REVIEW FOR CABINS: Decided to rent out some of the cabins with friends during THE YEAR OF THE…read morePANDEMIC. We were really happy with the cabins - we stayed in the Chestnut cabin. Here are the pluses: Price - under $50 a night. Bargain! Inside cabin: Electricity - bring a long extension cord with multi plugs. Heat - Such a plus since we were in the fall. Fan - Very useful for the summer. Two bunkbeds with bottom bunks that are either a full or queen. Long table with seating Plenty of lighting Cleaning materials - they provide a broom to keep the floor clean. Outside cabin: Outdoor plug for electricity Two picnic tables - one under shelter (so so nice!) / also next to fire ring Overhang is excellent for keeping things dry and sheltered Fire ring Due to COVID, check in is not until 5 PM. Ugh, what a drag. They did let us get in finally at 4:00 PM - after all, it was a Sunday and hardly anyone was around. Check out is 9 AM. Stay for at least 2 nights. Firewood is $7 for a small bundle. Drive around - you might find better deals from locals. Bathrooms were toasty warm and cleaned daily. We didn't use showers, but other people said the hot water was plentiful and it was cleaned well. Utility sinks are behind the bathrooms and extremely useful for dishes and other cleaning.

We visited for the "Experience Codorus Outdoors" event. We camped at the nearby campground which…read morewas super convenient to the park. I'll rate the various parts accordingly. Main park 9/10 In a word, breathtaking. You have several amazing views of Lake Marburg, which is unfortunately not a swimming lake. We visited during the experience Corodus outdoor event, so they allowed kids and adults to put their feet in. You might be able to go to one of the less populated areas and get away with swimming, but would probably be kicked out eventually. We saw a few people in the water at random spots outside of the main park. The kayak launch looks nothing short of amazing. It was closed due to the event, but I scoped it out while we walked around. It looked super easy and shallow. Campgrounds Right across from the marina. There are 4 loops, 3 mainly for tent camping and smaller RVs, and giant sites for the HUGE RVs. You do have to make your way through loop C (tents) to reach loop D, which can be pretty tight especially when people stupidly park their car(s) in the road. The sites were spacious and quiet. We were at loop C right next to the bathhouse. I would stay at the site again except the doors swing shut HARD. Nothing like waking up from a dead sleep when someone exits the bathroom and the door slams shut. There are utility sinks near the bathrooms which was a nice touch for those of us using reusable dishes. There's a small playground for young kids. It was perfect for my 5 year old, but my 12 year old would have been bored quickly. They also offer church services on Sundays which was a nice touch. They have a private launch that is VERY remote. Good because other boats aren't flying through. Bad because if something happens and you need help, there likely won't be any. We launched a double inflatable kayak without issue, but realized we were pretty much on our own if anything went wrong. Marina 2/5 Lots of spaces to park and plenty of paved trails to walk around. We were looking for a place to launch our inflatable kayak. This didn't seem like a great option with the rental house open. If it was closed, it might be better. Unless you own a boat or want to walk, there's not much to do here (to be fair it is a marina). Visitor Center- 2/5 Sad. They had a bird watching widows but guess what? All of the bird and squirrel feeders were empty. There were a couple displays with taxidermy animals, but not much else sadly. Other than a bathroom break, there really wasn't much to do here. Experience codorus outdoors- 3/5 There were lots of activities for kids and families. A rock climbing wall, pontoon ride, splash in the water, slip and slide, food trucks, obstacle course, kayaks, and SOOO many other things. It was a great event and we had a blast. There were a few things that could be improved (I plan to send this to the codorus outdoor committee as well) - Offer double kayaks. Some of the kids who went solo didn't look old enough to navigate a kayak alone. They offered to allow my 5 year old to go, but that seemed dangerous to me. Why they didn't offer any double kayaks is beyond me. It seemed like lots of families with smaller kids were turned away. - The water fountains weren't working. For an event that has probably the highest number of people at the park, they should have offered some water for people to drink besides paying at food trucks. Oversight on the part of the committee. -Our pontoon boat driver was a grump. I innocently asked why people were not allowed to swim in the lake. Instead of informing an out of towner who was curious, he responded with a super condescending tone like "Duh, how did you not know that!?" We will definitely be back when the place is less crowded and access to the kayak launch site is available.

Fantastic place with an awesome owner that knows his way around fireworks. Definitely go check them…read moreout! 10 outta 10 and the best deals in PA!

What a great place. Like a candy store for adults. The owner was very knowledgeable and friendly…read more There are assortments of everything from backyard fun all the way to professional. Very well organized.

I love this park! Love the trails, the lake, the picnic areas, and boat rentals…read more Wish the park would keep the beach swimming area clean. There's always loads of geese/dog poop. The sand should be combed daily no matter if it's closed. Twice I've gone there and swimming is closed due to contamination or algae.

Lovely park! I've mostly done hiking there which has always been great. It's beautiful and there's…read morelots of space.

