This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Vacation, Schmacation. Why Not a Maryland Staycation?

Many residents opt to take time off at home or nearby this summer.

Hoping to save money this summer but still take a vacation?

Take a look around–literally. That vacation could be as close as your hometown.

Many Marylanders are opting this summer for a “staycation,” one of the latest terms to describe a vacation at home or nearby.

Find out what's happening in Upper Marlborowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to AAA Mid Atlantic, fewer Marylanders traveled on vacation the Fourth of July holiday, compared to 2010. Local travelers also logged fewer miles, with the average distance traveled dropping nearly 12 percent. The highest percentage of travelers, 36 percent, intended to log between 401 and 700 miles, while 30 percent indicated traveling between 50 and 250 miles, said Ragina C. Averella, public and government affairs manager for AAA Mid-Atlantic.

While AAA does not forecast travel for the entire summer season, overall travel trends typically mirror those of summer holidays, she said.

Find out what's happening in Upper Marlborowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Whether it's the economy, high gas prices or just convenience keeping you home this summer, here are a few ideas to get you started on a Maryland staycation:

Brookside Gardens – Montgomery County

Brookside Gardens, part of Wheaton Regional Park in Wheaton, is filled with some of the summer’s most colorful flowers, plants and butterflies. More than 35 of Brookside’s 50 acres are filled with formal gardens, ranging from aquatic and rain gardens to a Japanese style and children’s garden.

It takes between an hour and 90 minutes to navigate all of them if walking leisurely, said Leslie McDermott, marketing and media relations manager for Brookside Gardens.

This year, Brookside features a food theme with fruit and vegetable plants visitors can grow in their own gardens.

The “Wings of Fancy” live butterfly and caterpillar exhibit, a popular feature at the gardens for more than a decade, includes hundreds of butterflies flying freely inside a conservatory. While beautiful, the exhibit can be 10 degrees warmer than the air outside, McDermott said. 

“If you’re sensitive to the heat, you might want to come first thing in the morning,” she said.

Cost: Gardens–Free. Wings of Fancy--$6 for adults, $4 ages 3-12. More information: 301-962-1400 or www.brooksidegardens.org.

The Frederick Wine Trail - Frederick County

The Frederick Wine Trail is not actually a trail. But with nine wineries and 120 acres of vineyards all within an hour of each other, it’s close. According to Michelle Kershner, marketing and communications manager for the Tourism Council for Frederick County, the county’s landscape, with rocky soil and rolling hills, creates an environment conducive to wine grapes and their ripening.

Wine tastings, tours, wine education, music and festivals are among the activities offered along the trail, which began in 2007 as a joint effort between the wineries and the Maryland Wineries Association, the Maryland Grape Commission, the Frederick Office of Tourism and the Frederick Office of Economic Development.

The ambitious visitor could visit all nine wineries in a day, but many choose to stay overnight, Kershner said. Bed and breakfasts, as well as hotels, are located along the route, as are restaurants. Or, A Touch of Class Limousines in Frederick can organize a tour, complete with transportation.

Cost: Varies depending on the winery. More information: 301-600-2888 or www.frederickwinetrail.com

Kayaking with LL Bean – Howard County

With more than four dozen tours scheduled throughout the summer, LL Bean is helping residents get out on the water and try kayaking. And, participants don’t have to buy any equipment.

The LL Bean in The Mall in Columbia offers two types of kayak excursions: the $20 day tour at Centennial Park in Howard County and the $39 sunset tour at Piney Run Park in Carroll County.

With the $20 day tour, transportation to the park lake, equipment, equipment fitting and basic instructions are included. Tours run about two and a half hours and are offered Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

With the $39 sunset tour, transportation is not included. But equipment, equipment fitting, basic instruction and snacks are. Tours run from 6 to 9 p.m. on Fridays.

In addition to kayaking, both tours include education on local wildlife and plants.

“It’s almost like a nature walk on the water,” said John Capek, manager of the store’s outdoor discovery school.

Tours are for ages 8 and up. Children between 8 and 14 must have an adult accompany them. Both tours are offered through October.

Cost: $20 for day tour, $39 for sunset tour.

More information: 410-715-7020 or www.llbean.com.

Patuxent Research Refuge – Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties

Tucked just off Route 198 and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, the Patuxent Research Refuge is the nation’s only National Wildlife Refuge established to support wildlife research. Established in 1936, the refuge has grown from 2,670 to more than 12,800 acres.

Since only part of the refuge is open to the public, the National Wildlife Visitor Center is a good place to start. The center is the largest science and environmental education center in the U.S. Department of the Interior. Interactive exhibits feature everything from migratory bird studies and habitats to endangered species and life cycles.

The center can also guide visitors toward hiking trails throughout the refuge. Hunting, fishing and wildlife observation are also available in the refuge’s North Tract. And for those who prefer a guided tour, electric tram rides are available throughout the summer.

“It’s a nice opportunity to get out in the environment,” said Nell Baldacchino, visitor services manager.

The refuge, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this fall, also hosts special events throughout the year, highlighting wildlife like honey bees and whooping cranes. And for the little ones, the refuge has regular “Nature Tots” presentations. This month, 3- and 4-year-olds learn about wiggly worms and search for lady bugs.

Cost: Free.

More information: 301-497-5580 or http://patuxent.fws.gov.

Related Topics: , , and 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Upper Marlboro