SPORTS & RECREATION / PARKS & NATURE

Wonderful nature centers, lush parks, and picturesque open space are available throughout the Metropolitan Baltimore region. Many of these relaxing and panoramic preserves and national parks also boast historical significance and living history attractions. Both city and county parks and recreation departments provide sports facilities and thousands of acres of lush parkland. At every turn, you’ll find active residents who are enjoying and preserving nature’s bounty.

National Parks & Preserves

Assateague Island National Seashore
7206 National Seashore Lane
Berlin 410-641-1441
www.nps.gov/asis

Fort McHenry National Monument
East Fort Avenue at Locust Point
Fort McHenry 410-962-4290
www.nps.gov/fomc

Fort Washington Park
1551 Fort Washington Road
Ft. Washington 301-763-4600
www.nps.gov/fowa

Hampton National Historic Site
and Park
535 Hampton Lane
Towson 410-823-1309
www.nps.gov/hamp

Greenbelt Park
6565 Greenbelt Road
Greenbelt 301-344-3948
www.nps.gov/gree

Oxon Cove Park& Oxon Hill Farm
6411 Oxon Hill Road
Oxon Hill 301-839-1176
www.nps.gov/oxhi

Piscataway Park
13551 Fort Washington Road
Ft. Washington 301-763-4600
www.nps.gov/pisc

Maryland State Parks
Elk Neck State Park
4395 Turkey Point Road
North East 410-287-5333
www.dcr.virginia.gov

Fair Hill Natural Resource Management Area
376 Fair Hill Drive
Elkton 410-398-1246
www.dcr.virginia.gov

Hart-Miller Island State Park
2813 Jerusalem Road
Kingsville 410-592-2897
www.dcr.virginia.gov

Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary
11704 Fenno Road
Upper Marlboro 301-888-1410
www.dcr.virginia.gov

Gunpowder Falls State Park
2813 Jerusalem Road
Kingsville 410-592-2897
www.dcr.virginia.gov

Morgan Run Natural
Environment Area
8020 Baltimore National Pike
Ellicott City 410-461-5005
www.dcr.virginia.gov

North Point State Park
2813 Jerusalem Road
Kingsville 410-592-2897
www.dnr.state.md.us

Patapsco Valley State Park
8020 Baltimore National Pike
Ellicott City 410-461-5005
www.dnr.state.md.us

Rocks State Park
3318 Rocks Chrome Hill Road
Jarrettsville 10-557-7994
www.dcr.virginia.gov

Rosaryville State Park
8714 Rosaryville Road
Upper Marlboro 301-856-9656
www.dcr.virginia.gov

Sandy Point State Park
1100 East College Parkway
Annapolis 410-974-2149
www.dcr.virginia.gov

Seneca Creek State Park &
Patuxent River State Park
11950 Clopper Road
Gaithersburg 301-924-2127
www.dcr.virginia.gov

Soldiers Delight Natural
Environment Area
5100 Deer Park Road
Owings Mills 410-922-3044
www.dcr.virginia.gov

Susquehanna State Park
3318 Rocks Chrome Hill Road
Jarrettsville 410-557-7994
www.dcr.virginia.gov

Gardens & Nature Attractions

Baltimore Conservatory
& Botanic Gardens
Druid Hill Park
Baltimore 410-396-0180
www.baltimorecity.gov
Enjoy three display greenhouses and 1.5 acres of exquisite flower gardens.

Hancock’s Resolution Garden
2795 Bayside Beach Road
Pasadena 410-222-7300
www.aacounty.org
Special events, historic sites, and lovely gardens make this a popular destination.

Helen Avalynne Tawes Garden
580 Taylor Avenue
Annapolis  410-260-8189
http://dnr.maryland.gov
Five acres of blooms and plantings represent Maryland’s various geographic areas and create a backdrop for popular concerts and special events.

