Towson, Maryland

Because Palmer State Park is still under development (with no timeline given for its completion), there are only a few trails that meander through this 555-acre reserve. Palmer's official website offers a not-so-helpful topographical map, but the easiest way into the park that I could find was ne...

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, wher...

What is it with Harford County and its slew of awesome parks? Nestled in the Northeast corner of Maryland, between the Chesapeake Bay and the river it takes its name from, Susquehanna State Park is gorgeous. A couple miles and a world away from I-95, SSP is expansive and lush. There are 15 miles ...

The winter is the perfect time to explore this park as it does not draw in many visitors like it does in the summer months. You can walk along the sandy shores to photograph both the Chesapeake Bay Bridge as well as the bay itself. This is a very easy walk and could take you under 10 minutes and ...

There is no better way to travel into Annapolis then by under your own power on water.  Put in your kayak, canoe, or stand up paddle board at the Truxton Park Boat Launch (run by the City Parks Department) and paddle into downtown Annapolis on Spa Creek.  Pass other boaters, beautiful waterfront ...

I'll be honest. I wasn't expecting much from Codorus State Park. But, my Saturday was open and I wanted to go somewhere I wouldn't have to fight for legroom. I didn't need anything majestic--just some space. Codorus, centrally located in the picturesque hills of York County, PA, seemed to fit the...

The Mason-Dixon Trail is a 200-mile trail that begins and ends in Pennsylvania, passing through Maryland and Delaware along the way. The trail connects the AT to the Brandywine Trail and spends considerable time adjacent to the wide and wondrous Susquehanna River. One of the Mason-Dixon trail's m...

It's not too hard to find the Mill Creek Falls; you can see it from the parking lot. This is an ideal spot if you just need a quick fix of something beautiful.  From the road, follow the blue blazes of the Mason-Dixon Trail up the hill. After you admire and photograph the falls, consider hiking t...

This hike begins from the parking lot trailhead that is well-marked.  Be cautious - parking is limited and may be full on weekends, and the paved road suddenly ends at the parking lot entrance.  The path is crushed stone, wide, and relatively flat.  Dogs are welcome but must be on leashes.  On th...

Although the trails at Eastern Neck may be small in size (the longest is just over a mile) they're big on sights. It's practically impossible to visit the refuge and not see wildlife, particularly the dizzying number of avian species here. Visit during the winter to see the majestic Tundra Swan, ...

Most people visit Elk Neck to photograph the lighthouse, or access to the Bay (the throttle of speed boats is never far), but don't miss out on the trails. The three mile out-and-back White Banks Trail offers crazy-beautiful views of the Chesapeake as well as a moderately difficult workout. Park ...

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. 

Park in the lot off of Watkins Mill Road to access the trail. This hike is dog friendly and is accessible from March until November. 

Directions: Drive to Safe Harbor. From Safe Harbor, take River Road south to Green Hill Road--this road is very windy. Drive towards Shenk's Ferry Wildflower Preserve. When you reach the tunnel, park on either side of the tunnel. There isn't too much parking here so I'd suggest carpooling.The tra...

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 ...

Park in the lot (see map) and follow signage for the loop trail. This is not a highly trafficked trail so there may be sections that need some maintenance, but that won't get in the way of completing the hike.