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.

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!

I hadn't been out to OR for a long time but had the opportunity to enjoy some nature and food truck…read moretacos on a beautiful Baltimore day. The trees are in full bloom, everything is green and bursting with life and it was peaceful in this place. Beware of the poison ivy though - it's everywhere and it's YUGE!

This is one of our favorite places to visit because of the scenic trails and the indoor nature…read morecenter displays. The trails are relatively easy but fun to explore and you can go shorter or longer distances depending how much time you have. We enjoy visiting for a change of pace from the Pennsylvania State Parks because while the trails aren't extremely rugged or long, they're fun and the nature center has interesting displays and creatures to visit.

It's easy to drive by and not realize this park has some good qualities…read more The space is huge and includes a baseball field, tennis court and tot lot. We've been a few times and the space is always clean and quiet. There are a few trashcans around, so I recommend bringing an extra bag to tie up trash in since trash cans are few. There's a small lot designated for the park and free on-street parking. The tot lot has a playground and swings. Nothing fancy, but serves its purpose. I haven't seen this area overly crowded. Good option to not fight crowds and a range of age groups. There are no restrooms.

Towson Manor Park consists of two play areas. One is located at higher ground, one at lower. A…read moreslide joins the two. The park also includes a large grassy area and a sandbox loaded with sand toys. Towson Manor includes at least four slides ( I should've counted for precision), six swings (three designed for little kids, two for bigger kids and a buckle in one), a large rope area with various balancing activities and a central contraption that incorporates ropes and spinning. The higher level of the park seems to be geared towards older kids (say five and up) and this is definitely the better portion of the park. The under five section seemed a bit underwhelming. There was a lot of shade, a few benches to sit on and some very climbable trees. Pets are allowed at the park as long as they are leashed. I did not see any bags for poop collection so make sure you bring your own. There is limited parking, like six or seven spaces. Because of that the park says to only park on their premises for an hour. The only thing keeping Towson Manor from rating higher is the lack of bathrooms.

It's always cool to happen by a really park that you have no idea exists, with Lake Roland being…read morejust that. The park has hiking trails, a nature center, picnic spots, a playground, and a dog park, all adjacent to Lake Roland. I recently discovered that canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and birdwatching and local favorites, too. Sometimes I go just to zone out while enjoying the weather or just taking a quick nap in the car. Very peaceful spot.

Lake Roland will always be one of my fav spots to unwind . It's the Perfect place to chill , walk…read morethe trails , fish or Canoe . It's Dog & Kid Friendly . The have a covered space to rent out for Birthday Parties etc . There's a parking lot or you can Park at the Light rail entrance and walk along the wooden path .

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

I like this park in the summer because of how much shade it offers on the playground. You can hit…read morethe playground up at 9, 10, 11 and still have ample shade. That is perfect for those hot summer late mornings. Riderwood Hills Park consists of five parts. First, there is a baseball/softball field with lots of green space. I see lots of dogs being walked/run through here. To the left of that is a small paved bridge that crosses a wooded stream (this is the second area). It can be fun to make your way down to the stream and explore the rocks, plants and small creatures you find. The playground area is next. There is a whole climbing area for kids to go up, go under and slide down. There is a small zip line and some monkey bars. There are also a lot of swings both those designed for younger kids and those for older ones. The final two areas are two full court basketball courts that appear to be in good shape and a small covered pavilion. The park also has quite a few benches and some picnic tables. So why only three stars? Mainly because there aren't a lot of kids that are at this park. Maybe it is when we go but my kids have a much easier time finding kids their age at other parks.

We visited the Hampton National Historic Site in Towson this past weekend. This estate was owned by…read morethe Ridgely family for 7 generations from 1745 to 1948. The Georgia mansion home was the largest private home in America when it was completed in 1790. The estate was a plantation, one of the largest in Maryland, and hundreds of people were enslaved at the plantation until the end of the Civil War. The property is operated by the National Park Service, so a park ranger gives guided tours of the property. Our ranger guide was really friendly and did a wonderful job guiding us through the house. She taught us about the history of the area, the family, and the estate. She taught us about the architecture of the house and the artifacts visible throughout the house (many of which are original to the home). She also highlighted the lives and stories of enslaved persons who spent part or the entirety of their lives at Ridgely. There is some important Maryland history here at Hampton, and I really appreciated our experience. The house is undergoing some renovations right now and we were a bit tight on time, so we weren't able to explore the grounds (I think you can visit the slave quarters, cemetery, and more on the grounds), so I'd like to go back and explore more of the site's history. As an NPS property, it's free to visit and tour and definitely worth checking out. It's history hidden in plain sight - you've probably driven past it many times without stopping by!

We went on the 1 hour tour inside the house and were amazed by the renovation and details of the…read moreestate. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and answered our questions. I would recommend getting tickets to tour the house. We went last year and were only able to walk the grounds. Tickets are only $1 at recreation.gov.