miniature golf course at the bottom of the mountain. The kid-friendly 9 hole course features ponds, fountains and bridges and costs $14 per player. There is also an 18 hole course at the top of the mountain that includes a chair lift ride.

SCENIC CHAIR LIFT RIDES

Wisp opens it chair lift in spring, summer and fall for scenic chair lift rides. Ride the chairlift with your kids and see the views of Deep Creek Lake from above!

ARCHERY AT WISP RESORT

Children ages 8 and over can channel their inner Katniss Everdeen with a friendly archery competition with friends at Wisp Resort’s Archery.

FRISBEE GOLF AT WISP RESORT

Wisp resort offers two disc golf courses. The more family friendly 9 hole course is at the base of the mountain. There is an 18 hole course at the top of the mountain that includes a chair lift ride. Discs are available to rent or you can bring your own. Click here for more information on frisbee golf at Wisp.

GEM MINING

Gem mining is a lot of fun for kids and Deep Creek Lake offers two different locations for gem mining. Sacred Ground Gem Mining is located next to Lakeside Creamery and overlooks the lake. Wisp Resort also offers gem mining.

ROPES COURSES

The Chipmunk Challenge Ropes Course is located at Wisp Resort and is geared towards young children. It is not high up off of the ground like other ropes courses, but they do get tethered in and it is a fun introduction to ropes courses. Wisp also offers the Spider Monkey Ropes Course, which is a standard high ropes course for older kids (6 and over) who want the full experience. Monkey Business, located across from Deep Creek Marina, offers a regular-size ropes course for your super adventurous kids, age 7 and up. For the less adventurous kids, they also offer a Mini Monkey Business course . Zip-lining is also available at both Monkey Business and Wisp Resort.

SCHOOLHOUSE EARTH PETTING ZOO

Bring the kids to Schoolhouse Earth to feed goats and sheep. This is fun for the kids and the parents can also do some fabulous shopping inside the store!

YORKIE ACRES FARM

Your kids will love getting to tour the Yorkie Acres Farm and interact with all of their animals. Make an appointment for your visit ahead of time by clicking here.

WILDOM FARM

Wildom Farm is a farm store that also offers tours by appointment and a chance for kids to interact with the animals. Check out their website for more information.

SumMer activities FOR KIDS in Deep Creek Lake

Be sure to check out these fun lake games, floats, toys and accessories on my Amazon Storefront! This Amazon idea list has so many things to keep kids entertained at the lake!

For a complete list and guide to summer activities in Deep Creek, check out my post The Ultimate Guide to Summer at Deep Creek Lake.

THE BEACH AT DEEP CREEK STATE PARK

Spend the day at the beach with your kids at Deep Creek Lake State Park. The beach has a lifeguard and roped-off swimming areas. There are also playgrounds, picnic areas complete with grills, and a basketball court. Wisp has a beach hut there where you can buy ice cream, rent paddle boards and kayaks. There are also bathroom buildings. The cost to get into the state park is $3 per Maryland resident and $5 per non-Maryland resident. You can also purchase a multi-day pass or an annual pass for a discount.

Some tips for the beach:

1. The sand is soft, but the water is rocky. Bring water shoes. We like these water shoes as they have a sturdy sole.
2. Bring beach chairs, sand toys and rafts like these to float in.
3. Bring a cooler with drinks and snacks. This fold-flat cooler is easy to pack.
4. There are no trash cans in the park, so bring a trash bag and take your trash with you when you leave.

GO INNER TUBING ON A BOAT

Rent a boat and an inner tube to take your kids inner tubing on Deep Creek Lake! This is a fun activity for all ages! Some important things to know about inner tubing on Deep Creek Lake:

1. You can not pull anyone on a tube under either of the bridges. Avoid the bridges when tubing and if you have to drive under a bridge, you need to pull the person on the tube out of the water first.

2. Don’t inner tube on the main “channel” of the lake. That is where the most boat traffic is and it is not as safe for tubing and swimming. Use the “fingers” of the lake to inner tube where it is less congested with boats.

3. Everyone on the inner tube must wear a life jacket, even adults.

4. Designate hand signals before you start tubing. You can make up your own or use the standard hand signals: Thumbs up means faster, thumbs down means slower, pat top of your head for “I’m finished,” clasp hands over top of head in water to signal you are ok after a wipe out. These are important because you can’t hear the person on the inner tube while the boat is moving.

5. Be sure to have a designated spotter in the boat (that is not the driver) who is actively watching the person on the tube and looking for appropriate hand signals.

6. If the person falls off the tube, when you turn around to get them, always put the boat in neutral before approaching the swimmer. You don’t want the propeller spinning as you approach them.

Rent a boat from The Aquatic Center, Lake Life Rentals, Bills Marine or Silver Tree Marine.

Be sure to read my post Guide to Boating & Water Sports in Deep Creek Lake.

