This is a beautiful state park. The 7.5 mile trail is flat, spacious and beautiful. Unfortunately,…read morewe only had time to do 1.5 miles round trip. We turned around 30 minutes in walking with our Aussie dog. But we got to the end of the dam and it was beautiful! We hiked the first weekend of January so some parts was a little muddy. But it wasn't too bad. The only thing I wished this park had was running toilets. I believe it was only an outdoor porta potty. But then again, we didn't do the entire trail, so I might be wrong. Parking is $3/car for in-state (Maryland) cars and $5/car for out-of-state.

Saint Mary's Lake Loop was awesome! This is a 7.2 mile loop trail that goes around a smaller, murky…read morebut very pretty lake. The trail is well-worn, gravel, mud, dirt, lots of tree roots, moss and great little foot bridges here there. The path peeks out of the woods for a view of the lake only two or three times. There isn't really any shoreline but I'm not sure I'd swim or wade in this lake. Anyways, I'm reviewing the trail here, since I'm not much of a watercraft or fishing person. We did see kayaks and canoes out on the lake. The small parking lot is new, and we assume so is the fully equipped washroom/toilet building. Fresh water is available from a dispenser there. Nice! Zero shade for parked cars though, which I've always thought was weird in any car park. There are extra long and easy park spots for trailering. There's a small boat launch and dock. Locals suggested we use the trail between May and October, but to beware of the usual forest nasties like ticks, horseflies, mozzys and other biting critters and snakes. We saw lots of tiny frogs, turtles, birds and squirrels. We went on a Sunday and crossed paths with 3 cyclists, 4 pedestrians, 2 dogs and horse prints along the trail. Dogs are allowed on leash. The trail was super clean, no litter or dog poop along the way. Loved the hike! Took us about 2h45min to complete the loop. Bring your debit/credit card for the automated entry gate: $5 out of state, and $3 in state. Worth it!!!

Really great place for a day trip with the family…read more The beach is nice and the water looked clean. There is a nice path about half mile to the beach. Go early as the parking lot can fill up.

Ok, the jellyfish were so bad this time that we couldn't even get in the water properly. I was…read morestung within a minute in not even ankle deep water (their stings are not terrible but not recommended). Minus one star, but I would still recommend it turning non-jellyfish season.

Picturesque inlet that's good for a nice waterfront stroll. Petty homes denote upscalia but besides…read morea summer concert series, dining and recreational options are limited which if you live here is music to your ears as swarming tourists are kept to a minimum. Five stars for the stroll.

Cute little town. Not much to do besides walk the mini boardwalk. A lot of the shops close early or…read moreare closed. Few restaurants.

Expensive if live out of St Mary's county it's $30. They do not accept digital payment.read more

My first impression of Elms Beach Park was Abysmal,I am very disappointed by the hygiene standards…read moreof the bathrooms that have shrouded in the park in a very awful scent full of feces.Additionally while not having the best beach,the terrain for the tables are rugged and not the best for a picnic.Aside from the jellyfish and the horrible parking,They charge you 30 dollars for entry and 5 dollars as a seasonal pass.I would strongly reccomend other parks such as point lookout or ect...

The wharf offers a small boardwalk, a dock, and occasionally a stage setup. The view across the…read morewater is to some ritzy private residences. On my list of estuarine sights, it's nowhere near the top, but it's a nice little stop if you're in the area.

Update to a previous review: We got married here July 7th, 2024 and though it was hot it was…read moreabsolutely perfect. So if you're looking for an affordable place to get married don't count the wharf out. It was $75 for the wharf itself and they require a million dollar event insurance policy as well.

I'm still new to cycling and have made it my business to note good local trails with scenic views…read more This is one of them. Located in Charles county, but it feels like you're far away from urban chaos. In fact, some of the views remind me of various vacation spots. I arrived at the trail head approximately 11:00am on a Saturday, which helped me avoid the early morning riders. According to my friends, even early morning rides have moderate trail usage, never crowded. They were finishing up as I got started. This is also important because parking at the trail head is limited. If you start at the beginning and go to the end, it's 13 miles of mostly smooth asphalt. Highway crossings are well marked and there are some inclines. There are also benches & a couple porta potties along the way. I'll return soon and see if I can spot a bald eagle.

