Very peaceful park, great are for walking, running and getting fresh air. There's also a mini play…read morearea for kids with free WiFi while you wait. My son enjoys playing here, and it's a good place to network and chat with other families.

Happened upon the cutest lakefront park while shopping in the area. There's a unique playground, a…read morebeautiful fountain, and it looks like a trail loops all the way around the lake. There's also a hugh tree with chairs already set up for people to sit and relax. There's a stage, so I guess there are events hosted here as well!

Decent park. There is something for everyone. A playground, dog park, tennis courts, picnic tables,…read moreand walking tralis. They have a baseball field too. The main reason that I would not give this a perfect rating is because their nature trail is literally right next to the highway.

This is my favorite park in the Severn, MD area. It has many different features that appeal to the…read morewhole family. I enjoy the trails and tennis courts most. Features: Walking/Running Trails Nature Trails Tennis Courts Basketball Courts Baseball Field Picnic Pavilions Playgrounds Green space Dog Field Portable Bathrooms

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!

A very easy-access section of the Patapsco Valley State Park- you can drive right into the middle…read more I'd rank it as perfect for introducing people to a "natural" state park without the distractions of overly developed amenities. Great trails, enough elevation change for solid workouts, some sections with lovely old trees. There's a long stretch of a beautiful stream (Saw Mill Branch) and some areas that give you that lovely isolated feeling of being in the woods. There's campgrounds (way better than "backyard camping") and driving in from the gate on Hilton Ave puts you in a good spot to immediately start hiking. There's also trails leading in from a number of the surrounding neighborhoods. The paved path by the river is pedestrian and disabled friendly. A historic rail route runs parallel to the river and train spotters can get some unique views as well as see the famous Ilchester Tunnel. PVSP is one of my favorite things about living in central MD, and each section has some unique things. Explore them all - but this (Hilton) area is particularly accessible for beginners who want the full experience.

This is one of my favorite places to visit when I'm in Maryland. I had a marvelous hike there on my…read morelast trip by Cascade Falls. It was beautiful! The waterfall isn't that big but it was still enjoyable to see. There are some rough spots to navigate if you're expecting an easy hike. But overall, it is definitely worth the trip!

This is a great park for dog walking, sports activities and family hangouts. It is a vast park…read moredivided into two sections. One area is dedicated to wooded trails and flying disc activities, while the other features sports courts and extended trails. Walking along the snow-covered trails offered a unique, serene experience, with the peacefulness of the setting enhanced by sunlight gently filtering through the woods. There are parking areas located at various part of the park, convenient.

Playground was recently renovated. So much fun for the kids. Things were available for all the age…read moreranges and abilities. Also plenty of seating for the adults to relax on a nice sunny day! I highly recommend taking the kids and checking it out!

What great park located in Ashton, Md. Park is well maintained and clean. Park offers kayaking,…read moreboating (limited), hiking, and fishing. The water is controlled by WSSC. Make sure you have the right license for using this water source. The Park is fairly large. Plenty of picnic space. I look forward to my next visit.

There's not a lot here, just sayin'. I had wanted to check it out as a possible spot to take the…read moregrandkids and launch an inflatable kayak. It's adequate for that. There is a nice spot near the water with a picnic table, barbecue, and a shady tree. There is a playground suitable for kids who still like swings & slides. My younger g'kid is 9 and doesn't really play on those too much anymore. There's a lot of free parking, and I understand there are hiking trails so I might come alone in the fall for some photos.

This is our favorite park. There's a playground and access to the BWI trail. The trail goes…read morethrough the woods, so there is plenty of shade on hot days. But the best part is that the park is on the other side of Dorsey road from the airport, and planes fly directly overhead as they are about to land or after they have taken off; it differs from time to time. Because they are so close to the runway, the planes are very low, so the kids get really excited. Our daughter loves to watch the planes. My only complant is that there is no swings in the playground, but you can go east on Dorsey 1.5 miles to Sawmill Creek Park where they have swings.

This is a great place to stop and watch planes fly into BWI up close and personal! You can park…read moreyour car in the parking lot and view the incoming and outgoing planes from dawn to dusk. The park itself is very well kept and features a nice updated playground for kids to play on and has rubber mulch rather than wood chips so for that reason alone I appreciated it more. There is also a walking/bike path that goes back a ways and two "porta potties" that were kept relatively clean and had hand sanitizer available. Definitely a good place to occupy your kids for a little bit!

The Trolley Trail is one of my favorite local hiking and/or walking trails. I mentioned both hiking…read moreand walking because you can go off the walking path and into deeper forest trails. There are also a few streams that are not roped off and you can go off the walking path down to the water. This trail has a lot of wildlife, including snakes, bunnies, ducks and deer, therefore, it is best that you keep your pets on a leash. There is one spot of the trail that is underneath a bridge and a lot of the dogs and cats get spooked due to the loud shaking noises. I frequent this trail a lot with my cat, Rune and we have never had an issue. It is very quiet and most of the people coming and going are incredibly respectful. The trail is easy to get to, and there is a lot of free parking, especially if you come early! At the beginning of the trail there is a café which is the perfect spot to grab a coffee, tea or a breakfast sandwich to enjoy on your walk!

This is my favorite trail in Ellicott City. It's fairly easy, not too long and, surrounded by…read morebeauty. It's close to where I live so I often come here for a quick jog or hike. The difficulty level is very low; the trail is wide and most of it is paved. It's about three miles and there are markers every 1/2 mile. The view along the trail is absolutely beautiful during, it doesn't matter what time of the year you go. There's a stream which you easily can go down to. As for parking, there's a huge parking lot right at the start of the trail and since this trail isn't busy, it stays pretty empty. If you don't want a difficult hike and just want a relaxing walk, this is a great trail for that. Plus, it's great for kids and pets.