One of the nicest parks that I have been to since living in Maryland. Great for a bike ride a walk…read moreor even a run. This park runs along the Chesapeake Bay which is pretty cool and the views are pretty nice. I also like that there are various points of exiting and entering the park in case you want to do a long run and or bike ride. This place also looks wonderful for a nice picnic with the family or a loved one would definitely recommend.

The dog beach is closed and is being redone. The bathrooms were closed the day I went. I've been…read moreonce before and got ticks on one of the walking paths. The flies and mosquitos can get pretty nasty while walking as well, so I wish they would spray with non-toxic sprays to help reduce them.

This park has great walking trails that run along the lake. You can do a short or longer loop…read more There's a good amount of parking. I arrived around 11:30. We walked over to the community center area where the Annual Greenbelt Festival was being held. There is plenty of shade from the tree canopy and many covered picnic tables off the trail. Also, garbage and recycling cans for your convenience.

When I lived in Maryland, we came to this park often just to walk. We no longer live in Maryland…read morebut when I come back to visit, I still come to this park to walk and just enjoy the scenic walk and be outdoors. There is a house on the backside of the path that decorates for Halloween so it makes it a lot of fun for the kids on the path.

This park is a wonderful place to sit and eat and it's one of my favorite spots in Annapolis.read more

The Susan Campbell Park is a minute park inclusive of the Annapolis City Dock along the Waterfront…read more On some mornings, you can join the outdoor yoga classes offered. Special events are also held here. For those who just want a leisurely stroll along the Annapolis Harbor and look out into the Chesapeake Bay, this is a perfect spot. There is paid parking and once you stroll around the park or sit and enjoy the view, you can choose one of many bars / restaurants in the nearby proximity. In three minutes, you can walk to the U.S. Naval Academy. Along the outskirts of the park, you can take a water tour aboard the Harbor Queen. As the park is in the heart of Annapolis, it is worth seeing.

Ambience: Downs Park is one of those hidden gems that feels…read morelike a deep breath. It's spacious, peaceful, and full of variety. Whether you want to walk along the waterfront, sit on a bench with a view, or just let the breeze hit your face while your kids play. It has a little bit of everything. I've been here at least 5-7 times and still haven't explored it all! Playground: There's something for every age group from a sweet tot lot for the little ones to a multi-level climbing structure with twisty slides that kept my oldest busy for a while. There are swings, a merry-go-round, and plenty of open space to run around or play. Scenic Walks & Waterfront: We usually park near the visitor center (convenient and close to everything!) and stroll down to the pier or relax on the benches with that peaceful waterfront view. You'll find grassy picnic spots, a pier with folks fishing, and even a small beach and separate dog beach. The trails are partly shaded and the breeze coming off the water makes it feel extra calming. Stroller-Friendly: Yes, it's stroller-friendly! The trails are paved, but heads-up: it's not totally flat there are some hills. Still, it's very walkable and manageable with a stroller. Great for littles who need a nap or just want a ride. Extras: Bathrooms are located inside the visitor center, and there's a quiet garden area called Mary's Garden if you need a tranquil reset. I've always had friendly experiences with the park staff when entering and asking questions. Parking is $6 per car and there's usually plenty of space, especially if you don't mind walking a bit. Why I Love It: This park has become one of my go-to spots when we need a peaceful outing. Between the water views, the open space, and the mix of kid-friendly and adult-friendly features, it's just easy to love. Perfect for picnics, gentle mornings, or letting your thoughts wander while the kids play.

This dog beach is smaller than the one in Annapolis, but still is nice. I came here on Memorial Day…read moreand there was quite a lot of dogs. The dog beach rules are pretty much the same as with any other dog beach. Children under six years old must be accompanied by an adult. No human or dog food allowed on the beach. Humans aren't allowed to swim in the water. And of course, no aggressive dogs. I do wish there was a wash station either at the beach or nearby, which would be very convenient to both human and dog.

The good: Parking was spacious, free and had shaded spots…read more It was a short walk from the parking lot to the beach. The path was lined with tanbark. It's a small beach with a short shore and there is shallow water. I saw herons and folks using metal detectors. The sandy area had cool shells and some interesting bugs. I liked that there was a clean bathroom between the parking lot and the beach. There were picnic tables on the sand where we enjoyed snacks. They were shaded so it was nice. The bad: There are lots of jelly fish that can definitely sting so you basically cannot get into the water. No tents are allowed. The interesting: I saw lots of dogs here running around in the water. It looks very dog-friendly despite other reviews saying there are signs that don't allow dogs.

