I lived in Chase before this park existed. Yet, somehow, before Tuesday, I had only ever visited it…read moretwice - once for an indoor flea market (which sucked), and once for a friend's softball game. I have no real excuse other than depression and an overall lack of adventurous spirit. It's a very nice park, heavy on the sportsball fields. My boyfriend and I went to see if there was anywhere in the park where we could sit near the water and have lunch - unfortunately there is not, which is a bummer because the park DOES sidle up against a small river, but there's no way to see it with all the marsh grasses and such. There are some "viewing platforms" along the Nature Trail, and I suppose at one point they extended further into the water, but drought conditions have put a stop to that. The Nature Trail is pretty great. The path is hard packed, which meant that my chair didn't get stuck - no mud, no sand, hardly any tree roots. We explored the entire length. Didn't see much wildlife (a toad, a crane, and a squirrel), but discovered three different types of mushrooms. Lots of Pokestops, if that's your thing (TeamJerky!). The playground is my favorite thing at the park. It's wheelchair accessible!!! Sure I can't do any climbing, but the fact that I could even access the thing is so wonderful - so I did. Yes, I am a 46-year-old woman and I played on the playground. Didn't have a lot of chances to do that while I was growing up. I'll take the chances now, as they are presented. There's also a small free library house, where you can pick out a new (to you) book. It would be nice if you added one in return. We enjoyed ourselves. Would recommend.

Great place to enjoy the outdoors! Location includes:…read more- 1 Mile walking path (marked every 1/10 of a mile) - Small walking trail through the woods (3/4 mile) - Lots of sports fields (Baseball, Soccer & Football) - Several pavilions - Pet friendly (pet waste stations available) - Large playground - Plenty of parking

Divided into 6 parts, it's not possible to do it in one day or even one week. Each part is…read moredifferent, although there is overlap. It could take a lifetime to get to know this park well. It's pretty huge. In fact, it's Maryland's largest state park. I spent 4 days here camping recently and barely scratched the surface. There are lots of hiking trails for all levels. There are numerous bike trails that are flat and easy, including the famous Torrey C. Brown rail trail that goes for about 20 miles and crosses into Pennsylvania. And there's also a fair amount of mountain bike trails that range from moderate to difficult. There are places to swim and picnic too. All of it is family friendly. Essentially, the park is the land all along both sides of the Little Gunpowder Falls River. You'll just have to see it for yourself. I can recommend Jesse's Trail and Pleasantville area loop for mountain biking; Torrey C. Brown rail trail (an all-weather trail made of crushed stone that's flat and smooth) for both hiking and biking; and Hobo Beach for a dip in the water. Parking can be challenging, so the earlier in the day, the better.

Not enough parking. You literally wait for people to leave the few spaces available. Open a parking…read morearea for people to enjoy the park

A lovely area for a nice walk. There is a playground, a area for food, ample parking, and a great…read morewater view. It's a one stop shop to be able to spend a couple of hours outside of the house.

I walked along the Havre de Grace Promenade with some friends yesterday. The views were nice, and…read morewe saw the cutest goose family (two geese and 12 goslings). There are also some attractions along the Promenade (a lighthouse, the lighthouse keeper's house, a fish sculpture, a maritime museum, a decoy museum, and a waterfront restaurant). Walking along the Promenade and back was the highlight of our visit to Havre de Grace. It's not long, but it's a great little place to take a stop and stretch your legs if you're in the area (we were driving from Baltimore to Philadelphia and stopped for a visit to Havre de Grace on the way).

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.

