Cascading Daylight to Nightfall

Tag: hiking

  • Going on what could be Maryland’s longest bike path: the WB&A Trail

    Preparing for a marathon or a long distance walking excursion? Perhaps the WB&A trail in the Bowie/ Glenn Dale, MD area might be the ideal trail to practice for that. It spans from Bowie, MD to about Laurel, MD. If traveling by car, I find it easy to find parking off of Glenn Dale Road and Electric Avenue. Across from this portion of Glenn Dale Road and Annapolis Road, I usually see Winners Chapel shops and center at the time of this blog post. I’ve hiked this trail several times starting from the Glenn Dale Road entry point (although it begins at Annapolis Road before a Vista Gardens Shopping Center) to the Race Track Road parking lot, right before where the Spur Trail begins. It has taken me 4 hours total round-trip to walk this portion of the trail.

    I’m convinced that the WB&A trail could be the longest trail in the state of Maryland, but I could be wrong.The trail is basically a residential trial and it’s mostly nestled in between homes. Some it is portioned between uniformed suburban neighborhoods of communitied estate homes and ranch-style like homes surrounded by lots of land. Actually it could be mini-farms, but moving on. Many frequenters of the trail may ride their bikes there as the trial has a very smooth paved path from its beginning at Annapolis road to the Spur, and beyond. This trail doesn’t really offer any restrooms or water fountains residing alongside it. Perhaps cause it’s a residential area and mostly for locals to path. About 10 minutes into my walks, there is the Glenn Dale Community center, in which those resources would be available during opened hours.

    Spread throughout are several bike pumps and sitting benches in case one needs a walking or biking break. So due to the lack of restrooms, it would wise to use it before hand and bring a bottle or two of water before starting such a trial like WB&A.

    I would rank it the best trail for marathoners to practice because it’s one to the smoothest paved, non-traffic interrupting trails that I have walked on within the Washington DC metropolitan area. There are some evaluations, but not hilly with sharp up or down climbs. Its a smooth elevation. The trails path way and distance is also very obvious to see and nagivate. I get great cellphone reception along there, and thus far I haven’t encountered too many scary or potentially dangerous wildlife or animals during my trips. If going during the summer, or just year round, there are some major portions of the trail without trees or shade hovering it. So bringing a visor or rain protector probably wouldn’t be a bad idea. There is the “Berwyn Rod & Gun Club Inc” located off of a Laurel-Bowie Road exit. So if hiking during standard business, hours expect to hear some random firecracker booms and arms practice. Barricaded along the club is a tall wall, which allows one to not be exposed to seeing the arms practice and it helps muffle the noise a bit.

    If planning to stroll for less than 30 minutes, it may be a comfortable activity for young children, kids in strollers, or elderly to partake in. Although, I must say, it’s really a bikers or marathon runner’s play ground.

    For more details about the WB&A trail, please see the appropriate website links: https://www.aacounty.org/locations/wba-trail and https://www.cityofbowie.org/713/Trails

  • Great Outdoors of Greenspring Gardens in Alexandria, VA

    Not to dwell much on it, but if you are into spirituality of various sorts and kinds, perhaps trying to find ways to elevate your spiritual life or relationship is something you may partake in. For example, some people prepare a special space in their home to meditate, pray, or engage in spiritual personal ceremonies.

    Greenspring Gardens in Alexandria, VA
    Greenspring Gardens in Alexandria, VA

    Well, I wanted to explore Botanical gardens as a way to do my spiritual reflections. What prettier way than to be surrounded by lovely sights when trying to connect with a believed-in higher power? I came across Greenspring Botanical Gardens in Alexandria, VA. It’s not located in Washington, DC proper, so for me, it’s more driver-friendly. Unless you love driving in cities. Greenspring’s main campus is not too relatively large. A great perk is that it’s free to the public, so all visitors are welcome.

