Going to have to go with Patterson Park. It is huge and I am able to run around on the trails with no problems. Plus, it is very dog friendly.

My favorite park is the Susquehanna state park.
After living in the beautiful state of Oregon for 11 years, my husband and I returned to my home state of Maryland in order to buy our first home and be near family. At first I lamented this, how could Maryland ever compete with Oregon? My first few months back here I was depressed and I only focused on what I perceived was wrong with Maryland. That autumn I went on a hike with my dogs for along the Susquehanna river. The trail took me into the woods and along a farmer's field. The leaves turning, the presence of the farmer in his field and mostly the visceral experience of the river woke in some very early primal memories in me. I'd forgotten how homey, how lovely Maryland was. It felt historic, not as the ancient forest in the NW are, but steeped in American history. I'd forgotten how comforting that felt. It made me read all I could on the history of that river. I spent the remaining autumn reading about and hiking those woods. It finally brought me home.

Though I've only been to two parks in my short doggie life, my favorite by far is Patterson Park, where I like to walk, if not romp, every morning and night.

I delight in stalking through the tall grasses in the spots that don't get mowed all that often. I love bits of clover that stick to my snout. When I see a particularly fetching weed, I'm sure to mark it so I can find it again later.

I love to meet my best friends like Misha and Max near the Pagoda. Whoohoo!

The park is a wonderful ammenity for my neighborhood and the city, which is why my mom is always sure to scoop my unmentionables so that others can enjoy the green space as much as I do.

Sincerely,
The Bean

I'd have to say Denali National Park in Alaska. The sheer scope and beauty of the park is incredible. The amount of wildlife I saw during my visit was amazing.

Mariner Point Park in Joppatowne, where I grew up, is home to so many of my life's memories. First of all, its where I had a carefree childhood, running and playing from the time I could walk until my teenage years, when my friends and I would walk through the tree lined pathways and talk about where we wanted to go in our lives. When I met the love of my life, our second date was a picnic in that park. Eventually, after countless dates and picnics in the park we decided to get married there, in the place we had frequented so often. We decided to buy our first home within walking distance of the park, and the memories grew, like the first time we walked our black lab through the park and he decided it would be a nice day for a swim, jumping off the pier into the water taking my husband in after him. We have so many memories in that park, and I can't wait for the days when we'll be walking our children through it, telling them of our childhood, our dates, and the beginning of our marriage there. To start the whole process over again and breathe new life into a place that holds so many memories for us- the way the life cycle of a great park should be.

Elmwood and Memorial Parks in Omaha. In the middle of the city, these two connected parks are a wondeful escape. The interconnected running trails, it's the home of concerts in the summer (including in the past few years Feist, Plain White Ts, and Bright Eyes) There are playgrounds in both parks where they have swings that swing high enough for adults. I think I have walked more miles through those parks then any other, it was the perfect walk with my roommate to end the tension of the day...

Hanlon Park is quietly nested in the Ashburton section of Baltimore City. If Baltimore is Charm City then this is a charm which has been well preserved in its glory. Named after a famous WW11 veteran,the land was once a lookout site for Federal soldiers during the civil war.This park has two baseball fields, a football field, tennis courts, a basketball court, reservoir and jogging or walking path a river and two sets of swings and gymnastic bars for kids.

My favoite hike IS to the top of Half Dome at Yosemite National Park. This 16+ mile, 12+ hour day hike is a grueling strenuous journey capped by a 425 ft vertical rise at 45 degrees up the side of the granite monolith. Only a cable handrail put up in 1919 aids you. Beautiful waterfalls, douglas fir, and killer views from nearly 9,000 feet up are worth it. Yes - Half Dome!

Rick Deutsch
San Jose

Rocky Gap State Park.
When my son was in 5th grade (2004) he had to do a “state” project. He did his on Maryland. That summer I took my two kids (wife could not go) on an adventure/vacation across the beautiful state of Maryland. We spent a week crossing the state and visiting many of the places that he wrote about; from Western Maryland to Antietam, Annapolis, and Ocean City.
One of the highlights of the trip was camping at Rocky Gap State Park. We camped here at the beginning and the end of our trip. Rocky Gap is so beautiful with its fresh air, mountains, forests, and lake. We did a lot of hiking and exploring of the beach and campground areas. There was a cool and informative “nature” campfire hosted by a park ranger. The first night we were there (our first camping experience ever), it rained/stormed like crazy. Listening to the thunder echo back and forth across the mountains was both scary (for the kids of course) and entertaining. Unlike anything we have ever heard.
We have since camped at other campgrounds in Michigan and Maryland and have found that Rocky Gap was by far the best. Beautiful setting, clean facilities, friendly and informative staff, and so much to see and do.
Since visiting Maryland in 2004 (we live in Michigan), we have been back three more times for one of our annual summer vacations. Each time we have crossed the state and packed in many activities. Maryland and Rocky Gap State Park has become our top vacation destination. Be back next year!

Winding through northeast Baltimore, Herring Run Park provides the experience of the “wild.” Where else in Baltimore can you can walk along a Piedmont stream and regularly spy great blue heron or a brilliant white egret? On a misty morning you might spy a red fox making its way home after a night’s forage. Last month, participants in a park fishing contest caught over 30 sunfish in the stream. How timeless is the expression and shock and joy when a young child catches their first fish!

For many years I have been captivated by the park’s natural resources. Now I am just as intrigued in its role as an urban respite connecting diverse neighborhoods. Herring Run Park traverses from Morgan State University to Armistead Gardens (near 895). Along its borders are neighborhoods characterized by rich and poor, black and white. The park proffers the opportunity to bridge differences as we collectively enjoy and embrace one lovely park.

Sarah Bur is a member of Friends of Herring Run Parks

There are many parks I like, including all our big Baltimore parks, but I think my favorite is Millennium Park in Chicago. www.millenniumpark.org. It's so gorgeous and well-maintained, for one thing. Then there's the big, shiny Cloud Gate sculpture, the Crown Fountain that invites everyone to take off their shoes and play in the water, and the Lurie Garden that contains many native prairie wildflowers. It's just one more great thing about Chicago and I wish I were there right now.

The Boston Harbor Islands (officially a National Recreation Area - http://www.bostonislands.org/)

You can kayak out (or take a ferry) and camp overnight with no electric, no cabins, no nothing... all with a gorgeous view of downtown Boston as your nightlight! For just $8 bucks! They are a real national treasure!