Visitor's Guide to Howard County - 2016

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For questions or more information,
contact Howard County Tourism
& Promotion, 410-313-1900,
Pathway
MOBILE APP
The C.A. Pathway
Mobile App highlights
Columbia Association’s 93.5 miles of
pathways, facilities, lakes and village
center buildings. The “Locate me”
GPS feature allows users to find CA
facilities and map a route for walking,
running or biking to those facilities.
Maps show elevations, lakes, streams,
streets and C.A.’s tot lots. The C.A.
Pathways app is available for download
to mobile phones and tablets.
STEVE BELLOWS
Columbia Association
The C.A. offers more than 3,500
acres of open space and neigh-
borhood amenities, including
pools, fitness centers, tennis, golf
and putt-putt, ice-skating, batting
cages, skate parks, recreation
centers, lakes, parks, dog parks,
and walking, jogging and biking
pathways. 6310 Hillside Ct., Ste.
100, Columbia, 21046, 410-715-
3000,
Howard County Department
of Recreation & Parks
Howard County oversees regional,
community, and neighborhood
parks with sports facilities, rec-
reation areas, nature centers,
scenic outdoor trails, dog parks and
more. 7120 Oakland Mills Road,
Columbia, MD 21046, 410-313-
4700
Howard County Conservancy
Opened in 2005, the Gudelsky
Environmental Education Center at
the Howard County Conservancy
is located at the 300-year-old Mt.
Pleasant farm. The center offers pro-
grams about the animal and plant life
found in the Chesapeake Bay water-
shed. With a variety of habitats and
micro-climates, the Conservancy’s
232 acres of rolling hills are per-
fectly suited for nature study and
exploration.10520 Old Frederick
Road, Woodstock, MD 21163-0175,
410-465-8877,
Patapsco Valley State Park
Maryland’s first State Park (called
“Moab East” by some) for mountain
bikers welcomes 1.1 million visitors
annually to enjoy its recreational
and historical attractions. The
park extends along 32 miles of the
Patapsco River, with 16,043 acres
and eight developed recreational
areas. Don’t miss the Thomas
Viaduct (an engineering marvel), the
Swinging Bridge near the Cascade
Falls trailhead, and the stroller- and
wheelchair-friendly Grist Mill Trail
suspension bridge. 8020 Baltimore
National Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21043,
410-461-5005,
Robinson Nature Center
Opened in September 2011, the
James H. and Anne E. Robinson
Nature Center welcomes visitors of
all ages to enjoy interactive exhibits
about local habitats, wildlife and
the Chesapeake Bay. There’s also
a children’s discovery room and
a digital, domed nature theater.
Ongoing programming gives kids of
all ages opportunities for stargaz-
ing, leaf-peeping and bird-watching.
6692 Cedar Lane, Columbia, MD
21044, 410-313-0400,
The Number 9 Trolley Trail
This quiet, rustic trail along an old trolley
route leads into a stream-crossed valley and
is easily accessed from Old Ellicott City. The
trail begins in Catonsville Junction and follows
designated bike shoulders for the first mile,
continuing along a scenic two-mile section
of paved pathway and ending in Oella. A
section of this trail is within Baltimore County's
Benjamin Banneker Historic Park. patapsco-
heritagegreenway.org/recreation/hiking.html
OUTDOOR ATTRACTIONS
KENNETH LOSURDO, JR.
AccessDNR
MOBILE APP
AccessDNR is the official
app from the Maryland
Department of Natural Resources for the
State’s outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you
want to visit a State Park, hunt or fish,
explore waterways by boat or kayak, or
simply watch wildlife, the AccessDNR
app provides all the information and
services you need on the go.
AccessDNR
Lake Elkhorn
Patapsco Valley State Park
22 HOWARD COUNTY OFFICIAL VISITORS + RESIDENTS GUIDE | 2016