Laurel Patuxent River Trail

From the visitors center, start on the Fire Road trail. From there, it's a choose-your-own adventure (choose-your-own ecosystem, actually). Pick the Laurel and Valley Trails to stay in the quiet (and maybe enchanted? It felt enchanted) forest. Goose Pond trail is a short jut to a--yup--pond, where herons pose for instagram-worthy shots. Cash Lake loop is the star of the show. Nesting boxes and ...

Park on the shoulder of Landing Drive (see map) to access the trailhead. This trail is open April-September. Dogs allowed on leash. 

This hike is a great place to escape the city feel of Baltimore and disappear into the wilderness. Enter through the Avalon Area entrance. There is a cash fee to enter the park. Once you pass the front gate continue past the initial picnic area. Continue through the park to the Orange Grove Area and park here. There is a bathroom near by and a map of the number of different of trailheads to ch...

Park at the Meadowside Nature Center to Access the trailhead. This is a 3.4 mile loop with opportunities for birding and observing wildlife. Dogs are welcome on leash. 

The Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens are a unique spot in Washington, D.C. The grounds are full of ponds, boardwalks, and a trail that connects you to the Anacostia River Trail. The main draw of this park are the ponds full of lotus flowers. During the summer months, they grow tall with colors ranging from white to deep pink. In other ponds, there are white, pink, and purple water lilies. One of the ...

This is an out-and-back trail that starts and ends on different roads, but you will have better luck parking on Albemarle Street NW (where I have indicated the trailhead is on the map). This is a long street with plenty of street parking, just pay attention to the signs to see how long you can leave your car there.The trail head is hard to miss - There is a sign on the side of the road that say...