AFRAM this year! Be there or be square. The park sees the largest influx of people during the year…read more Food, music, and culture.

Came for a cookout at a pavillion. Nice long drive around the lake. pavilions were spaced out, with…read morechildren being able to play on the grounds safely.

Cromwell is such a magical place for me and my family! We come here on rainy days and on sunny days…read moreas well! There is so much to do no matter the season. I'm always looking for something to do with my toddler on rainy days and the nature center is the perfect place to get out of the house for a bit. Whether you want to wander on a trail, visit the nature center, pack a picnic and sit on the grass, or attend an event, Cromwell has so many options. There is something to do for all ages! The events they organize for children and adults are thoughtful and engaging! We have all learned so much through their educational programs. My 3 yr old loves to visit the chickens and play in the nature center. It is such a great place to go on a rainy day! The parking lot is a short walking distance to the entrance of the nature center. On sunny days, we like to pack snacks and sit out on their picnic tables and/or grass. Their outdoor playground is so much fun too! We love exploring the gardens, visiting the frogs and seeing all the flowers bloom. It's so peaceful and relaxing to sit and listen to all the sounds of nature. On warm days, Cromwell is the perfect place to throw rocks in the stream and dip your feet in the water after hiking on the many trails! There are so many shaded spots to sit and relax. We love to go to the open fields to bring a soccer ball and a picnic blanket. Everyone who works there is so friendly and inclusive! It really is a magical place to explore and wander. My son has developed a deep love for nature through exploring the nature center and the park! We can't wait to come back!

Can't believe I've never come across this park before! I wanted to go for a walk after running some…read moreerrands and looked up nearby parks and decided to go this one. So happy I went! It's a beautiful, wide open area with plenty of space to walk. There's also trails but I didn't explore that part because I wasn't wearing the right shoes and didn't know how to get to the trail itself. I love the history about the apple orchard trees and will definitely be coming back.

What a nice day for a walk. It's springtime and the sights are simply gorgeous! It's also a great…read moreplace to exercise.

One of my fav lakes to walk around. It does get bush on the weekend but if you go early you have…read morethe lake to yourself. I love the days I get there early enough to see the mist rising off the water and all the animals are still around and active. I love walking my dog here as well There's an also a nice playground for the kids.

Absolutely love coming here. Good fishing amazing views the boat rental place has great service and…read moregood people working there.

Such a beautiful place for an easy hike. My friends and I did an easy 6.5 mil hike here at Loch…read moreRaven Reservoir. No hiking sticks needed. Long trails. Some muddy areas, not much. Lots of water to see. Fun fact: I didn't know but Loch Raven Reservoir supplies drinking water for the city of Baltimore!! The Reservoir is pretty popular on Saturdays and Sunday morning, early before 9am. I've never been during the week so I'm not sure of the traffic during those times. 5 stars! Heading back with my bike

A county-managed natural preserve right in the middle of the county. It's over 1000 acres and has…read moreseveral miles of trails. The official parking location right off Trotter Road looks more like a national park facility than one of our humble county ones- lots of spaces, landscaping, informational signage, and bathrooms. There's an educational nature trail (grab the brochure on your way onto the trail), a good place to bring a family you're teaching to love the natural world. Lots of lovely old poplar trees. The north end of the park has "deep woods" vibes since unlike other local parks, there's no mountain bikers, no horses, no picnicers, and the river is a good walk away. Plus a large buffer zone extended north from there. Until a jet on final approach to BWI roars overhead to break the spell. There's riverfront access along the Connector trail. Respect the signage regarding closed areas. Most of the trails seemed suitable for runners. Note the trails around the Meadow on the map is mowed into the fields, which makes for a different experience underfoot (not my favorite personally). The parking lot is gated with signage saying it closes at sunset. However, the gate is powered and gave the impression it's the kind that won't lock you in- but best to check with the county to verify that. The trails here weren't my favorite (PVSP trails are more interesting to hike), but having such a substantial greenspace and nature preserve right in the middle of the county is great, and having it quiet and natural is even better. We in central Maryland are lucky to have so many of these kinds of spots.

