Hidden gem in Monkton, MD with 22 acres of more than 100 larger than life topiaries. It has 15…read morethemed gardens like the yellow garden, iris garden and yellow garden. It has a manor house filled with memorabilia. Nature walk with a mile long path throughout the property. Butterfly house can also be found in this property. Ladew topiary garden is a non profit, seasonal property with amazing staffs. They're friendly and very helpful as well as being polite. It has gift shop, cafe and picnic tables. Special mention to Shirley, cafe staff for loving , warmly, hospitable service provided to us specially to my mom who turned 93 years old and a garden lover. Place is well kept and properly maintained. Restroom at the cafe is clean and tidy.

Ladew Topiary is worth the trip! There are 28 sites on the property. Call ahead to make sure you…read morehave the correct times for the Butterfly House. They close when temperatures are extremely hot. The butterfly tour was about 30 minutes, and they carried over a dozen butterflies indigenous to the area. In addition to this, I saw butterflies in their cocoon stage that looked like peas in a pod on tree branches. The guide was engaging and knowledgeable. My favorite sites were the Tivoli Tea House & Garden, decked in pink mixed with popular Blue Willow, Chinoiserie design; a little clubhouse with a bar, fireplace, and gathering table tucked in the woods. Harvey Ladew brought guests out to this location for cards, cocktails, and his alone time. The Yellow Garden has a koi pond, beautiful yellow plants and flowers in bloom with a pagoda style gazebo to sit in nature. A horse stable elevated and repurposed into a cafe with soups, sandwiches, salads, and snacks with an outdoor terrace. I enjoyed a grilled cheese with tomato soup. There's lots of walking with no hills, places to sit from garden to garden. I recommend a bright sunny day when the flowers are in full peak to see the property at it's very best. Free maps are available to make sure you don't miss anything. Great way to spend the day!

I enjoyed the trail and this clean rest/pit stop along the NCR trail in Monkton. The nature views…read moreare amazing and serene

Beautiful place of peace…read more Well maintained trailhead with bike rental, tube rental, coffee, sports drink and Restrooms. Lots of parking here. Lot is small but Road is reasonably signed with where parking is allowed. Trail is packed dirt with an almost imperceivable grade. Great greenery with a few historic old brick formations. Great place to relax or wander with friends and family.

[Coronavirus review] Maryland is a diverse state, and…read morefrankly this is the least interesting region of it, lacking the grace and and beauty of shale infused mountains to the west, the richness and peace of the waterside, or the dynamism and diversity of the more urban areas, Central Maryland is mostly known for farms and horses, which are nice enough but not something I drive to. This park does have some things to offer, and it is a viable destination during corona time. Parking in the "rapids" (I discerned nothing approaching white water on the lazy stream running by) is free, but yields a significant uphill climb up stairs that look like they might lead up to Shelob's lair. The park lives up to its name. If you're looking to shed some corona pounds, the trails are not long, but the changes in elevation make for a workout. The most picturesque rock outcropping challenged my fear of heights and I got the best shots I could. A wetland on the other side was a nice change of pace. I'm not a huge fan of parks that have different sites under one name, but in this case, the satellite Rocks Park sites, including Hidden Valley and a waterfall both to the north, provide a combined experience which makes the drive more worthwhile. I got a couple of hours of hiking out of the main location, but a solid half day including the other two sites, so if you're going to drive up here, you might as well check everything out.

This review is specifically for the King and Queen Seat Loop (white trail). Came at 10am on a Sat…read moreAM in Feb (30 deg, windy). Had no trouble parking at what I assume is the Rapids Parking Area prob 0.1 miles down from the Park HQ. The spot I parked at had about 5-6 spots, did not cost $, and there were not many people there that day at all. The tree blazes are well marked and visible with the different colors and there are plenty of signs on the trail for guidance (some of them were a bit convoluted). Well kept trails, with plenty of mossy rocks (true to name) and running next to a river/creek. I'm sure there would be much more greenery and plant life in the spring and summer. For the King and Queen Seat Loop (white trail) specifically: - at the trailhead, turn left to get the whole 3 mile loop experience (turning right leads you straight to the rock/view which isn't very rewarding). At some point you run into the blue loop which you can take for a small detour before coming back to the white trail. - as someone who works out and runs regularly, the loop is easy to mild moderate. Not too much incline. Great for a nature walk with some terrain and nice views. - the view at the King and Queen Seat is great! Hawks also perch and fly around there so you can see them pretty closely! Overall, a very nice park! I would come back again another season when more plants are back to life and also to check out Kilgore Falls close by.