The Maryland Zoo
Druid Hill Park
Baltimore 410-396-7102
www.marylandzoo.org
Surrounded by a park setting, the zoo features natural habitats from an African savannah to the Chimpanzee Forest.

Beltsville Agricultural Research Center
10300 Baltimore Boulevard
Beltsville301-504-6078
www.ars.usda.gov
The world’s largest and most diversified agricultural research complex welcomes thousands of visitors each year.

Oxon Hill Farm
6411 Oxon Hill Road
Oxon Hill 301-839-1176
www.nps.gov/oxhi
Creating an earthy getaway, the farm offers special programs and  popular activities like gathering eggs and taking wagon rides.

Catonsville Historical Society
Knot Garden
1824 Frederick Road
Catonsville 410-744-3034
http://catonsvillehistoricalsociety.org/index.html
Intricate patterns of miniature hedgework interspersed with colored materials or plants create the illusion of knots.

Hampton National Historic Site
535 Hampton Lane
Towson 410-823-1309
www.nps.gov/hamp
The centerpiece of an elegantly furnished Georgian mansion enjoys the beauty of formal gardens and shade trees.

Brookside Gardens
1800 Glenallan Avenue
Wheaton 301-962-1400
www.montgomeryparks.org
Close to home in Montgomery County are these incomparable, award-winning 50-acre public display gardens that are showcased in Wheaton Regional Park.

Carroll County Farm Museum
500 S. Center Street
Westminster 410-848-7775
http://carrollcountyfarmmuseum.org/
See how families and soldiers lived in the 1800s at this historic site where actors dress in period costumes and visitors can enjoy a variety of special events.

Cylburn Arboretum
4915 Greenspring Avenue
Baltimore 410-367-2217
www.cylburnassociation.org
More than 200 acres create a haven of open space, tranquility, and natural beauty with picturesque gardens, woodlands, historic buildings, and collections.

Evergreen House
The Johns Hopkins University
4545 N. Charles Street
Baltimore 410-516-0341
www.jhu.edu
More than 25 acres offer manicured lawns, flower gardens, meadows, woods, statuary, and charming walkways.

Historic London Town & Gardens
839 Londontown Road
Edgewater 410-222-1919
www.historiclondontown.com
Vistas of the South River and shady glades grace these premier woodland gardens that blend an unusual and exotic collection of plants and blooms that are designed to offer year-round fascination.

Ladew Topiary Gardens
3535 Jarrettsville Pike
Monkton 410-557-9466
www.ladewgardens.com
Internationally known for its topiary and flower gardens, the site offers a 1.5-mile woodland trail and boardwalk through wetland forest and marsh. Children will be enthralled by the various animal shapes of the artfully trimmed greenery.

National Aquarium in Baltimore
501 E. Pratt Street
Baltimore 410-576-3800
https://aqua.org
Beyond the fascination of the aquarium itself are special programs such as spending an entire day on the bay with the Aquarium Conservation Team.

National Colonial Farm
3400 Bryan Point Road
Accokeek 301-283-2113
https://accokeekfoundation.org
Skilled interpreters highlight the colonial structures, fields, gardens, and animals.

National Zoological Park
3001 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 202-673-4800
http://nationalzoo.si.edu
This 163-acre zoological park in Rock Creek National Park in the heart of the City is home to more than 2,700 animals from 435 different species.

Old Maryland Farm
301 Watkins Park Drive
Upper Marlboro 301-218-6770
www.pgparks.com
Agricultural exhibits, livestock, and display gardens offer a unique farming experience for all ages.

Patterson Park
2601 E. Baltimore Street
Baltimore 410-276-3676
http://pattersonpark.com
Audubon programs and shared gardening are only two of the park’s many programs.

Sherwood Gardens
4100 Greenway Street
Baltimore 410-396-7900
www.baltimorecity.gov
More than 80,000 tulips light up this 7-acre garden during peak blooming season, complementing the array of other plantings and blooms.