WOW!! This event has changed since the last time we were there. It's much larger now and not…read morefamily friendly like it used to be. First thing I noticed was they "ran out " of handicap parking spots!! Not off to a good start?! They then send you to the next row which is a good large field away & find a spot. I'm sorry but I can't walk that far and I need to be dropped off. That's fine, and as we pass the designated handicap parking lot I notice that it's not full and there's plenty of parking available for the handicap. My placard displayed in window. They aren't using them now because they are waiting for a group!!?? Ok. 1/5 for NOT being handicap accessible. Train the people to address the situation and offer to let them be dropped off..they didn't. They only said go to the end of the row and park. My husband said my wife is handicapped and she can't walk that far and the guy replied something like well it's full and you have to go, keep traffic moving !?!? Where are they going? Way down yonder in the far pasture and they might be here before dark. Very disappointing for a state run affair on a day dedicated to military and first responders would be so unorganized. From running out of handicap parking spots (lie-from volunteer) and run out of drinks before an hour had passed. Second, found one of my favorite foods! Açaí bowl. Can't drink on an empty stomach, no hangovers here ! Overall I think this event was oversold on tickets and the vendors were not prepared for for the increase in number of people. The lines were very long at lunch time which is when we were there and I noticed right after they were done everyone disappeared. I also noticed for such a large outdoor event they didn't have any water stations. If you were thirsty than you bought water or something else. I wanted water. I did find some cute gifts for my mom & some other ideas for my crafting. Despite the heat, crowds, long lines, miscommunication and everything else I had a decent time. But I can always make something boring into fun:-). Maybe next year will be better?!

*Secret Garden Arts, Music and Wine Festival Review*…read more I visited a few days ago for this festival! I only recently heard of this event but glad I attended. It was a decent size crowd (not like the Linganore Reggae Festival) but that was a good thing (for me at least). This was my first "big" event since pre-covid! There was a line to get into the festival so word of advice - go early. Even though it was starting at noon, I'd suggest going at least an hour before so you're not in the line for too long and you get to pick your spot to set up. There's folks directing you where to park! They will scan your tickets and check your bags, lawn chairs and other belongings for contraband (weapons, drugs, outside liquor)! You're allowed to bring non-alcoholic beverages and food but no liquor! Don't bother because they thoroughly check and I saw lots of liquor being confiscated!!! There were two wine vendors there - Dejeon and Basignani. Your ticket gives you tastings to both. I only got to try Basignani and I loved the sangria so I ended up buying two bottles of that to share with my group. The reisling wasn't bad either, but it wasn't enough for me to get an entire bottle. Most bottles are $17 and there were some $30 bottles. There were some food trucks but the lines were super long. My group and I brought our own food - saves time and money. Tents are allowed but again if you want to be closer to the stage, go early! There were some art, cigars, hookah vendors. There's some indoor restrooms near the gate but mostly porta-potties! While I saw some kids here, I personally don't think this is a kid friendly event (at least not younger kids - under 12). There's nothing really for kids to do here! Overall, it was a good time! I would attend again in the future.

Great place to take kids, they have 2 giant slides, tug of war, some farm animals to pet, corn…read moremaze, corn pit, tire swings, jumping pillow, tricycles to race, water duck races, hayrides to the pumpkin patch, a zip line swing (which was closed when we went), and other things. They have a snack shack where you can buy apple cider donuts, slushies, kettle corn popcorn, etc. and they do take credit cards. Be sure to confirm the hours of the Snack shack. Parking is across the street. Cute place, will return!

We went on a particularly wet weekend, after a week full of rain. Still had a total blast! The corn…read moremaze was challenging but not too hard to do and took about 30 minutes for us to go through. Had fun going through the petting zoo, playing with bubbles, and competing with each other in the duck races. We spent a little over 2 hours here and had a relaxing fall day.

Catoctin Mountain Park Visitor Center -- A Quiet Gateway to the Mountains…read more Tucked into the scenic hills of Frederick County near Thurmont, the Catoctin Mountain Park Visitor Center is a great starting point for exploring one of Maryland's more serene outdoor escapes. It's part of Catoctin Mountain Park, a federally managed park offering about 25 miles of hiking trails, plus camping and trout fishing. Worth noting: it's separate from nearby Cunningham Falls State Park, so plan accordingly if you're trying to hit both. We stopped by on a brisk, sunny weekday and were rewarded with light crowds and a peaceful atmosphere. There was some noticeable truck traffic passing through the area--turns out much needed road improvements are underway--but it didn't take away from the overall experience. The visitor center itself is on the smaller side but well maintained and thoughtfully curated. Informational displays, posters, and plaques highlight the region's history--from its Native inhabitants to the communities that later shaped life in these mountains. It's a nice touch that adds depth before you hit the trails. Inside, you can find maps, books, and a modest gift shop selection. The park rangers were approachable and knowledgeable, offering helpful updates on trail conditions and access points. Bonus points for clean restrooms and a convenient place to refill your water bottle before heading out. For the youngsters in your group. Don't forget to join the Junior Ranger program and get your booklet stamped! Fun way to get kids excited to visit and appreciate the many beautiful National Parks in our country throughout their lifetime! Whether you're gearing up for a hike or just passing through, this is a solid place to get oriented, learn a bit of history, and soak in the surrounding natural beauty.

I've been here twice and have hiked the same loop, but both times it has been enjoyable!…read more On this occasion I brought a friend. We parked at the visitors center and went inside to use the facilities prior to our hike. It's a cute visitors center with historical information about the area, the wildlife, and trees. They also sell trinkets, magnets, bug spray, etc. The rangers are always cordial and will answer any questions you may have. They have a charging station!!!! This was clutch as I drove my EV this time. It's free and had me charged and ready to go by the end of my hike. We hiked up to Wolf Rock, Chimney Rock, and back. The trails are rated (if you have the All Trails app and/or based on the map). I'd say this hike was moderate. It's mostly shaded which is nice. There weren't too many insects, but you should apply insect repellent nontheless. They have several other trails. This one was a bit over 3 miles, but the full loop connects all the trails. I would like to make it to Cunningham Falls. This is a great option for me as I live in Maryland. The trails are clean, litter free so take your trash with you. Come check it out!