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Baltimore attractions and things to do. Search by location or category.
 > Attractions > Art/Performance > Movies > Parks > Sports |
 Here is a listing of Maryland parks where you can enjoy nature and spend some time out of the urban grind. BY CAR www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/central/gunpowder.html Address: 2813 Jerusalem Rd.; Kingsville, MD Phone: 410-592-2897 Features: Biking trails, boat launch, boat rentals, cross-country skiing, interpretive programs, food and beverages, fishing, flatwater canoeing, hiking trails, historic interest, hunting, picnicking, playgrounds, equestrian trails, picnic shelters, swimming, whitewater canoeing, boardsailing lessons and equipment rental. Directions: Jerusalem Mill / Park Headquarters: Take I-95N to Exit 74 to go on Rt. 154W (Mountain Rd.). Follow this road west and make a left at Jerusalem Rd. Jerusalem Mill will be on your left side after about one mile; Hammerman Area: Take I-95N to exit 67A (Rt. 43E, White Marsh Blvd.) and follow Rt. 43 to Rt. 40 East. Turn right at the first light onto Ebenezer Road and follow it for 4.5 miles. The park entrance will be on your left. Bottom Line: (From the website) The 228-year old Jerusalem Mill, once the centerpiece of the thriving Quaker settlement of Jerusalem in the 18th and 19th centuries, operated continuously for nearly two centuries. Located on the banks of the Little Gunpowder Falls River in Harford County, both the Mill and the Village are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Jerusalem Mill was acquired by the state as part of Gunpowder Falls State Park in 1961 and now serves as the Park Headquarters and Visitor Center. North Point State Park www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/central/northpoint.html Address: c/o 2813 Jerusalem Rd.; Kingsville, MD Phone: 410-592-2897 Features: Hiking and biking trails, tidal fishing, flatwater paddling, birding, historic interests, picnicking and a visitor center. Directions: Follow 695 over Key Bridge to Exit 43 (Bethlehem Boulevard/Sparrows Point). Get off at Exit 43 and make left at first blinking light (Bethlehem Boulevard). Follow Bethlehem Boulevard/158 East for one mile to North Point Boulevard. Cross over North Point Boulevard onto North Point Road (Route 20). Follow Route 20 through Edgemere for 1.9 miles to park on left. Bottom Line: (From the website) North Point State Park is located on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and is surrounded by beautiful and fascinating natural and historical resources. The park has scenic views overlooking the water, a wading beach, a fishing pier and hiking trails that lead you around the park and through protected wildlands. Patapsco Valley State Park www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/central/patapscovalley.html Address: 8020 Baltimore National Pike; Ellicott City, MD Phone: 410-461-5005 Features: Fishing, flatwater and whitewater canoeing, hiking trails, hunting, equestrian trails, picnicking, nature and history study, mountain biking, cross-country skiing Directions: Hollofield Area: Take US-40 west 2 miles past I-695. The park entrance is to your right; Avalon Area: Take I-695 to Exit 12A (Rt. 1 South) and go south on Rt. 1 for 3 miles. Turn right on South St. and the park entrance is to your left. Bottom Line: (From the website) One of Maryland's first state parks (1907), Patapsco Valley State Park extends along 32 miles of the Patapsco River, encompassing 14,000 acres and five developed recreational areas. Recreational opportunities include hiking, fishing, camping, canoeing, horseback and mountain bike trails, as well as picnicking for individuals or large groups in the park's many popular pavilions. Rocks State Park www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/central/rocks.html Address: 3318 Rocks Chrome Hill Road; Jarretsville, MD Phone: 410-557-7994 Features: fishing, hiking, picnicking, canoeing and tubing, as well as bow hunting, rock climbing and repelling. Playgrounds, shelters, and comfort stations are available at each of the three picnic areas. Directions: Take I-95 north to Route 24 north exit. Continue north on Route 24 ; the park is located approximately 5 miles north of Forest Hill. Bottom Line: (From the website) Rocks has 855 acres of dense forests and massive boulders riding above Deer Creek. The King and Queen Seat, once a ceremonial gathering place of the Susquehannock Nation of Native Americans, is a natural 190 foot rock outcrop. This cliff, reached by scenic trails, affords a view of the rolling hills and farmland of Harford County. Also preserved on park property are many structural remains from the days when the Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad wound its way through Rocks, helping the farms and quarries of Northern Harford County to prosper. Other state parks further away: Elk Neck State Park, Patuxent River State Park, Seneca Creek State Park, Susquehanna State Park FURTHER AWAY Ocean City: Beacheswww.ocean-city.com Address: Dept. of Tourism: 4001 Coastal Highway; Ocean City, MD Phone: 800-OC-OCEAN Directions: Take I-95 or MD-295 south to I-695 east. Exit onto I-97S (Exit 4), then onto US-50 east. Cross the Bay Bridge and follow US-50E all the way to Ocean City. Estimated distance and time: 150 miles, 3 hours. Bottom Line: Maryland's most popular beach area and a summer vacation destination. Visit the famous Boardwalk, hang out at the beach, or just plain relax! |