Real Mom Review: Heavy Metal Playground

My husband, Brian, has been waiting for this day for months - the opportunity to pilot his very own excavator at Heavy Metal Playground! He's always dreamed of operating and playing on heavy equipment. Today was the day he'd finally be able to climb up in the cab of an excavator to dig holes, scoop dirt, stack tires and make a muddy mess.

Heavy Metal Playground is located about an hour's drive west of Baltimore and about 90-minutes northwest of Washington, DC. We took I-70 the whole way. It was super simple to find - less than a mile from the exit for Boonsboro. As you approach, the bright yellow excavators make it easy to spot on the left side of the road. We parked just a few steps away and were greeted by Mark Stevanus, the founder and owner. We spent a few minutes signing waivers and reviewing safety training.

Then it was time to put on headsets - so we could stay in constant communication with Mark throughout the process. We climbed in the cabs of the equipment, got our seat belts on and started up the engines.

On the headsets, Mark talked us through the controls and we immediately began digging in the dirt, sloshing in the mud and stacking tires. It didn't take us long at all to get accustomed to the controls, but the true test of our abilities came when it was time to play basketball against each other.

Learning how to operate heavy equipment in a matter of minutes is a challenge in itself, but the challenge reaches an entirely different level when you're competing to grab a basketball with the claw of the excavator, then swing around and perfectly position the claw to drop the basketball in the middle of a tire. The winner gets to proudly honk his or her horn. I didn't actually do any of the honking today... but I still had a blast!

Here's some info to know before you go:

• Anybody age 8 and up can participate! Please note that participants ages 8 - 11 must call to book, while those ages 12+ can book on the website. The CertifiKID offer provides additional information about how to book your reservation.
• Make sure you wear closed-toe shoes that can get dirty and comfortable clothes. 

~ Leslie Silverman

Leslie is a member of Team CertifiKID. She received free admission to Heavy Metal Playground in exchange for her honest review. 

CertifiKID was founded by a mom with a passion for helping parents provide the best experiences for their children on a budget. From outings to adventures, classes to camps, theater to sporting events, amusement parks to getaways, CertifiKID provides the best family-friendly experiences at unbeatable prices. Click HERE to sign up for family-friendly deals in your area and start saving!

Tags: heavy equipment family fun kids birthday parties team building