Quick note for potential beach goers: Only single-pole beach umbrellas are allowed on the beach. We…read morekind of learned the hard way that beach tents are not allowed. Originally, we were interested in Matapeake Beach because of the dog beach. However for our first visit (of hopefully many visits), we decided to leave the dog at home because it was super hot. But, I think in the future, we will take the dog if we can arrive to the beach around 8 am. The second reason we were interested in this beach: It is fairly close to Silver Spring, MD. With a departure of 9am, we arrived at the beach around 10 am on a summer weekday. For the most part, we did not experience too much traffic (on a weekday) in both directions Silver Spring-Matapeake-Silver Spring. Also, I think there were 1-2 tolls in each directions. Overall, I thought the beach/park was very clean and well-maintained. I'll note that there are not very many amenities (if any) on or near the beach the beach (e.g., food vendors), which necessarily was not a bad thing for me. Although parking is limited, it is free (a very pleasant surprise) as of June 2025. I'm not 100% sure, but I think there were like 50 (or less) parking spaces. Since we visited on a weekday, we did not have any trouble finding a spot in the parking lot. However, I can imagine that parking my be a bit of a nightmare on weekends and holidays. Also, the access to the beach was free (another pleasant surprise). The folks at the beach were pretty friendly and respectful of their surroundings -- for instance, I did not hear super loud music (just the soundtrack of waves, a few dogs barking, and a few kids playing); see people acting a plum fool; notice substantial litter (or other not so fun things) on the beach. Even though we were disappointed that we had to take down our beach tent, the park ranger was super nice about it. The water was a pretty smooth with little to no waves so it is nice for little humans and dogs. I think I had to walk about 0.25 miles to get to a point where the water was waist level to me, but that was a VERY minor inconvenience. Overall, I think this is a great beach for a quick day (or half a day) trip.

Ellen O Moyer Back Nature Park at Back Creek is a small park with trails adjoining at the Annapolis…read moreMaritime Museum. There is a seating area in front of the museum in which you can sit, read a book, or just enjoy nature. A Take a Book, Return a Book box is also located in this handicapped accessible area; a limited amount of handicapped parking is available. There is a second parking lot just a minute or two further away. Take in the surrounding waterscape and homes, enjoy the sailboats from the water's edge, or launch your kayak. Most of the trails are dirt from which you can see a variety of birds and waterfowl, flora, squirrels and an occasional deer. There is an overlook along the trail, seating and a covered pavilion. While walking read information re the ecotechnology walk, view the Rainscaping.org use of rain water, and catch up on other environmentally friendly options.

Add this to the "The Best 10 Hiking in Annapolis, MD"…read more With land surrounding the Patuxent and Little Patuxent rivers between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, MD, the Patuxent Research Refuge has grown from the original 2,670 acres to its present size of 12,841 acres and encompasses land formerly managed by the Departments of Agriculture and Defense. At the North Tract, approximately 20 miles of roads and trails exist for hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding. The Baltimore Gas and Electric Company has contributed to the creation of a wetland and wildlife viewing area where visitors may see waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors and songbirds in an area that was formerly an artillery firing range. See https://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/Region_5/NWRS/South_Zone/Patuxent_Research_Refuge/NorthTractTrailsMap.pdf At the South Tract, approximately 5 miles of trails exist for hiking only (no bicycles are allowed). Trails and the seasonal tram tours highlight wildlife habitat and management practices. See https://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/Region_5/NWRS/South_Zone/Patuxent_Research_Refuge/SouthTractTrailMap.pdf

Located off Powder Mill road, it offers nice trails and is open free to the public. The visitor…read morecenter was closed, assuming because of COVID. We went looking for wildlife, but they must have been hiding or sleeping. Oh well, we will come some other time.

Decent dog park close to our home. Had visited earlier this summer with my pup and his canine…read morecousin (my sister's dog). Started that visit in the small dog side and then ventured into the large dog side. I liked that there was an interior connecting fence without having to go back out and back in. Came back to give my pup some exercise on this beautiful fall afternoon before sunset. Not many four legged friends around but he still managed to have fun and got lots of exercise. The two visits, the grass is in much better condition than in the photos I had seen on the Bring Fido website. The only downside is that there is no accessible water. A nearby drinking fountain is locked and not working. Fortunately I always carry some but other dog owners did not have any. Please pet parents- make sure you carry water if you visit this dog park.

This park is a hidden gem. It's never too crowded, has a great mix of people and a trail. There's…read morealso a baseball field and soccer field. Its on a very quiet street. Its cool and shaded with picnic tables.