Parking is a bit slim. Dont park in the grass. Automatic $50 ticket…read more Overall great place to bring family. Very shallow and calm water since it's Bayside. Beach is roomy. Nice view of the Bay Bridge.

Visited on a Sunday, nice parking area with modern restrooms that were open. Plenty of maintained…read moretrails with different views of the water, woods, marsh areas. Only really issue was trail signage, did not have a map (should have took a picture at entrance) so trail signage was not the greatist. The Map Legend at entrance did not have a legend that we saw so distance was a guess. Overall, nice park, be back in the Summer.

Attended a family reunion at indoor facility. The indoor space was very nice. Holding many people…read more Bathrooms right at entrance. Sadly there are no playground areas in the park. We couldn't find picnic tables either. So for us with little ones in tow, being outdoors wasn't a good experience. It's such a beautiful park hopefully a playground area is in the works.

This is a great hidden park It's very quiet and clean and…read moreeveryone is very friendly. They have a peer that you can go fishing on as well as crabbing and they also have a kid friendly outdoor pool which is separate from where the pier is located. It's very inexpensive only three dollars to enter and everyone is nice. I've never had any problems and the kids are super friendly Cash Only (it's not posted on the web site) and be ready to have a lot of fun!!

So cute! A darling little beach with good nature trails just an hour from DC. Make sure that you…read morereserve your day pass in advance as you can't get in without one on busy weekends. It's free right now but the gate attendant said eventually it will be $6. They are currently building bathrooms and a rinse-off station, but they have porta potties for now. Nicely paved roads to get there, a Safeway en route (coming from DC), and an easy walk to the beach from the parking lot. Entering the park via the gatehouse, the beach is to the right. Follow the trail and signs past the small playground on the right and past the pond on the left. I recommend going to the right once you get to the beach itself as it was less crowded the day I was there. A couple rules important to know before you go. You can drive up closer to the beach to unload, but no parking there unless you have a handicapped sticker/plate. Also, no dogs on the beach unless it's a service dog. There is a ranger walking around so don't try it as you'll be disappointed (as I saw two families have to leave). And no climbing on the break wall rocks. Seems fun, so why not? The ranger said that very aggressive (but non-poisonous) water snakes live there, eek! Also, since I went in August, beware of the jellyfish--they were everywhere. But I also saw huge schools of tiny fish and lots of birds (seagulls, pelican, etc). The beach does not have any natural shade. I had read on the website no umbrellas or tents but I saw tons of families with them and they didn't get in trouble. Bring your snacks and drinks and beach comforts as there are no concessions, just the beach! And the water itself was clear to start but then got more cloudy and had seaweed as the day went on. It's nice and shallow, so I think we will come back when the jellyfish aren't so numerous.

45-minutes from Washington, D.C. Beverly Triton Nature Park is one of the closest beaches to the…read morecity. On top of that, it's a protected park with trails and views. Here's why you should visit: 1) Parking: There's a small lot that fills up fast during the summer. My daughter and I went on an August Friday morning and had to wait a few minutes for someone to leave. There is a lot across the street, but it also fills up too. Parking is free. 2) Trails: There are several short hikes perfect for toddlers. My four-year-old daughter was able to hike the Triton Trail on her own without a stroller or asking to be carried. 3) Beach: The fastest way to the beach is down the paved trail by the main parking lot. It takes 1-2 minutes to walk to the long, but narrow public beach. Bring sunscreen and bug spray. There's no shade at all. 4) Outhouses: There are two outhouses at the main parking lot AND another one at the beach entrance. Unless you want to change in a dirty outhouse, put on your swimsuit before you arrive.

One of my favorite parks in the state…read more Tons of beautiful trails, kayaks for rent, a dog beach, dog park, amphitheater, exercise equipment, butterfly garden, playground, there's something for everyone. There is an entry fee for non AA county residents of $8 and for residents it's maybe $5, cash or card. Lots of parking at all different places. Recommend coming early on nice days to avoid crowds. I have been many times to do many things and we always enjoy coming back!

