There’s something special about spending time under tree canopies, in green fields, and by sparkling water. Nature can bring a sense of peace or a spark of adventure, but either way, you’ll come away with an experience you’d never get inside. From kayaking along a quiet river to gardening with the community, Prince George’s offers plenty of opportunities to connect with the great outdoors.
Dive into nature in Prince George’s with one, or all, of these 10 activities:
- Feel like a superhero when you learn to handle a bow and arrow with an expert ranger. Learn archery, which requires concentration, patience, and coordination, at the Adelphi Manor Community Park.
- Rent a kayak, canoe, or paddleboat at the Bladensburg Waterfront to explore the Anacostia River. You’ll go under bridges and visit turtles, herons, and other local fauna. If you prefer a guided trip, join an interpretive pontoon boat tour to learn about the area from a naturalist.
- Get a deeper understanding of the parks in Prince George’s at one of the region’s nature centers. The Clearwater Nature Center runs nature-focused storytime sessions, wilderness survival courses, and creek hikes. The Mount Rainier Nature Center hosts live animal shows and plenty of space to play. Watkins Nature Center offers night hikes, home-school programs, and youth birding clubs.
- Book a campsite at Patuxent River Park to stay close to the river and connected to the Patuxent Water Trail. These water-access-only campsites offer gorgeous views, privacy, and unfettered access to wildlife and birding opportunities.
- Rent a plot at a community garden to grow fruit, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. There are five locations around the county available for rent, and each space is an opportunity to commune with nature and work on your green thumb.
- Explore 270 acres of wetlands and woodlands at the Cheltenham Wetlands Area, where you can hike a boardwalk trail, view wetland wildlife, and take to the nearby forests and meadows.
- Follow the footsteps of the dinosaurs at Dinosaur Park in Laurel. Rare fossil deposits from the early Cretaceous period — nearly 115 million years ago — have been preserved at this unique site. The playground and garden are open daily, while the fossil site is accessible during public programs.
- Experience a coastal plain or magnolia bog at the Suitland Bog, where you can spot many plants on the Maryland Natural Heritage Program’s “Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Plants of Maryland” list, along with a variety of carnivorous plants.
- Learn about rural life at the Old Maryland Farm in Upper Marlboro. Visitors can interact with agricultural exhibits and the display garden to better understand the ins and outs of a farm. Volunteer opportunities, like animal care or greenhouse work, are also available.
- Fish at the Queen Anne Fishing Area, which was once a colonial town dating back to 1706. The location, which is open daily to visitors, sits at a major river crossing of the past from Southern Maryland to Annapolis.
Indulge your artsy side at one of these spaces in Prince George’s.