Big open areas for large and small dog breeds. Enrichment for animals and humans (trees, gazebos,…read morebenches, etc.). Everyone cleans up after themselves (for the most part). On a personal note: my doggo has social anxiety. She loves humans, but dogs she's less interested in. Bringing my baby to this wonderful community has helped open her up and she's even started to understand fetch (at home, for now)!

We LOVE this dog park! It is huge and remarkably clean! My boy will go nuts the second we turn down…read morethe road that the park is on. We have so many doggy friends and everyone is nice. It's a common understanding that if your pup and another get into a scuffle (which happens because some dogs just don't get along, and that's OK) that the aggressor of the pair leaves for the day, no hard feelings! There is a above 30lb area and below 30lb area

Just felt in love with this park, so beautiful, there are many areas around but we spend most of…read morethe time in the garden and playground. I was amazed for its butterflies and flowers love

When a place is lovely in the dead of winter, you know you've found a good spot! Really impressed…read morewith this park. Well-designed and spotless. Obviously visitors and park officials are doing their part to keep the place ship-shape. Brought my dog for a run; he met two other large-breed pups to romp with inside the multi-acre fenced space for large dogs. Small dogs have the adjacent fenced area. Hard to believe the dog park is free. It's downhill from the playground and pavilions, away from kids and picnickers. Beautiful views from the top of the hill where you enter the park and where the pavilions are. Playground looks awesome. We had a nice hike to the dog park area through mowed fields. I noticed paved walkways directly to the pavilions from the parking area. Perhaps an additional path could be put in, with dogpaw-shaped stepping stones or whatever, to guide dog owners to the top of the hill where the trail leads down to the dog runs. Because yes-- it is tricky if you don't know where to go. I appreciate the other Yelpers who gave clear directions on where to go with my dog, thanks! He had a great time here and we'll be back!

Great place to run your dogs and have picnic hiking with the fam!!!! MEREDITH & TAYLOR the Beagleread more

This park is BEAUTIFUL! We love taking our golden as often as possible. The whole park is not off…read moreleash. Only in the off leash enclosures is it ok to not have your dog off their leash. This review is mostly about the enclosed dog park. I have been going here for almost a year. The one thing that can ruin a good time at the best dog park I've ever been to this is of course the people. I STRONGLY advise reading and respecting the rules. You will be fined and or asked to leave, I've seen it happen to others. DO NOT take your small dog to the big dog side and vice versa. If you know anything about dog behavior this is a bad bad bad idea, even if your perfect angel dog is well adjusted with dogs bigger or smaller than them. Keep them on their respective side. Should your dog get hurt or hurt another dog it will be your fault for not reading the rules. I have seen it happen to others. Just don't do it, it's not worth it. Keep an eye on your dog an make sure they are playing nice. My dog has been picked on by others and it's never fun for me to correct other peoples dogs to keep mine safe. Do not bring babies and toddlers, even if there adult to baby ratio is 1:1. Should an accident happen it will be your fault for not reading the rules. We all just want to have a nice time with our pups! PS: They do switch the big dog and small dog sides every now and then so do read the signage before entering. In conclusion: INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL dog park; read and follow the rules.

We ride segments of this trail with some regularity…read more This trip on Labor Day as from Whitehall to Mason Dixon Line (approx.9 miles, 18+ out & back). We were going to park at Monkton Station and have a longer ride, but holiday brought out everyone, and their brother, sister, cousin, college friends, camp counselors, army buddies, ...etc! So we navigated to the Whitehall stop. One feature of this trail is the many trailheads as options. The ride out climbs (4% max) to the PA line, it does, especially at the end feel a bit taxing, in a good way. We were on our Cannondale Topstone gravel bikes (37mm tires). The surface is consistent well packed limestone/ fine gravel. The ride back towards Whitehall is mostly a coasting excercise. Good day, nice weather, great ride.

Five star trail!…read more The NCR Trail, aka the Torrey C Brown Trail is a local gem. 10 feet wide with packed dirt and a gentle grade-perfect for running, walking or water watching. The trail runs along the gunpowder falls river which has a few offshoots to hike up. White Hall is the alternate parking place when Monkton is too crowded. Bathrooms are a three mile walk south. The Mason Dixon line is an easy 10 mile bike ride north. This entry point has a picnic table to sit and wait for others to arrive. Little else here.

A local treasure--always friendly and accommodating. Just a great place to hit a few balls or play…read moremini-golf with the family. At a time when so many things are "corporatized" and turned into cookie-cutter, overpriced operations, this is a special place. Sort of like Tin Cup meets Field of Dreams. It's no small thing that John is able to keep the lights on and the range picked and the grass cut. It's clearly a labor of love for this Hereford Zone neighbor.

Awesome!! Mini golf and driving range so nice to have in the Hereford area! We love goingread more