William Paca House & Garden
186 Prince George Street
Annapolis 410-263-5553
www.annapolis.org
Complementing the historic structures are two lush acres of exquisite landscaping and plantings appropriate to the era.

Woodend
8940 Jones Mill Road
Chevy Chase 301-652-9188
https://woodendsanctuary.org/
Enjoy the serenity of a wildflower meadow, hike the meandering trails, and explore the rich aquatic pond life at this peaceful 40-acre nature sanctuary.

Regional Trails

Appalachian National Scenic Trail
2,172 miles, Maine to Georgia
Harper’s Ferry, WV 304-535-6331
www.appalachiantrail.org

Baltimore & Annapolis rail
13 miles, Glen Burnie to Annapolis
Severna Park 410-222-6244
www.aacounty.org

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Trail
184.5 miles, D.C. to Cumberland
1850 Dual Highway
Hagerstown 301-739-4200
www.nps.gov/choh

Northern Central Railroad Trail
16 miles, Baltimore County
Gunpowder Falls State Park
2813 Jerusalem Road
Kingsville 410-592-2897
www.dcr.virginia.gov

Cycling In Maryland

Maryland Bicycle Information
Baltimore 800-252-8776
www.mdot.maryland.gov

Baltimore Bicycle Club
Baltimore 410-792-8308
www.baltobikeclub.org

Chesapeake Wheelman Racing Club
Baltimore 410-247-4064
www.chesapeakewheelmen.org

Oxon Hill Bicycle & Trail Club
Oxon Hill 301-567-8856
www.ohbike.org

Rails to Trails Conservancy
Washington, D.C. 202-331-9696
www.railstotrails.org

United States Cycling Federation
Colorado Springs, CO 719-866-4581
www.usacycling.org

City/County Parks & Recreation

Anne Arundel County
Annapolis 410-222-7300
www.aacounty.org

Annapolis City
Annapolis 410-263-7958
www.annapolis.gov

Baltimore City
Baltimore 410-396-790
www.baltimorecity.gov

Baltimore County
Towson 410-887-3871
www.baltimorecity.gov

Carroll County
Westminster 410-386-2103
www.carr.org

Harford County
Bel Air 410-638-3570
www.harfordcountymd.gov

Howard County
Columbia 410-313-4700
https://www.howardcountymd.gov/Departments/Recreation-and-Parks/Parks-and-Planning/Park-Directory

Prince George’s County
Lanham 301-918-8111
www.pgparks.com

REGIONAL RESOURCES

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

State Parks & Forests
800-830-3974
http://dnr.maryland.gov

Camping/Cabin Reservations
888-432-2267
http://dnr.maryland.gov

Outdoor Discover Campus
410-260-815
http://dnr.maryland.gov

USDA National Forest Service
202-205-8333
https://www.fs.usda.gov/

Scenic Bridges
Enjoy a walk or a run across any of these scenic bridges that offer unmatched vistas. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Walk and the Governor’s Bay Bridge Run are evens that draw more than 65,000 participants.

Annual Bay Bridge Walk
Annapolis 877-BAYSPAN
http://mta.maryland.gov
Each year since 1975 the Maryland Transportation Authority opens a span of the bridge just for walkers.

The Governor’s Bay Bridge Run
Annapolis 74-544-7700
www.annapolisstriders.org
This annual 10K foot race over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge is conducted by the Annapolis Striders.

Bollman Truss Bridge
Foundry Street
Off U.S. Route 1
Savage
Now a hiking bridge, this hybrid cast and wrought-iron bridge once carried B&O railroad cars to the Midwest and back.

Jericho Covered Bridge
Jericho Road
Off U.S. Route 1
Kingsville
Built in 1864, the wooden bridge still carries vehicles across the Gunpowder Falls.

Thomas Viaduct
Levering Avenue off U.S. Route 1
Elkridge
Avoid the tracks on this working railroad but visitors can walk up to either end of the viaduct.