Best Nature and Parks (RV, National, Dog, etc) in Columbia

"The Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens is one of my favorite places in Baltimore City. It includes outdoor gardens, as well as five indoor rooms that feature a distinct environment. There’s the Palm House, Orchid Room, Desert House, Tropical House, and Mediterranean House, each with a climate and plants to match the environment."

"A true hidden gem in Baltimore, the Rawlings Conservatory is a historic greenhouse and botanical garden right next to the Maryland Zoo. Entry is donations-based, so you can pay as much as you want for total exploration of vibrant tropicals, gorgeous orchids, and a room full of impressive palms. By @willpowerphotos."

"The Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens has been in Druid Hill Park since 1888, so it’s an important part of Baltimore’s history. Who wouldn’t love to receive a marriage proposal surrounded by flowers and plants from around the world?"

"Cylburn Arboretum is 200 acres of trees, gardens, and manicured lawns that are especially nice to visit in spring when the flowers are blooming. The park is centered around Cylburn Mansion which was built in 1863 and is open for tours, including a holiday open house in the winter. The park also includes 3.5 miles of hiking trails through the surrounding woods, a greenhouse used for educational programs, and events like the annual Market Day."

"Full of gardens, greenhouses, wooded paths, and angelic statues, the arboretum is the perfect place for a quiet proposal where the two of you will have each other’s undivided attention. The Cylburn Arboretum also regularly hosts wedding ceremonies, so you know the location is ripe for romance."

"The Cylburn Arboretum off of Greenspring Avenue is just really fantastic. The grounds are sprawling and there is so much open space to run and play and enjoy seeing the trees and other plant life. There are over 20 individual gardens and some of the coolest old trees I have ever seen."

"One of the glorious aspects of eating at a restaurant in Paris is the feeling that one can sit by oneself without being judged. The same is true at Petit Louis, a restaurant that has set the bar for French cuisine in Baltimore since it opened in Roland Park nearly 20 years ago. Bask in the warmth of the fire, the attentive service and the always-on-point French food."

"I remember how excited I was when they first opened a location on Charles Street. I was obsessed with nutella at the time (…I’m still obsessed with nutella, sorry not sorry), and their Nutty Banana was one of my many guilty pleasures – the Turtle being a close second (caramel, chocolate and nuts), S’mores (chocolate, melted marshmallows, and graham crackers) a close third!. In addition to sweet crepes, they also offer savory handhelds!"

"Open in the Hamilton-Lauraville neighborhood since 2011, Hamilton Bakery offers breakfast, lunch, and a dessert menu. The pastries are hand-cut, and shaped so that every one is uniquely made. Hamilton’s also makes fresh artisan bread every day of the week, so even if you aren’t in the mood for a sweet dessert, a fresh loaf for the day is refreshing and warm."

"Located in Canton, Holy Crepe Bakery & Cafe is a family-owned bakery and cafe. Inside of this Canton row home are desserts are baked and made fresh on a daily basis, crepes with unique fillings and, of course, great coffee. One of Holy Crepe’s specialty items is the Charm City Crepe, which is stuffed with jumbo lump crab filling and topped with cream sauce."

"Open for breakfast and lunch, seven days a week, Spoons Coffee Roasters and Café is a friendly neighborhood café that serves a menu of traditional and healthy fare for breakfast and lunch in a warm and welcoming ambiance. Hailed as having the “best biscuits in Maryland,” Spoons offers freshly baked biscuits, muffins, scones, and pastries every morning for breakfast and brunch as well as omelets, breakfast sandwiches, burgers, huevos verdes, fried oysters and grits, and buttermilk pancakes. Also on the menu are waffles, cinnamon roll pancakes, and deep-fried stuffed French toast, along with freshly brewed coffee, tea, and other hot beverages."

"Famous biscuits, a scratch kitchen and in-house roasted coffee make the Federal Hill-based Spoons a standout of the dining scene in Baltimore. Every season, the roasting team gets experimental and creates unique brews worth trying, such as the pumpkin maple foam cold brew or the salted caramel latte. If you’re craving something more, make a reservation and enjoy all-day brunch options like various egg scrambles or the out-of-the-box cinnamon roll pancakes."

"The wait is still very long to be seated, but they are very clear about their process--- and it has never actually taken t..."

"On your way, stop at Stone Mill Bakery for a loaf of bread, some pastries, or a sandwich (my favorite is "The Powerhouse": sprouts, tomatoes, provolone, and honey Dijon on seven grain bread) and windowshop in the boutiques nearby. If you make it to the Hereford-Monkton area (about 30 miles north of downtown), visit the Prettyboy Reservoir (pictured below) and hike on the surrounding paths, or find an entrance to the Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail (formerly known as the N.C.R. Trail), which is a stone dust path that stretches to the Pennsylvania border. If you have your bathing suit and an innertube (I always travel with an innertube), you can float on the adjacent Big Gunpowder Falls River."

"Chef Gerard Billebault grew up in Paris — in the same neighborhood singer Edith Piaf hails from — and worked in his father’s bakery before going to cooking school. He and his wife opened their Baltimore cafe in 1998; it’s become a destination for area Francophiles and sweet teeth. But not too sweet: Customers note that Billebault’s pastries aren’t as sickly sweet as those available in supermarkets."