08/03/25 My wife and…read moreI decided to take a drive through the county and stop at Jefferson Patterson Park. She had never been before, and while I had driven through, I'd never really explored it. We parked and walked up to the main house -- what a house! We just missed the last full tour of the day but were able to explore the first floor. Each room was beautifully set to its period with notes explaining the history. The kitchen stood out with its size, multiple stoves, and even an elevator nearby that had been installed for Mr. Patterson. Outside, the flower gardens were beautiful. Nearby we could see the old pool area -- the pool itself has been filled in, but the pool house and outline remain. From there, we walked down to the water, passing an active archaeological site marked for future digs. At the shoreline, there's a pier where boaters can dock to use the beach or walk up to the house. Another historic structure sits by the water, though it's slowly being overtaken by the elements. We also visited the area where the college is growing oysters, with plenty of them visible at the creek pier. The property has many trails to walk or bike, and they're even building a new large facility on-site. The park also hosts special events like the balloon festival and more. It was a great visit, and we're looking forward to returning to explore more trails, either walking or biking.

Becky gave us a fascinating, insightful, educational tour. My husband enjoyed riding around the…read moreIndian Village and King's Reach next to the Patuxent River. Jefferson Patterson Park is a unique timeline for this area of our country. This is must-see for anyone interested in archaeology, plantation life, Indian settlements, the 1930's through the present day and history. Highly recommend spending time with knowledgeable and enthusiastic Becky.

Update to a previous review: We got married here July 7th, 2024 and though it was hot it was…read moreabsolutely perfect. So if you're looking for an affordable place to get married don't count the wharf out. It was $75 for the wharf itself and they require a million dollar event insurance policy as well.

The wharf offers a small boardwalk, a dock, and occasionally a stage setup. The view across the…read morewater is to some ritzy private residences. On my list of estuarine sights, it's nowhere near the top, but it's a nice little stop if you're in the area.

I reserved a spot for my son and friends. I thought this would be a good chance for a treat, to…read morespend some time, & catch up outside of school. Therefore, I thought Wednesday was a perfect day since charles county schools had a half of day. It was a cloudy, rainy, & gloomy day but once we got there and up until we left there was no rain. God is good! Parking was ample and directions was easy to find. We were greeted by Josh and he was awesome. He got us checked in quickly and explained all directions/safety requirements to us. Oh can I mentioned he was very patient and knowledgeable. We had the entire place to ourselves and Josh lead our boys (11 & 12 year olds) the whole time. There were many courses he took them on. The moms got to relax, conversate, and watch as he took care of everything. We were there for about a hour with the 500 paintballs package. The boys had a great time as it was their first experience and we look forward to coming back. The only wish is for the company to offer discounts /longer hours during the week as prices can be a little heafty. For example, have special evening/nights that consist of (ladies night only, gentlemen night only, mom & me or dad & me night only, parents vs kids night, half off night only, student discount night w/ report card or studentvue verification ,etc) Thanks SMP

I played airsoft in castle and the workers were very nice to beginners like most of the partyread more

I play this golf course regularly. So, don't get me wrong, I absolutely love it. It's the only Disc…read moreGolf course in near the military base and the next closest is 45 mins away in La Plata. The holes are updated regularly so you have to look out for where the chains are at. PROS: Convenience, Never Crowded, 2 Tee boxes per hole, full 18, Leash off dog friendly CONS: Course design is poor and hard for new beginners, holes are very open and not usually challenging, Grass isn't maintained so there is a good chance it will be longer than tolerable...which means ticks. Ticks. And more ticks.

Shortly after getting onto the path, there was a sign that said 'Hear.' It was at that moment when…read moreone really starts to hear the birdsong. The path to the beach was so beautiful that I was looking at the surroundings more than I should have when I tripped and fell. My ankle was hurt and I couldn't put any weight on it. A big thank you the woman who helped me on one side while my husband was on my other side to the cart than could t make it to our location. A big shout out to the ranger who came in a cart that took us back to our car. Unfortunately, we didn't make it down to the beach, but looking forward to returning upon my healing. It's a sprain with a fracture.

Good trail mileage and interesting wetlands, but not my favorite MD State Park. The beach most…read morepeople go for is small with "muddy bay sand", and you're not supposed to go below (or above) the cliffs. That said: there's nice photo possibilities along the wetlands, and much more diverse topography than on the eastern shore. Near the parking lot are picnic areas and a playground, and there's a lot of trail mileage (better for runners than hikers IMO). Other than the boardwalk along the wetlands (final segment), try to skip the red trail - that's where all the families will be trudging, many whom haven't walked 4 miles RT in quite some time judging by the expressions I saw. You can easily combine trails for some variety or more distance. The trails are a mix of sandy-natural, gravel and boardwalk, grass, or natural dirt. Their design seems an after-thought (more for access, less for "enjoyable hiking"). Note the colocated hunting club at the north end of the park, and wear a safety vest hiking if it's hunting season. If I lived nearby, I'd be here regularly. Lots of parking. There's no gate, so no worry about being locked in at dusk. Places to go for dinner afterwards in Solomons. But as a destination, it was one-and-done.

Expensive if live out of St Mary's county it's $30. They do not accept digital payment.read more

My first impression of Elms Beach Park was Abysmal,I am very disappointed by the hygiene standards…read moreof the bathrooms that have shrouded in the park in a very awful scent full of feces.Additionally while not having the best beach,the terrain for the tables are rugged and not the best for a picnic.Aside from the jellyfish and the horrible parking,They charge you 30 dollars for entry and 5 dollars as a seasonal pass.I would strongly reccomend other parks such as point lookout or ect...

