Spring is the perfect time of year around the Chesapeake Bay—when the breeze is just right to take the family out to fly a kite.
April is National Kite Flying month and the Baltimore/Washington area offers plenty of great spots for flying a kite. Check the list below for six places known for open spaces and steady breezes. If you don’t have much time, however, you don’t have to go far to find a place to fly a kite.
“I personally would go to the soccer field at my local school,” says Chelsea Dorman, media relations director for the College Park Aviation Museum in College Park.
Six spots perfect for flying a kite
Centennial Park, Ellicott City
Free admission
This Howard County park is 325 acres and has a 2.4-mile paved path around its manmade lake. There are several open areas perfect for kite flying. When your kids are tired of holding the string, there are excellent playgrounds, picnic pavilions and boats for rent. There are also restroom facilities throughout the park.
Sandy Point State Park, Annapolis
$5 admission per person weekends; $4 weekdays May 1–Sept. 30. October–May, $3 per vehicle.
“This is a great beach with reliable wind and spectacular views of the 4-plus-mile twin bridges to Maryland’s Eastern Shore,” says Steve McKerrow, kite enthusiast from Annapolis.
The beaches on this 786-acre Maryland state park along the northwestern shore of the Chesapeake Bay offer plenty of space to fly kites. When the kids are finished watching the sky, they can play on playgrounds and explore trails and the Sandy Point Nature Center, which has a collection of local wildlife such as turtles, frogs and snakes along with hands-on displays.
Allen Pond Park, Bowie
Free admission
“There is a nice paved path around the pond that is great for flying, and there is a small bridge that goes up to an island with a gazebo that makes for a great resting spot,” says Eric Bernstein, who makes the half-hour drive from Baltimore because he enjoys walking his dog there and flying kites.
This 85-acre multi-use park also has fishing, picnic tables, ball fields and Opportunity Park, an accessible playground geared toward preschool and school-aged kids.
North Beach
Calvert County residents, $6 admission for kids, $9 for adults; Out of county, $10 for kids, $25 for adults. North Beach residents, free.
North Beach calls itself the Jewel of the Chesapeake Bay and is located in Calvert County. The town is known for a sandy beach with breezes perfect for first-time kite fliers. Kids can also explore the fishing pier or climb on the pirate ship playground when their attention wanes from kite flying. There are restaurants within walking distance of the beach and Bayside History Museum to check out.
Fort McHenry National Monument and History Shrine, Baltimore
Grounds are free; $15 for adults to enter historic area, kids are free.
It’s not unusual to see kite fliers on the huge green lawn that stretches from the fort to the lapping shores of Baltimore’s harbor. The lawn is great for picnicking, and visitors can stroll or bike along a path. They can also visit the fort, which is the site of the successful battle against the British during the War of 1812 and the birthplace of the National Anthem.
Grounds of the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C.
The Washington Monument on the Mall in Washington, D.C., is home to the Blossom Kite Festival, a longstanding tradition held in conjunction with the National Cherry Blossom Festival every spring. This year’s kite festival starts March 20.
Even when the festival is not in session, the spot is a family favorite for flying because of the wind. The Wings over Washington Kite Club, based in Washington, D.C., flies on the Washington Monument grounds on the first Sunday of every month and welcomes anyone interested in kiting to join them.
Kite Notes:
The Maryland International Kite Expo in Ocean City is usually held the end of April.
Join the Maryland Kite Society, the second oldest kite club in the U.S., to learn about making and flying kites and for alerts about upcoming kite festivals.
Read on for safety tips and kite flying basics!
Kite flying safety tips
Before heading out, share these safety tips with your children:
- Do not fly where there are overhead power lines, railroad tracks, roadways or highways because kites can become unpredictable and dive at any time.
- Do not fly during storms.
- Be careful not to scare animals like horses or nesting birds.
- Watch out for line burns, when the string passes too quickly in your hand. Wear gloves when flying a larger kite.
- Be aware of your surroundings, including what is behind you and in front of you.
- Never fly a sport kite in crowded areas.
Kite basics for newbies
- Start with a delta kite, which is a single line kite and easy to fly. Deltas are three-sided and between 4 and 20 feet across the base. These kites often come in patterns or designs like ladybugs, airplanes or seagulls that appeal to kids.
- Next try a dual line, stunt kite. These kites have two lines or strings and can be steered with simple hand movements and, for the most part, are easy to work. Pulling on the right hand will turn the kite to the right and vice versa.
- As you advance, expand your skills with a quad line kite that has two lines on each handle. These are more difficult to operate, but can fly backwards and even take off and land upside down. They are best known for stunts and high performance.
By Jamie Lober; updated 2023