    Circling Greenspring's pathway
    Circling Greenspring’s pathway

    It should be no secret I love discovering walking trails. Greenspring doesn’t have that vast of trails to definitely practice for a marathon on, but it’s very popular to walk your dog, and certainly bring children or the elderly for a fresh-air stroll. During the warmer seasons, such as spring, summer, and fall, the vibrancy of the flowers and plants are amazing. They are a must-see in my words. There’s a visitor’s house that’s quite neat to check out as well. It’s decorated with artwork that I find gives the home a nice splash of color. Around the back of the park, there are a few small ponds with water fountains running from them. I find this park has amazing sights from beginning to end.

    Vibrant floral in late summer at Greenspring Gardens
    Vibrant floral in late summer at Greenspring Gardens

    Greenspring is located in the middle of a residential area; however, I find many visitors from around the world come to check out this place. Across from the garden is a golf course, and a walking trail can guide users towards that area and into a local neighborhood. Now, of course, I don’t encourage anyone to just stroll onto the middle of a golf course, but I’m just trying to explain the layout of the park. There is a visitor center where guests can ask questions to the staff and also use restrooms and water fountains. I did a jog around Greenspring, and the width of where its trail ran, I’m quite certain the round trip took me under 2 hours. Again, the trail leading to the garden stopped at the end of a neighborhood after passing the golf course. Many residents visit the garden as it’s a great place to do morning walks or for dogs to stretch their legs.

    Quaint museum- like home at Greenspring
    Quaint museum- like home at Greenspring

    I would say I find Greenspring very nice to do a lower-scale photoshoot; it seems like an ideal place to perhaps record mini film projects as it’s usually very quiet and quaint, and not too large of an audience usually visits at a time. The park is also open on holidays, as the visitor center is closed.

    Greensprings visitor center
    Greensprings visitor center

    If you are into botanical gardens and are in the Washington DC area, give Greenspring Garden a try. For more specifics about the park, please check out their link below: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/green-spring

  • Exploring Outdoors at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD

    Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD

    If you are looking for a place to have a fun day to spend with family, and get them away from staring at screens or electronics all day, Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD just might be right up your alley. Its adjacent from Wheaton Regional Park, which has a neat Merry-Go-Round and an Old School Train ride kids and families should enjoy.

    Brookside is great to accomplish an array of activities, and is free for the public, compared to other botanical gardens within the area. You can stroll and look at the botany.

    I find it’s quite spacious that one can do a jog around the campus. I once jogged the full circumference of Brookside, and it took me 2 1/2 hours roundtrip to cover major assigned parts of the garden trail. You can walk your dog, as their also is a dedicated dog park on site.

    Brookside is one of the busier botanical gardens I’ve noticed since my several times of visiting there. It’s rare from the several times I have gone to that park that I don’t see another user less than half a block walking as well. So, it may be rare you may feel isolated when checking it out . It’s very scenic I find year-round even when the leaves change. Their are still quite vibrant plants and flowers worth taking a look at during the late fall and winter, the same as the warmer seasons. I’ve seen it as a great place to go on a nice free romantic date. I’ve also seen workplaces have retreats for their employees there or get-togethers. Brookside appears to be enjoyed by many as it appears to be very friendly for elderly and people with disabilities to visit.

    Their is a visitor center, where guest can use the restroom and check out any event the garden maybe having.

    I don’t believe I’ve seen any or many bicyclist at Brookside riding the trail, as it’s a very busy botanical garden with many types of tourist or visitors. Perhaps for safety reasons such an activity would have to be cautioned. However, I’m quite sure if one reaches out to the staff of the center or reviews their facility’s policies, rules for bicyclist should be confirmed there.

    I would say if you are a Washington DC local, Brookside Gardens to me stands as a great place to create family traditions and build childhood memories .

    If Brookside Botanical Gardens sounds like the type of place you want to reminisce from please take a look at their website here: https://montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/brookside-gardens/