If you love the great outdoor you would love the Indian Head Rail Trail. Located in southern…read moreMaryland at the end of Indian Head Hwy 210. You will find a small town with a big future. Come enjoy walking or riding the trail. You will see a lot of wildlife. Be prepared to do a lot of speaking and waving because that is what we do here. The trail is 13 miles one way. Indian Head to White Plains Maryland. One of my favorite things to do on a nice day is to grab my bike and my riding partner T'Challa - my dog literally lol and take the trail by storm. Hope to see you they one day.

On the map, this was indistinguishable from nearby Dameron Marsh. Upon arriving, I was surprised by…read morewhat I found here. A short boardwalk leads to a genuine beach, one of the larger and nicer ones I've ever seen on the Chesapeake. Don't get me wrong, nobody's surfing on the little waves the bay generates, but it's still got a nice beach aesthetic and a good view. Several cautions are warranted, including the obvious risks of biting insects (not so much on the beach, but definitely on the inland track) and jellyfish. But I was surprised when a local told me that some of the marshy areas and the stream where a lagoon flows into the bay are prone to developing quicksand, to the point where people can get seriously stuck. (Unlike in movies, quicksand is not likely to drown you on its own but I still would not want to step in it). So watch out for that and bring some bug spray. Plant and animal life was abundant, and between the forest, the marsh, and the beach, there was a variety of scenery. So little of the bay is open to the public and preserved in this way. And this is not a park per se, and so unlike most state parks, this is free to enter. The parking area is small, and signage says they do not allow parking outside the lines, so visitation will be limited simply by space. But if you see a space open there, I'd take it.

This park is fantastic. There are only 11 parking spaces, so access is limited. The trail through…read morethe woods is beautiful. Some of the trail is raised wooden platforms. The beach is amazing. It is rustic and beautiful with marshlands and wildlife. There are two hiking options. One is interior and goes in the woods. The other is beachfront. Both trails are great. There is one point where there is a small inland marshy lake. It is usually connected to the bay. The water here is usually flowing in or out depending on the tide. Be very careful trying to cross because the sand is soft and you could get stuck. It is remote, so you might not easily get help. The wildlife in this area is great. Sometimes I have seen hundreds of flapping rays just off shore. Birds, fish you never know. Fo and enjoy this special treasure.

My family visited Greenwell State Park for a photography session a few weeks ago. I can't speak…read moremuch to the amenities as we were only there for pictures but the grounds are gorgeous. There are some wooded areas, a few small beaches, and even horses. Highly recommend for a scenic walk or photography.

This is a great spot for fishing, kayaking, hiking and horseback riding. They have a large barn…read morewith several horses there. There are also several trails, though I have heard mixed reviews about their upkeep or the amount of ticks in summer. We went to kayak and couldn't be happier. It has a great launch site and the water and scenery were great. There was plenty of parking as well.

There was SO much to do here! Between the gardens themselves, the beautiful structures, the…read moreplayground area, and the indoor art experiences, we easily spent an entire day exploring. We were also incredibly lucky to visit while the fairy garden installation was happening, which was truly the cherry on top. There were so many little details to discover, and it made the experience feel extra magical. We took our time wandering the grounds, had a picnic at the designated table area, and then spent time in the craft workshop making mermaids to take home as a special memory from our visit. We also loved getting to see the animals--it was such a fun and unexpected surprise! This was one of those places where every time we thought we had seen everything, there was something else to explore. It was such a wonderful experience, and I highly, beyond highly, recommend visiting!

Mt husband & I took a drive down to Solomons for lunch on Memorial Day. I persuaded him to stop at…read moreAnnmarie Gardens so I could check out the sculpture garden, which has been on my list for a while. It was a nice day. There is a welcome hut where they give out maps and collect the suggested $5 donation. We walked some of the woods to view some of the sculptures. Several were very attractive and other pieces were not as striking. There is a fairy garden type play area where a number of kids were running around. We walked through the main arts building. We saw some exhibits and the gift shop. On the whole, it was smaller than I expected, but we did not walk all of the paths. I'm glad we took a look. I would be interested in returning when they have a festival or for the holiday lights.