Maryland: Getting Lost without Getting Away.
Almost in my back yard, I have stumbled across a suburban Shangri La in rural Baltimore County. It is a secret place for families that want peace and quiet in a country cottage.

Located in the vast serpentine Gunpowder Falls State Park system, only a half hour from Baltimore and one hour from Washington, DC, the one-of-a-kind Mill Pond Cottage is a haven of serenity and a showpiece of creativity. The product of the tenacious efforts of the assistant park manager, Ms. Peyton Taylor and colleagues, this labor of love has resulted in the rebirth of a dilapidated residence. Mill Pond Cottage is not only the place to catch up on reading and rainy day vegetating but also an ideal home base to enjoy the rest of the area’s unique natural resources and recreational opportunities.

Ideal as a family gathering place, a romantic getaway, or for a wedding reception, the cottage is available for weekend or weekly stays and offers bed and breakfast ambiance within the environs of a private country residence. While warmer seasons are the best time to sample the regional outdoor experiences, this is also the retreat for snowed-in getaways, winter holiday gatherings and a base for easy cross-country skiing jaunts. Decorated and remodeled with antique furnishings and modern conveniences, this cozy cottage sleeps eight and includes a fireplace, cable TV (yes guys - and a remote), a fully functional kitchen, plenty of grassed play area and a barn with a screened porch and barbecue.

Ms. Peyton Taylor, the aforementioned assistant park manager extraordinare, and her staff can amply advise visitors regarding natural areas and activities such as fly-fishing, archery and horseback riding. The trail map is the road map and in tandem is a bountiful schedule of family programs and special events. Opportunities include bird walks, night hikes, guided nature walks, pond ecology, historic demonstrations, arts and crafts, Junior Rangers and Parks Pals Programs. Many areas of the Gunpowder River Park System provide ample opportunities for wildlife and wildflower observation - my son and I observed ospreys and great blue herons on our canoe ride. Designated as State Wildlands to preserve its biological and geological diversity, this region is home to many unusual and rare flora and fauna.

Our first venture out of the cottage cocoon was a leisurely walk down to the Gunpowder River - one of the premier trout streams in Maryland. The walk took us past a historic mill - hence the cottage's name. Built in the 1700s, the stone house still remains as a residence. Past the mill toward the River, 20 miles of hiking trails and unlimited fly-fishing opportunities abound although mountain bikes are wisely prohibited in these pristine habitats.

A plethora of other opportunities are a few minutes away. My low maintenance favorite is renting a canoe at Monkton Bike Rental nearby in, of course, Monkton. The bike shop staff will drop riders and their rented bikes as far upstream as is possible to enjoy a leisurely and gentle float back downstream to the rental facility. During warm weather, it is possible to do the same thing with inner tubes and enjoy dunking along the way. This country bike shop is located across the historic Monkton Train Station and Museum which offers a quaint diversion while resting up.

Both facilities are located on the 41-mile Northern Central Rail Trail - once the second oldest railroad in the U. S. and now an abandoned railroad bed converted to 20 miles of bicycle and pedestrian use extending into Pennsylvania. It is possible to rent bikes (or bring your own) for a very easy biking experience. This is the ideal place to use a kiddy trailer.

Include a bike stop at the historic Sparks Bank Building Nature Center a small but interesting respite of local creatures for the kids. Insider note: Beware of the well meaning volunteer naturalist who seems to take pleasure alarming the children about the microbial dangers of touching a turtle in a touch tank.

One of the nicest things about experiencing this area and the cottage is that activity planning is not necessary. Rainy days are okay because being "stuck" inside the cottage is no less satisfying than out. While marveling at the degree of solitude possible so close to a big city, I embrace Peyton's - and now the Park's - motto born of their laborious and doting restoration process. The words are found on the gift shop's coffee mugs which appropriately state that "If You're Not Thinkin' About The Mill Pond Cottage - You're Not Thinkin'!"

The Details

Gunpowder Falls State Park. 2813 Jerusalem Road, P.O. Box 480, Kingsville, MD 21087. 1(410) 592- 2897 or www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/millpond.html

Monkton Bike Rental. This is an excellent and reasonably priced family run source of canoeing, tubing and bike rentals and fun opportunities. 1900 Monkton Road, Monkton, MD 21111. 1(410) 771- 4058 or www.bikestuff.net/monktonbike.htm
Northern Central Railroad Trail. www.dnr.state.md.us/greenways/ncrt_trail.html

Content and images provided by Andrew Der. Upadted 6.6.2008. Copyright 2008