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Community Corner

Great Escape: Take a Hike

Local parks and nature trails are affordable getaways for moms to recharge.

Even the most levelheaded mom needs a break from the ins and outs of her family-centered day. As the spring approaches and days are becoming pleasantly longer, try out a cheap trick many moms put into practice; take a hike, bike, walk, run or stroll—nowhere costly or far away enough to be missed—right here in your local zip codes.  If you need a break but spas and trips are out of your budget, spend the morning or afternoon enjoying a local park and/or nature trail. 

Kingsville Park, located at 11700 Franklinville Rd, Upper Falls, MD, provides some scenic trails that follow the Lower Gunpowder Falls Watershed on paths rated by difficulty level. With local wildlife and thick woodland, this spot offers tranquillity at its cheapest. Bring your binoculars, because this location boasts a wide variety of birds to be watched.

At Loch Raven Reservoir, where the Lower Gunpowder Falls Watershed begins at the dam, hiking trails are abundant and so are the number of folks who utilize this natural resource for time away from hustling and bustling during work and school days. Alternatively, the paved road at Loch Raven is pedestrian and bike friendly.  If you're a girl who doesn't mind hooking a worm, the fishing isn't bad either.  

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Double Rock Park, found at 8211 Glen Rd., is a favorite gathering spot for Parkville community sports and recreation, and also a good spot to slip away for half a day to hike, mountain bike, and explore a wooded landscape full of wildlife and fantastic photo opportunities.

If a little drive is what you prescribe, The Northern Central Railroad Trail (NCRT) has recently undergone a name change to The Torrey C. Brown Trail, but its charm and beauty remain the same.  Thirty minutes from Parkville, this destination has all of the makings of a mom's retreat. Usually traveled by hikers, bikers, runners and tubers, this trail offers excellent access to Baltimore and Harford County's Little Gunpowder Falls Watershed, where in summer months, canoeing and tubing are commonplace. 

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Plan your next escape with a free day of fresh air activity, dedicated to "me time," sure to beat the wintertime blues. 

On the Baltimore County website, a comprehensive list of parks and trails can be found:  http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/recreation/countyparks/cntyparkslist.html#K

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