Glad that we visited this wonderful spot near Annapolis, as it was comforting and beautiful, a…read morepopular place to enjoy outdoor beauty and the Chesapeake Bay! Numerous trails and options throughout, and the park is open from 7 AM until dusk. Among the options are a dog park, art galleries, playgrounds, kayak rentals, ice skating, and picnic areas. I did not get to the Visitors Center, as it closed at 4 PM. We visited the South River Overlook Trail, which was four-tenths of a mile in length, and had benches at the water to fully enjoy and appreciate the spectacular views. There are six other trails, ranging to as much as a mile and one-half in length. An $8 entry fee for automobiles, additional for larger vehicles, and they also offer lifetime senior passes.

SUMMATION: Beautiful, well-managed wildlife area. They are accomplishing good environmental…read morepreservation and education. NAME: Parkers Creek Preserve DESCRIPTION: Parkers Creek Natural Area has the largest contiguous tracts of forest in Calvert County. It progresses from dry, sandy upland woods to cool, moist ravines and forested wetlands. The ancient shell deposits from the Miocene Epoch, which deposit fossils on the beaches of Calvert County, create fertile soils in the inland ravines that support remarkable spring wildflower displays. Flowers such as American Golden Saxifrage [A] and Two-leaf Miterwort [B], uncommon on the typically poor soils of the Coastal Plain, thrive in the rich, moist soils of these steeply sloped valleys. Eastern Fence Lizards [C] and other reptiles make their home in the dry, sandy uplands, as do some unusual plants. The creek meanders near the coast. MY RATING: Excellent (4.9/5) SIZE: ~2000 acres with Creek 2.5 miles long and 15 miles of hiking trails. TITLE: "Great Conservation" [Yelp, Parguera Pirate review #450 [1], 10 November 2015, updated 30 November] CHESAPEAKE BAY TRIP REVIEW NUMBER: 19 TELEPHONE: (410) 414-3400, FAX: 410-414-3402 WEB PAGE: MANAGEMENT: American Chestnut Land Trust LOCALITY: South trail: Scientists Cliffs Road, Port Republic, Maryland 20676; North trail: Double Oak Road, Prince Frederick, Maryland 20678 [see maps on web page] MAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 2363, Prince Frederick, Maryland 20678 DIFFICULTY LOCATING: easy DIRECTIONS: see their web page HOURS OF OPERATION: Daily dawn to dusk. Double Oak Farm is closed during deer firearms season for safety. FEES: none, but memberships available AMINITIES: Fifteen miles of self-guided serene public hiking trails in two locations. Guided hikes are available from spring through fall. Guided canoe trips are offered from spring through fall on beautiful Parkers Creek. Check the online calendar of events for annual family events. ANIMALS: pets welcome HEALTH: (I) Swarms of mosquitoes near the wetlands and biting Black Flies [D] in the forest. (II) Limited access for wheelchairs and must be arranged prior to visit. AWARDS: Important Bird Area (2014, National Audubon Society) HISTORY: When Annie Gravatt died in 1986, Peter R. (Richard) Vogt (76) and Ralph H. Dwan (1932-2011) collected $400,000 from more than 90 families in Scientists' Cliffs to purchase 450 acres of nearby, undeveloped land from her estate to save it from commercial development. Vogt contributed $7500 to start the preservation project called the American Chestnut Land Trust (named for the trees once common in the area). The trust now manages more than 4000 natural acres, acquired by the State and the Nature Conservancy. The trust includes Parkers Creek and offers hiking and canoeing. FOOTNOTES: [1] Plus thousands of unnumbered article and book reviews for hundreds of journals. SPECIES: [A] American Golden Saxifrage, Chrysosplenium americanum. We also saw a lot at the base of the cliffs at Scientists' Cliffs. [B] Two-leaf Miterwort, Mitella diphylla. [C] Eastern Fence Lizard, Sceloporus undulatus. [D] Black Fly, Simulium spp., are small insects. Adult females feed on blood. Swarms can be quite aggravating. One got the Pirate, but did not escape unsquashed. They carry human diseases in the tropics.

5/14/20 pandemic update…read more Still a nice place to hike. They have touchless check in via a code on your phone. Miles of trails with very few hikers. Well maintained and interesting.

Amazing hiking trails! Trails are pretty accessible for all levels…read more The trail maps need updating as there are some new trails.

