This park is a ton of fun. Built within the past 5 years, this park has everything. It has swings,…read moremega slides, a spider web climber, and baby zones. It even has disability friendly options and party zones. I love taking my kids here to just run free. The only downfall I see is when some neighborhood teenagers come around and play aggressive tag games and curse. It is a place for smaller children and they are welcome, but bring inappropriate and unsafe behaviors.

This might be the best playground I've ever been to. Multiple layers to the playground with a…read morevariety of equipment that is age appropriate and safe. Tons of spaces to explore and play. I love the secured locked gate. I can't not wait to go back when the weather is nicer. We had the best time despite the foggy conditions!

The Howard County Recreation & Parks Summer Concert Series at Centennial Park is a fantastic way to…read morespend a summer evening! We saw I&I Riddim at the Centennial Park Amphitheater, and they brought incredible music and such a fun, relaxing vibe. The beautiful park setting made it even better. This was the first of the five-concert summer series, with free concerts taking place on Thursday evenings through August 5. If you're looking for a laid-back night with great live music, this is definitely worth checking out. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, relax, and enjoy a wonderful evening outdoors!

I love summertime and this park is perfect to park in the shade and enjoy breakfast. This moment…read morewas followed by a break walk around the loop. Without my dog, this time,I was approached by a squirrel and even two deer. It's nice having so many wonderful things to do outside!

An update to my previous review. Still a beautiful trail for your hot girl/guy walk in…read moreColumbia/Howard County ‍

Another fun lake to walk around with family and dogs. No big hills here and about a mile around…read more This is a great walking spot. There are plenty of joggers and bikers here as well. Parking near Whole Foods and the fountain is a great place to start. There are often lake side concerts and activities in the summer as well

Great hiking trails, scenic swaying bridge, streams, and waterfalls. I had a very enjoyable…read moreSaturday morning/afternoon and I'll be back.

There's a resident Bald Eagle in the park now and I've seen him five times this spring. Saw him…read moreflying upstream with a fish in his talons today. Woodpeckers, blue jays, and nuthatches were there today.

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!

My friend and I really enjoyed coming here for a good afternoon hike. The signs were clear and the…read morehike with the waterfall was really nice. There were restrooms by the parking lot and the park wasn't too crowded. We had a great time exploring this part of Patapsco!

Absolutely gorgeous gardens and the best part is that admission is completely free…read more Rain or shine, the gardens were stunning and exceptionally well maintained. We were impressed by the variety of plant collections, some of which rivaled gardens we had previously paid admission to visit. Parking was free and we chose to park at the Visitor Center. However, those planning to visit the Butterfly Experience should park closer to the Conservatory, as the walk between the two was fairly substantial. The map was detailed and pathways were well maintained, making the grounds accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. We purchased tickets for the Butterfly Experience and check in was quick and seamless. I did find the additional $2 service charge unfortunate, especially since there was no option to purchase tickets in person. Thankfully, staff were flexible with entry timing. The volunteers were incredibly kind and guided visitors through the double door system efficiently. Inside, butterflies freely flew around the conservatory and many rested on the ground, so we had to stay mindful of where we stepped. I especially appreciated the bulletin board displaying all the butterfly species currently housed inside. The Children's Garden was relatively small but wonderfully colorful and dense with greenery. The vibrant artwork throughout added a whimsical charm that made the area feel playful and inviting. Nearby, the Winter Garden and Camellia Garden were similarly well maintained, though neither was particularly abundant in blooms during our visit. I still appreciated the many art installations scattered throughout the surrounding trails. The Fragrance Garden absolutely lived up to its name and ended up being one of my favorite sections. Beyond the floral aromas surrounding the garden, the entire area felt incredibly serene and the air itself felt remarkably fresh and crisp. The Japanese Tea House was beautifully simplistic, featuring plain wooden benches along the exterior while overlooking still water framed by lush Japanese trees. The Anderson Pavilion offered a similar tranquil atmosphere on the opposite side of the Visitor Center, though surrounded by a different collection of trees and landscaping. The Visitor Center contained a small gift shop, though I did not notice many customized or particularly memorable souvenirs. The building otherwise seemed primarily dedicated to educational programming and exhibits. The grounds were incredibly well maintained and there was an impressive variety of gardens to explore and interact with. While I found the Butterfly Experience somewhat expensive, it would absolutely be worthwhile for those who have never visited an active conservatory before. Otherwise, the free portions of Brookside Gardens alone make this an easy and worthwhile stop for anyone in the area.

This is a lovely park and served as a great alternative to going downtown to see the cherry…read moreblossoms. They have areas to sit with various views of the lake. Dogs are not allowed unless they are service animals. There are centers on the premises that have bathrooms in addition to events and programs they give yearly.

Read the reviews before coming here and it's still a very nice playground. There are a couple…read moredifferent areas that need repair but at least they are blocked off so that parents are aware and keep their kids away from those areas. One review mentioned a grilling area but I didn't see any grill at the pavillion.

This playground is huge and has tons of features…read more Unfortunately several are broken. However there are still enough features to keep a ton of kids entertained. The maze of features are y'all enough so that adults can access all elements and thus play with or keep track of their kids, which is a HUGE plus. I would have listed a 5+ except for the two broken features

I came here for a kid's birthday party and the children had quite a time! This party was astronaut…read morethemed so the instructor brought in a building set that would allow the kids to build spaceships. After building spaceships we were taken to the planetarium so the kids could travel to space. The kids loved seeing the different stars and planets. I enjoyed the show myself as well. It's been quite some time since I've been to a planetarium. After the initial show the kids ate pizza and cake and then returned to the planetarium. The second time in the planetarium they watched a movie about the stars and evolution. It looks like there's so much to see and do here, I'll definitely have to return to experience some of the other things they have to offer. However, I can definitely recommend having a kids party here. I would say ideally for someone in kindergarten and older.

Overall: excellent place for little kids to enjoy the outdoors, fun birthday parties, kind staff,…read moreinclusive bathrooms Visiting the outdoor areas is free but the inside costs money. We frequent the outdoor areas with our family. They have short easy hikes that cross a little creek, excellent for kids. There is a playground with a slide, hammocks, musical instruments, building blocks, and a mud kitchen. They put on outdoor plays and they have a kids garden area where they host events and classes. We prefer the outside to the inside. The inside has a discovery play room for kids with some creatures, toys, and dress ups. There are a couple exhibits and animals to view inside as well. We attended a 3 year old birthday party here and it was a hit. They have different themes and activities. This one had a play and the kids got to meet and touch a turtle.