This place is a joke. Went there yesterday just to drive through the park so I could show it to my…read moregirlfriend and was told by the park ranger that I had to download the app and create an account before we were allowed to get in. They couldn't simply take the $10.00 entry fee let us in and create the account later. Instead they had to inconvenience us and tell me that I had to create an account first, Bottom line is that I will never come back to this dump again. Maryland sucks all around as they have some of the most outdated facilities at virtually all of their state parks. Typical democratic run state

Be aware, do not stay on campground: There are ticks everywhere, including playground. I have never…read moreseen that amount of ticks in my 50-years camping experience. It is difficult to avoid contact with poison ivy. Probably only if you stay on the main road. I reserved 2 campsite: one for 6 people, another was claimed as for 12 people. They are of the same size and advertisement still did not change. Comfortably you can set just one tent on the gravel surface.

Really great place for a day trip with the family…read more The beach is nice and the water looked clean. There is a nice path about half mile to the beach. Go early as the parking lot can fill up.

Ok, the jellyfish were so bad this time that we couldn't even get in the water properly. I was…read morestung within a minute in not even ankle deep water (their stings are not terrible but not recommended). Minus one star, but I would still recommend it turning non-jellyfish season.

A beautiful park, the walks to the two beaches (fossil beach and the Potomac waterfront) are not…read morefor the faint of heart! Totally worth the hikes, but the beach trail down to the waterfront with all the breakwaters is about 250 stairs. And STEEP! It looks like they are building a road down to there right from the campground that will take you right there. You can drive down on an actual road but where's the fun in that? The camper sights are nice and mostly level. In campground A, most face into the forest so you don't see your neighbors. And it's the closest to the beach trails. Not all sights in campground A have water and electric so check b4 booking. We had site a26 and it was good. But the a sites (1-7) are the best. We did both hikes in one day, so there isn't much of anything else to do. Unless you love to just hike. In which case there are plenty of other trails. The staff is very friendly. There are no public restrooms close.

Westmoreland state park is a true hidden gem located in Westmoreland past King George VA. It is…read moreclose to the George Washington Birthplace. Parking cost about $10 at the entrance. When I was driving in I noticed campgrounds but unsure if there are cabins. They have a nice playground and bathrooms close by. Near the visitor center there is also a Discovery Center however we did not stop by. The ranger let us know that they have more things to look at. We came to check out the Fossil Beach and found a small shark tooth. The rangers were very helpful and kept my kids very engaged while sharing all about the cool things this park has to offer. Inside the visitor center you can find snacks, water fountains, restrooms, air conditioning, a neat gift shop, turtles, and snakes. Ask about their Jr. Ranger program/booklet. It is very kid friendly even for older toddlers. Definitely make a day trip out of this park. In addition to shark teeth hunting you can also swim in the river. Many people were here with umbrellas and towels. It is about a 0.5 mile hike to get to Fossil beach.

Calvert County is blessed with a rich variety of small parks. This one is located in Port Republic…read moreand is a well maintained and safe way to do some hiking, learn about the area and get some fresh air. The Biscoe Gray Heritage Farm, a site rich in natural and cultural resources, is a living laboratory to explore, understand, and experience Calvert County agricultural practices and lifestyles throughout its history--from Native American transitory settlement, small scale colonial farming, 19th c. era agriculture, 20th c. tobacco farming to contemporary, pioneering community supported agricultural and sustainable farming efforts. Through archaeological preservation, interpretive site development and programming, and hands-on educational opportunities, the Farm targets children and youths but also includes activities and experiences for those of all ages and physical abilities. The landscape contains a topographic range from cultivated upland ridge, wooded slopes, a variety of marsh gradients, to open water creek, marking it as a unique facility to the Chesapeake Bay watershed's network of sites that support K-12 education, public outdoor recreation opportunities, heritage appreciation, and tourism. Numerous easy trails and not very crowded. Parking area is small but due to the lack of crowds you should have no issues.

So cute, nice park if you have a dog who needs exercise and doesn't listen to come. One of my 3 is…read morelike that and will bring him back here. Lucky to have this in Calvert County.

Largest dog park I have ever encountered. Four separate sections. Good water supply in all. Sunny…read morebut with shade patches, benches. What more could you ask for?

Great dog park in the SOMD area. Four fenced off field areas, 2 for smaller dogs and 2 for larger…read moredogs. There is a hose with water available in each fenced area, along with poopie bags. Excellent field to run and play, and was very happy to leave with a tuckered our pup! It's nice to have a good community area where dogs and humans can socialize (or not, if that's your thing!). There are a lot of benches, so you can enjoy your human time at the park as well

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.

This is a beautiful marina. Went fishing there quite lots of fish. The people are very hospitable…read moreand nice little shops in the area. Lotta drinking holes as well

I cannot imagine there being a better Park in the area. My almost 2-year-old and I can spend hours…read morehere and she still enjoys running around and playing. There is a great toddler area next to a big kid space. A good amount of options for swings for different preferences. Really, just wish the park was bigger and was handicap accessible, otherwise, great park!