It's closed for months to repair a sewage siphon in spring, which is ridiculous. There's a sewage…read morepipe that empties into the waterfall area, but people don't seem to care and they swim, even though you can smell the sewage. The whole place and even the forest is littered with hard lemonade and beer bottles, babies diapers, dog poop and all kinds of food wrappers.

I moved to DC 3 years ago, and have long been looking for a local beach to go to. I've always been…read moretold there's no local beaches, and I'd have to drive to Ocean City or Virginia for a beach. I don't like long distance driving, so that was never really going to happen unless I planned it out in advance. Recently, my sister in law mentioned I check out North Beach, and it was about a half hour away. I couldn't believe no one had mentioned it to me before, specifically those who had lived in DC for years or who were locals and raised here. As she stated, it was exactly a half hour away and it was in Calvert County, MD. I've never visited this side of MD before and I really liked it. It reminded me of beach towns in MA. The beach, itself, though is more of a local beach for residents and quite small. There is also a $25 out of county fee for non-residents, so that was a bit of an annoyance. I don't know that I've paid a beach fee that high before for any beach I've ever visited. I will say I enjoyed my day there, though, and just laid out on the beach with my headphones in while I read a book. It's definitely a family beach and the water is not deep at all. They almost fence it off so you don't go in too far and the water reached knee level for most people. I went in to wade for a bit and saw jelly fish and there was lots of moss. After the beach, I walked the board walk and got some nice photos. I also checked out the local ice cream shop and saw they have little boutiques and a few restaurants. I defiantly would come back again, especially once I have children.

Day trips to nearby beaches from the DMV, put it on your to-do list…read more Our weekends are usually spent marking off bookmarks and going to eat at places our Yelpies recommend. We ended up in North Beach this past weekend, how pretty! Small but nice! Boardwalk and all! There is a private beach but it's for locals. Very very cute quaint neighborhood surrounding the "beach" area. Looking at water will never get old. If you're a water baby, or just love looking at water (lakes, oceans, ponds) then this is it! Super beautiful. Love this! Romantic for couples!

Not exactly the safest hike since I went down closer to bridge trekking through rocks LOTS before…read moregetting to platform then took steep steps up only to find trail closed Oops!

Definitely a hidden spot, but not quite a gem. The place needs upkeep. Steep downhill walk, you…read moredefinitely need shoes with traction; one wrong move and you could impale yourself in one of the rebars sticking out along the trail. The viewing platform is old and needs reinforcement. The site is pretty especially with the autumn colors, but desperately needs work. There are two viewing spots: one on the deck right near the falls, and one concrete path spanning the creek and you can view the whole falls.

Bottom Line: A flat and scenic trail across Kent Island…read more This is a great trail located in Queen Anne's County on Kent Island. The trail is 6.5 miles long and transverses Kent Island from Terrapin Park on the west to Kent Narrows on the east. The trail is a mix of paved path and wooden bridges/boardwalks. There is a mix of shade and sun and some really nice scenery. There are multiple spots to park including Terrapin Park and in a large lot under US-50 by Kent Narrows. I suspect parking mid-trail at Kent Island HS is fair game when school isn't in session. This trail seems to be the most popular with casual bicycle riders, walkers and joggers. I have seen some serious cyclists on the trail but at 6.5 miles long I suspect this trail isn't super appealing for zippy road bikers. Speaking of bikes, there are numerous signs along the trail they telling cyclists to dismount at intersections. A lot of the intersections are small and quiet so I found that a bit odd. I honestly didn't see anyone dismount and who came blame them? Overall, this is a great trail for a little recreation.

Several people from my retired women's group have started meeting each week to walk on the Cross…read moreIsland trail. Most of us live in Annapolis but it is a really nice trail and worth hopping across the Bay Bridge. We have been meeting at the Macuum Creek parking lot off Piney Creek Rd. There is enough parking and nice public bathrooms so it is quite civilized. The first time, we walked west, back towards Stevensville & turned around at the high school, which was a couple of miles. This week, we walked the other way, so heading east. I think that was even prettier. There are some quiet sections and some places where you hear the traffic on Route 50. There are boardwalk and bridges over the creeks. The next time, I hope to take my bike.