My bf and I LOVE hiking here. The trails are mostly fairly easy/moderate and there are several…read morepaths you can take. As with most hiking places, be careful after it rains since it can get very muddy in some places. I also really appreciate that right next to the parking lot are clean bathrooms with running water and water fountains. The trails are fairly well marked and there are also maps available. There were also pamphlets of a list of all the different species of birds that live in area which was a pleasant surprise! My favorite part is the meadow area with really tall grass. But there were a couple of bird houses and once we saw many swallows (I think?) flying in the area and perching on the bird houses. Parts of the trail also go alongside the stream (I think the middle Patuxent river) and it's a very serene area and walk. We have already came here to hike a handful of times and plan to come back in the near future for more relaxing hikes!

Centennlal Park is a large free community park on a lake, with hiking, a playground, picnic tables,…read moretennis and racketball courts, baseball field, pavilions, restrooms, and fishing, with some rentable equipment like canoes and paddleboats and a food vendor during warmer seasons. Concerts, too. Plenty of parking off Clarksville Pike, and more off Centennial Lane, with a small area off Old Annapolis Rd. We took some visitors with kids to the North Centennial Park area off Old Annapolis Rd to play on the swings and climbers. And a drink from the water fountain. The simple pleasures :-). Great fun, not too crowded on a spring-like day during an otherwise cold March 2026. On the Howard County website, you have to dig around for activities and parks,. Then use the interactive parks link to find parks and specifically Centennial Park. There's a map-logo link that is a great way to see what's here and exactly where it is. And we noticed that the map app we all use claimed there is a $165 fee! No way! Totally free admission to the whole park. Maybe you can rent some of the facilities. That weird ticket link in the map app is actually the reason i decided to review the park. If anyone knows how to convince the map app to tell people that this park is free, please have at it. I could not find a way.

This area is another great part of this park. The playground is great for families with children…read more There is a skate park, courts, and a walking path. The exercise area is wonderful for those over 13. It is not a play area though. Exercising in the fresh air is great and people are considerate.

One of my favorite place to stop and touch grass connect with nature listen to the water, watch the…read moreducks and just be still. SO calming and relaxing, during my late visit i did notice that you are able to take a water taxi, not sure of where is goes but im sure its a nice ride on the water so i'm definitely going to checking that out this summer.

A beautiful, open land in Canton with fun events, views of Baltimore, and good vibes. Canton…read moreWaterfront Park has been the place to be, especially during the summer. Enjoy First Thursdays during the summer months, food trucks, and other fun events. Sit and have a picnic with friends, or just stroll through during your next walk. Conveniently located in Canton, allowing you to enjoy the park is every way. Parking is available on the street or in the little lot (if there are no events going on) and there is a park bathroom there, as well. My favorite part is enjoying the view of the water, seeing the sails come by, and admiring the boats that are cruising through or pulling up to the waterfront docks!

Been here a few times for tennis and just walking around. The park is usually fairly busy between…read morethe paths, the skate park, the kid's playground, the basketball courts and the tennis courts. It's a little distracting to play tennis there during peak times- there's a lot of activity between the planes, the highway, people smoking pot in the picnic areas, and once there were even kids on ATVs riding around loudly. Sometimes people blast music in the parking lot for absolutely no reason. For awhile there was a creepy old guy who lived in his truck in the parking lot and would make me super uncomfortable being there if alone, but he wasn't there the last two times I've been- maybe he has moved on. But overall, it is great that there is a place in the community for activities such as tennis and skating, and it seems to be well-maintained.

This was a nice park. I came here for an early evening walk with a friend. The walking trail…read moresurrounded the baseball fields and the basketball and tennis courts. It's not a very long walking trail. It was good enough for what we wanted, just to get a good few laps in for exercise. At the time, the park was busy with people playing tennis and basketball. There were a few little league baseball practices going on as well. The parking is another story. If you do not get there at a decent time, you could end up parking along the side of the playing fields or in the grass outside of the park. Thankfully, we were able to get a parking spot. If you live in the area, it's a nice park to visit. Just be aware that after work hours during the week, parking could be an issue. On top of that, the park could get really crowded.