Maryland Zoo
COURTESY OF THE MARYLAND ZOO
Sagamore Spirit
IF YOU HAVE AN AFTERNOON :
ADMIRE THE GARDENS
Once part of the lavish 19th-century estate owned by Baltimore Sun founder A . S . Abell , Sherwood Gardens is now a six-acre park that ’ s known for its manicured gardens . They ’ re the legacy of former owner John Sherwood , an area businessman who created extensive landscapes on his property , collecting evergreens from around the world and importing English boxwoods . A lover of the spring bloom , he imported more than 100,000 tulips from the Netherlands and added colorful floral plants like dogwoods , wisteria , azaleas , Japanese cherry trees and more . In the 1940s , his elaborate gardens were featured in publications like National Geographic and Great Gardens of America . If you visit in the early spring , you can still see more than 80,000 imported tulips in bloom . After the tulip bloom ends in May , the gardens partner with Baltimorearea landscaping design firms to install gorgeous floral displays all summer long . Sherwood Gardens is free to visit , and it ’ s spectacular any time of year .
JUSTIN TSUCALAS
JASON VARNEY
EXPERIENCE SOMETHING NEW
One of the city ’ s newest and hottest developments , Baltimore Peninsula ( formerly known as Port Covington ) is a total reworking of the waterfront land that sits south of the Inner Harbor . Featuring seven acres of public waterfront access and anchored by the global headquarters of Under Armour , this 235-acre development is home to Sagamore Spirit , an award-winning distillery that specializes in the Maryland tradition of rye whiskey . Tour the facility to learn how the whiskey is made or settle in for a taste ( or two ) at the bar , Nineteen O ’ Nine . During the summer , the distillery features free monthly concerts on the outdoor lawn . Nearby South Point provides an open space with an entertainment pavilion for live performances . Relax in the Adirondack chairs or bring a picnic and watch the waterfront sunset . And on the other side of the Hanover Street Bridge is Nick ’ s Fish House , a local seafood restaurant perfect for enjoying a crab feast .
PLAY IN THE PARK
It ’ s easy to spend several hours exploring Druid Hill Park , a 745-acre public park that ’ s remarkably bucolic for being located right in the middle of a bustling city . Depending on the day and season , the park hosts myriad programs including farmers markets , walking and bike tours , hiking , entertainment and outdoor fitness classes . It also encompasses the Maryland Zoo — which features an award-winning African penguin exhibit and many other exhibits and special events — and the Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens , housed in a stunning glass Victorian building and showcasing year-round displays of plants from around the world in five distinct exhibit areas : the original 1888 Palm House , Orchid Room , Mediterranean House , Tropical House and Desert House . VB
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