I visited Ladew Topiary Gardens for the first time this past weekend, and I can't believe it took…read moreme so long to check it out. Located in Monkton, Ladew is only a half hour from Baltimore, and it's well worth the drive. Ladew's gardens were establish by Harvey Ladew in the 1930s. The grounds contain 15 garden "rooms," arranged around two cross axes with vistas. The garden is noted for its topiaries, and I was blown away by the gardens' beauty. I took tons of photos! It was a beautiful, slighly chilly early May morning, and we wandered into every corner of the gardens before reading our books on the hill over looking the meadow behind the Manor House. We accidentally visited on the day of their 18th Annual Garden Festival, so they weren't offering tours of the manor house, so I'll definitely return for that. But the gardens were beautiful, and we made visits to the Studio (where you can see some of Ladew's paintings), and the Barn Gallery, and the Cafe (which sells sandwiches, snacks, pastries, coffees, etc.). Ladew is lovely. It might be the most beautiful garden in Maryland! I am certain I will return for another visit. On a beautiful day, there's no where else in Maryland I'd rather be!

Updated review. I…read moreabsolutely love Piney Orchard Nature Trail! It's my go-to jogging destination because of how peaceful and serene it is. On any given day, you can spot a wide variety of bird species, which adds to the tranquility of the surroundings. The trails through the woods are well-maintained and offer a wonderful escape into nature. I especially enjoy the paths that lead to the fresh water ponds, where you can admire the beauty of the area while getting some exercise. If you're looking for a relaxing and scenic place to jog or simply unwind, Piney Orchard Nature Trail is the perfect spot!

This is such a sweet little enclave of trees and flowers and birds and people walking dogs and…read morecrackling leaves. I've been here to walk 4-5 times, in different seasons, and each has its charm. In the spring, you will see myriad flowers in bloom, hear the lovely song of little streams and birds trilling. Winter is very different, with frosty pine cones and leaves to photograph, and everything so still. Fall is lovely! I saw two does with their mostly grown fawns, and encountered a baby rattlesnake! That surprised me greatly as I've never seen or heard of them around here. I confess that fall is my favorite season; I love the bluest skies and the aroma of leaves. I prefer not walking on asphalt too much, so as soon as I can (where the duck loop cuts off and so does the vernal trail) I cut down to the sand/dirt path along the water. Both trails, asphalt and dirt, eventually end up at a sort of trail end. The other day when I was here, since there was no water in the stream, I crossed over to see if I could go any farther - ermmm not really. There are numerous access points from the neighborhood that borders the preserve, so lots of folks seem to walk their dogs close to home. The water was extremely low since we've had very little rain; I was surprised at how far the mud banks extended into the lake. There are NO services whatsoever! Go potty before you get out to walk!

Such a beautiful place for a picnic! We enjoyed the views in the evening up until sunset. It was a…read morefew people there but not enough to distract you from relaxing. I only rated it a 4 because people don't clean up after their dogs and it literally took a while for us to find a clear spot to lay our blanket down. Hopefully this can get better.

Sooo I've been to this loop a few times to walk/jog prior to today 07'04'20 and always referred to…read moreit as the Quarry Loop but today I discovered that this location has a totally separate entrance from the homes and shopping/dining area and has its own identity, pretty neat. There are benches scattered throughout that are facing inward toward the lake, some with amazing views and a few obstructed by the trees & greenery but still serene spots to just sit, relax & chat or just take in the scenery. The trail/loop is a little under 2 miles in total and it offers great views, some flowers here and there and loads of geese. I've never experienced it being overly crowded with people on the loop and the atmosphere is very peaceful. I will continue to frequent this park. Oh and if it ever gets too hot while out there, you can always pop into Rita's Italian Ice or Custard ;-)

Very pretty and neat park, very well maintained. Most of the trails are paved, thus not muddy. We…read morebrought our little dog along on a Sunday afternoon in February, and we all had a great time!

What a quiet, little oasis. A little off the beaten path, but close enough to the city to make you…read morefeel like you're in your own backyard. I thought I'd pop in for a nice walk since the weather was nice and it was a great way to reset! The park consists of many walking trails even hiking trails if you're feeling adventurous. It's clean and a great place to picnic or walk your dog. There are flowering trees and a vast array of daffodils throughout. I even found a man painting, easel and all! Very peaceful...a walk here will definitely calm your nerves after a long day!