We've never actually been inside the center, but my kids absolutely love the mud kitchen and music…read moregarden, so we find ourselves frequenting the free outdoor grounds pretty often. It's such a fun little spot tucked away, and I love that we can easily pair some playtime with a quick lap around the nature path. The area is nicely shaded, which makes it a great option even when the weather is warmer. And I have to mention the tube slide, I love it just as much as the kids do! It's become one of our favorite little places to stop for some free outdoor fun.

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.

Columbia is known for all the nature trails, lakes, villages etc. This particular trail is my "to…read morego" since it's very close in proximity. I usually do my walks, bike rides with my dad and daughter, jogs and you might see me with a jumprope. Just a good trail for some fresh air and to get my steps in! It can be a bit crowded at time but the people do practice social distancing / wear mask.

This is one of our favorite trails to go one for sure. I think the greatest thing about living in…read moreHoward Co. is all the different trails available. I have walked this trail both ways and up to the Wincopin Trails and Its always enjoyable. It is heavily trafficked if you go the bike path way, I recommend going towards Wincopin Trails if you rather be more secluded.

What a nice day for a walk. It's springtime and the sights are simply gorgeous! It's also a great…read moreplace to exercise.

One of my fav lakes to walk around. It does get bush on the weekend but if you go early you have…read morethe lake to yourself. I love the days I get there early enough to see the mist rising off the water and all the animals are still around and active. I love walking my dog here as well There's an also a nice playground for the kids.

Very scenic and relaxing trail! This was my first time. I can't believe I had never been here. It…read morecertainly won't be my last. I met up with a group this morning for a walk! I parked nearby on the street and we began our walk. I loved that it's shaded so the walk wasn't bad. There were a few walking with dogs and children. I definitely recommend coming here! There's nearby food and shopping options.

I absolutely love this trail. My dogs and I enjoy hiking here. They enjoy the water break at the…read moreend of the lake. They jump into the river all of the time. My son saw his first deer here (he's a Florida native).

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!

A county-managed natural preserve right in the middle of the county. It's over 1000 acres and has…read moreseveral miles of trails. The official parking location right off Trotter Road looks more like a national park facility than one of our humble county ones- lots of spaces, landscaping, informational signage, and bathrooms. There's an educational nature trail (grab the brochure on your way onto the trail), a good place to bring a family you're teaching to love the natural world. Lots of lovely old poplar trees. The north end of the park has "deep woods" vibes since unlike other local parks, there's no mountain bikers, no horses, no picnicers, and the river is a good walk away. Plus a large buffer zone extended north from there. Until a jet on final approach to BWI roars overhead to break the spell. There's riverfront access along the Connector trail. Respect the signage regarding closed areas. Most of the trails seemed suitable for runners. Note the trails around the Meadow on the map is mowed into the fields, which makes for a different experience underfoot (not my favorite personally). The parking lot is gated with signage saying it closes at sunset. However, the gate is powered and gave the impression it's the kind that won't lock you in- but best to check with the county to verify that. The trails here weren't my favorite (PVSP trails are more interesting to hike), but having such a substantial greenspace and nature preserve right in the middle of the county is great, and having it quiet and natural is even better. We in central Maryland are lucky to have so many of these kinds of spots.

My bf and I LOVE hiking here. The trails are mostly fairly easy/moderate and there are several…read morepaths you can take. As with most hiking places, be careful after it rains since it can get very muddy in some places. I also really appreciate that right next to the parking lot are clean bathrooms with running water and water fountains. The trails are fairly well marked and there are also maps available. There were also pamphlets of a list of all the different species of birds that live in area which was a pleasant surprise! My favorite part is the meadow area with really tall grass. But there were a couple of bird houses and once we saw many swallows (I think?) flying in the area and perching on the bird houses. Parts of the trail also go alongside the stream (I think the middle Patuxent river) and it's a very serene area and walk. We have already came here to hike a handful of times and plan to come back in the near future for more relaxing hikes!

We spent our Fourth of July at Terrapin and it was absolutely wonderful! From being welcomed at the…read moredesk (I am so sorry I can't remember his name!), to our awesome guides Justin and Jasmine, to Scott who helped at the swing and doing the belay to get us down - we truly enjoyed the whole experience (despite the unbearable heat this weekend). Justin and Jasmine made sure we stayed hydrated, and regularly brought us into the air conditioning to avoid overheating. They ensured our safety every moment we were there. The rope course was insanely fun, the giant swing and zip line were a blast and our favorite part was honestly the rock climbing! Justin and Jasmine were fantastic - we will definitely come back (preferably not during a heat wave haha) and hope they will be our guides again - every single person today made it memorable for my family! Thank you so much!!!

We have enjoyed this camp for years, but 2026 brought parental concerns over hearing that children…read moregrouped up to 12 years old were sharing bathrooms if another identified as the opposite sex. This should be an opportunity to identify a solution comfortable for everyone affected by providing single use options, as opposed to telling my daughter "it's ok because he identifies as a she". It caused an uncomfortable situation for girls and concerns for parents. No young girl should feel uncomfortable or anxious using the restroom.

Easy parking for trail access (closes at dusk, but no gate and it's lit up). There's also access…read morefrom a few other spots. This is a 1-2 mile drive from Savage Mill. Trails are very well maintained and marked - almost too well (less of a wild feel). Only the very start is paved, don't despair, it gets more interesting. Decent circuit trail routes, can be added together for more mileage. I did a variation following the water which made my completed route 3.14 miles. Various bits of history tucked away in the young woodland- read up about the quarries and railroads if you're into local history. That's what those massive granite abutments (with no bridge to match) are all about. Lots of riverbank access. Decent number of toads on and near the trail at dusk. Road noise from I-95 on the western side but overall surprisingly peaceful escape from suburbia. This sort of open space is a major perk of living in Maryland.

Great trail for a peaceful, fairly easy hike. I did the red trail, and a good portion of it runs…read morealong the river which is nice. The red trail is very well marked and loops back to the small parking lot at the trailhead. Portions of the trail are a bit rocky, and there's also a bit of elevation, but overall it wasn't really strenuous at all. I'd go back and follow a few different trails next time !

This was so much fun! Hands down all the gold stars will go back!! My 11 year old son loved it too!read more

Overall, we had a great experience. Scott checked us in quickly and was pleasant to talk with. We…read morewere lucky enough to have the mountaintop camping site to ourselves since no one else booked for this week( likely due to the extreme heat and 4th of July holiday). The bathhouse was clean and had hot water. Most campsites only have lukewarm or cold water. There were also an abundance of toilet facilities and they were well maintained/cleaned. The view of the Potomac was breathtaking and the only downfall was that the camping sites are relatively close to each other both on the mountain and at the river's edge. I do recommend this center, however, and we will likely return when back in the area!

Came here for some interval training and was really impressed with how beautiful and clean the…read moretrack is. There are also plenty of other fields and facilities for different activities, along with plenty of parking. There's no traditional running track, but this setup works perfectly for me. The bathrooms are also clean and don't smell, which is always a plus! It's still new, so I hope they keep everything this well-maintained. I'll definitely be back to use the basketball and tennis/pickleball courts!

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.