Explore the almost 650 acres of Druid Hill Park. Whether you are interested in sports, nature or even animals, you will find something to do in this popular park. Baltimore´s first large municipal park, Druid Hill is known for its rolling hills, shady lawns, majestic forest, and lovely water features. Escape the urban hustle and bustle to hike, bike, play a ball game, or visit the zoo at this urban outdoor oasis.
Hike along the 100 miles of outdoor trails in Gunpowder Falls State Park, which lead you through the lovely wildlands toward the picturesque stream valleys of the Big and Little Gunpowder Falls and the Gunpowder River. Explore the changing terrains, from the marshes and wetlands to the rugged, steep slopes, as you traverse part of this 18,000-acre park.
Get some fresh air as you take an outdoor nature walk through the Ladew Topiary Gardens. This 22-acre garden, built around a manor house from 1747, presents one of the most outstanding topiary gardens in the country. Walk though the extensively groomed and molded shrubbery and explore the 15 garden rooms, each dedicated to a single plant, color, or theme.
Let your wild side roam free at the Maryland Zoo. Located in Druid Hill Park, this zoo first opened its doors to the wild things in 1876. One of the oldest zoos in the country, the Maryland Zoo is the home of more than 2,000 animal attractions, including the African black footed penguins, gorillas, polar bears, elephants, African big cats, and much, much more!
Discover the world from under the sea at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Built to inspire visitors to celebrate and nurture the world´s aquatic habitats, from tropical rain forests to coral reefs, this public aquarium contains three buildings worth of fascinating creatures and family fun. Among major attractions are the dolphin display, central ray pool, multiple-story shark tank and the rooftop rainforest.
When you visit the Baltimore Art Museum, be sure to stop by the Wurtzburger Sculpture Gardens. Located outside of the museum, this sculpture garden contains gargantuan masterpieces of modern and contemporary sculpture scattered across the verdant landscape. This meeting of art, horticulture, and the great outdoors presents 34 sculptures from various artists, created throughout the past 100 years.
Take a break from the concrete jungle at the smaller, 6-acre Sherwood Gardens. Located in the Guilford neighborhood, this public garden began as an outdoor hobby of John W. Sherwood in the 1920s and originally consisted of a few of his tulips imported from the Netherlands. Now, Sherwood Gardens contains approximately 80,000 tulip bulbs and hundreds of other plants collected from the gardens of Colonial estates.
You can find several monuments and attractions commemorating George Washington throughout the states of Maryland and Virginia. The Washington Monument State Park contains the first monument built for the first President. Built in 1827, this historic stone monument still stands proud near the summit of South Mountain´s Monument Knob.