BROADFORD LAKE & PARK

Broadford Lake Park is a smaller lake located in Oakland, Maryland, near Deep Creek Lake. The park has a beach with a roped off swimming area for kids. It also has a playground, picnic tables, volleyball and basketball courts. Kayak and canoe rentals are also available.at Broadford Lake

HERRINGTON MANOR LAKE & PARK

Herrington Manor Lake, similar to Broadford Lake, is a small lake in Oakland, Maryland, near Deep Creek Lake. The lake has a beach with a roped off swimming area for kids. There is also a playground, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts. Canoes and kayaks are available to rent.

FAMILY FRIENDLY OUTDOOR CONCERTS AT STAGE WISP

Wisp has free outdoor concerts every Wednesday in the summer from 6:30-9:00pm at Stage Wisp. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Food and drinks (both adult drinks and kid drinks) are available for purchase on the patio. There is also a farmers market at Stage Wisp.

GARRETT COUNTY AGRICULTURAL FAIR

The Garrett County Agricultural Fair is usually held the first week of August and is really fun activities for kids. The fair features exhibits, a carnival, concerts, tractor pull, a rodeo and more! For more information, check out their website.

LITTLE YOUGH’S FAMILY FLICKS

Take your kids to Downtown Oakland to see Little Yough’s Family Flicks. This is a free summer movie series, held in the pavilion. There is seating, but you can also bring. chair in case the seats are taken. Check out their website for more information.

FALL ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS IN DEEP CREEK LAKE

For a complete guide to fall activities in Deep Creek Lake, read The Top Idyllic Things to do in Fall at Deep Creek Lake.

AUTUMN GLORY CARNIVAL AND PARADE

The Autumn Glory Festival is a fun, family friendly event. It is usually held the second week of October and features a carnival and a parade, in addition to a lot of other activities. The carnival and parade are a lot of fun for kids. Be sure to check out the Autumn Glory Festival website for more details.

ALPACA FARMS FALL ON THE FARM

The Alpaca Farm turns into a pumpkin patch in the fall, complete with a bounce pillow, mountain slides and campfires. A fun way to spend the day for those with kids and those who are kids at heart!

COVE RUN CORN MAZE

Cove Run Corn Maze is a popular destination for kids in the fall. Cove Run is located in Accident on the north side of Deep Creek Lake.

Winter Kids Activities in Deep Creek Lake

Check out this list of winter essentials for Deep Creek on my Amazon Storefront!

Click here for the Top Things To Do in Winter in Deep Creek Lake.

SKIING OR SNOWBOARDING AT WISP RESORT

Wisp Resort has a great ski school and lessons. I highly recommend utillizing the ski or snowboard lessons/school to teach your kids how to ski and board. Learning proper technique makes a big difference, even if they are only skiing once or twice a year. All 3 of my kids learned to ski at Wisp Resort when they were young. Click here for Everything You Need To Know About Skiing and Snowboarding at Wisp Resort.

SNOW TUBING AT WISP RESORT

Kids love snow tubing at Wisp Resort! The resort provides the tubes, but you do need to book tickets well in advance. Also, remember to bring snow boots for tubing! Purchase snow tubing tickets here.

ICE SKATING AT JTF RINK

Head to the nearby town of Grantsville (just a 20 minute drive from Deep Creek Lake) for some festive outdoor ice skating. The JTF Ice Rink, located at Granstville Town Park, offers public skate sessions, private and group lessons and party reservations. Ice skates, helmets and skate aids are available to rent. Be sure to book your visit in advance. Click here for ice skating reservations.

Sledding at Herrington Manor State Park

Herrington Manor State Park has trails designated just for sledding! These are unique from most sledding places because they are trails that meander through the woods, not wide-open sledding hills. There are bumper pads on the base of the trees on the trail to prevent you from hitting any of the trees.

The sledding hill is unmarked. When you enter the park, make a left directly after the entrance booth. The sledding hill is just past the camp store on the right. Park at the playground across from the camp store. Be sure to bring your own sled or toboggan, and check out the park website for sledding conditions before you go.

Be sure to check out The Top Mistakes to Avoid in Deep Creek Lake in Winter and What To Pack For Winter in Deep Creek Lake.

TOP Kid-friendly restaurants in Deep Creek

These Deep Creek restaurants have kids menus and are kid-friendly:

Uno’s Bar & Grill
Ace’s Run
Mountain State Brewing
Green Turtle
Moonshadow
Deep Creek Fun Zone
Deep Creek Funland
Pine Lodge Steakhouse

Restaurants that do not have kids menus (but fantastic for adults-they are my 2 favorite restaurants in Deep Creek!)
1. Firewater Kitchen & Bar
2. Pawn Run

Check out my post “The Top Restaurants in Deep Creek, Maryland” for a full look at the best restaurants by category!

There are so many fun things to do for kids in Deep Creek Lake, it is the perfect place to make family memories! I’m so grateful that we have so many family memories with our kids in Deep Creek. Be sure to check out my other Deep Creek posts below!