I had heard rumors about Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge while planning my Fourth of July…read moregetaway to Maryland. More importantly, I heard there was a scenic Wildlife Drive where I could experience the refuge without spending hours hiking in a 107-degree heat wave. As someone who enjoys both nature and air conditioning, this sounded like an outstanding life decision! Before leaving, I did a little homework. Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is open daily from dawn to dusk, and admission is normally just $3 per vehicle (or $1 for pedestrians), making it one of the best bargains around. Even better, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service occasionally offers free admission weekends, and I happened to visit during one celebrating America's 250th birthday. Admission was waived July 3 through July 5, making an already inexpensive adventure even sweeter. Free is one of my favorite prices, especially when it's attached to some place this beautiful! PRO TIP #1: If you're the type of person who enjoys quirky travel sidequests, ask about the Blue Goose Passport while you're there. I had recently learned online that National Wildlife Refuges have their own passport program, similar to the National Park Passport books, and naturally that became my newest obsession. The Visitor Center sold the passport for just $9, and I happily bought one and collected my very first refuge stamp. I arrived around 1:15 p.m. and immediately noticed...there wasn't a single car in the parking lot. Thankfully, the Visitor Center was open, despite looking completely deserted from the outside. While I was browsing the small gift shop afterward, I picked up a Christmas ornament, a sticker for my memory ball and, of course, my brand-new Blue Goose Passport. Prices in the gift shop were surprisingly low! Now, I have to be honest. The employee working that afternoon wasn't exactly the welcoming face of America's National Wildlife Refuge System. She seemed...less than thrilled that visitors existed that day. When I walked in, beaming and excited, and exclaimed, "You ARE open today!" She looked me dead in the eyes and said, dryly, "Unfortunately." Well, FORTUNATELY, she was a very small part of an otherwise wonderful afternoon! I began the Wildlife Drive and immediately noticed signage confirming admission was free for the holiday weekend. The drive took me about an hour because I drove nice and slowly, stopping whenever something caught my eye and scanning the marshes for wildlife. I saw plenty of birds...and not much else. But honestly, I don't blame the animals. If it was 107 degrees outside, I'd be hiding somewhere cool too. Even without a parade of wildlife, the drive itself was beautiful! Blackwater protects more than 30,000 acres of tidal marshes, forests and wetlands along Maryland's Eastern Shore and is famous for its bald eagles, osprey and incredible birdwatching opportunities. The scenery alone made the trip worthwhile! PRO TIP #2: Bring binoculars. Seriously. Phone cameras can only zoom so much before every bird starts looking like a tiny feathered blob. I spent half the drive wondering, "What is that?!" Binoculars would have made the experience so much better. One thing I really appreciated was learning that visitors are welcome to walk or bike the Wildlife Drive in addition to driving it. The loop is roughly four miles, completely paved and almost perfectly flat. I could already tell while driving that I'd enjoy it even more on foot during cooler weather. If hiking is more your style, the refuge also offers several trails, including the 2.5-mile Key Wallace Trail, the one-mile Woods Trail, the 1.5-mile Tubman Road Trail and the shorter Marsh Edge Trail. Based on what I saw, spring and fall would be incredible times to come back. If you're hoping to maximize wildlife sightings, November through February is prime time for wintering waterfowl. September also sounds fantastic with migrating ospreys, blooming tickseed sunflowers, abundant toads and peak songbird migration. Despite my less-than-cheerful interaction inside the Visitor Center, I genuinely loved my visit to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. It's peaceful, affordable, family-friendly and can be whatever you want it to be. Spend an hour driving the Wildlife Drive, spend half a day hiking or simply enjoy slowing down and taking in one of Maryland's most beautiful natural spaces. And if you're anything like me...don't leave without the Blue Goose Passport! Trust me. One passport stamp somehow turns into your next adventure!

Totally not what we expected! There wasn't much wildlife, the drive is not very long. We had more…read morefun at the Marina Bay in town. I would however give 5 stars to the helpful staff, very knowledgeable.

I love taking my grandkids. They love bowling, seeing the crazy photos and the all around fun…read more The summer program was amazing and affordable. Wish it lasted longer, it was a great kid day activity.

09.11.25 Another frustrating night with lanes not working…read moreand constantly breaking down. I bowled on Tuesday night as well, and the oil on the lanes was terrible across every lane. I honestly don't understand their business model anymore. The food used to be excellent -- they had a cook who clearly cared about what came out of the kitchen. Now? They fired him and replaced him with people who can't even make a proper grilled cheese. I've ordered it a few times, and it's been different (and wrong) every single time. One time the bread was just toasted with a single slice of cheese stuck in the middle. Another time they browned the bread on the grill and shoved four slices of cheese inside. A grilled cheese is simple: butter one side of two slices of bread, add one or two slices of cheese, and grill until golden brown. That's it. Someone please teach the kitchen staff the basics. The one bright spot is Jerome, the bartender -- he's the only reason this place didn't get a 1-star review. He make a really good cocktail and know what everyone likes to drink. This business needs an owner who treats it like their pride and joy, not something run on autopilot. Hopefully one day things will change, because right now the decline is impossible to ignore