Spring Is Coming! Head Out to Oregon Ridge Park with the Kids

This free kid-friendly Baltimore activity is something my son and his four cousins (ages 4-10) loved: the Purple Park at Oregon Ridge. It's in Cockeysville, about 20 minutes from my home in Pikesville. There are two different parts of Oregon Ridge that we visited 1. the playground 2. the Nature Center, hiking trails (and the beach).

1. The Purple Playground (free)
(Once you turn on to Beaver Dam Road, follow the road which kind of leans to the left and the playground will be about a .5 mile on your right. It shares a parking lot with the dinner theater.)

This playground is super great for young kids. The ground is covered in that plastic-y asphalt. There are a bevy of slides with high sides made out of plastic so the kids don't fall off on their way down or finish their slide ride with second degree burns. It's a great playground for hide and go seek. There's a mini rock climbing plastic thing the kids enjoy scurrying up (even my risk-averse 3 year old). There are a couple of slides and a smaller scale playground for even younger children. The kids were running around for a good 45 minutes - hour.

There's tons of space for flying kites, ball playing, sports, etc. There are some benches on the side for moms. I believe there were some port a pots there too.

2. The Oregon Ridge Nature Center 410-887-1815 (free)
"Mommy, is that dead?" So, there are a lot of dead animals there - taxidermized, out where your kids can reach and touch them. There are also some live ones in cages - but small rodenty / foresty ones like possums, birds, turtles, etc. There are some games like: identify the skull of this dead animal that really didn't interest my precocious 3 year old. I'm sure someone thinks that's interesting. He did like touching the things that looked like rusty metal axes though that were out on display. There were some pretty cool stuffed animals like a small bear, a beaver, some big birds, etc. The real point of interest was looking or trying to find the live animals in their cages, but there weren't that many of them. There were a few hands on things to do like listen to animal calls or tip over the rusty ax behind a dinky chain meant to keep out respectful adults, not curious children :).

Outside, there was a VERY cool bridge that led over to a hiking trail. Highlight: finding a walking stick for my son so he could hike. Although I'm posting this in February, we did this activity in November when the leaves were still changing, and it was gorgeous. There were families and folks with dogs all enjoying great hikes. I definitely want to go back.

Plus, there's a lake beach area. (Not Free) We didn't see this because it was the Fall, but I definitely want to go back and see that.
Admission though is $8/adult. $4/kid. Season passes are available. FYI folks, it's cheaper to get on to an Ocean beach. What's with that?

Directions To Oregon Ridge Park

Directions to the Lodge, Concerts, Picnics, Festivals, & Dinner Theater

1. Take I-695 toward Towson.
2. Take I-83 North (Exit 24).
3. Continue North to Exit 20-B (Shawan Rd. West).
4. At first light make a left. (Beaver Dam Rd.).
5. Follow Beaver Dam Rd. for aprox.1/2 mile.
6. You will see the park entrance on the right.
*The Lodge is the building with the flag in front of it.

Directions to the Beach and Nature Center

1. Take I-695 toward Towson.
2. Take I-83 North (Exit 24).
3. Continue North to Exit 20-B (Shawan Rd. West).
4. At first light make a left. (Beaver Dam Rd.).
5. Make an immediate right (between the red shed and the Oregon Grill).
6. Go across bridge.
7. Fork right (following ONE WAY signs).
8. You will see the Beach Building on left...parking is on grass.
9. Continue to the paved parking for Nature Center.
10. Nature Center is located at top of path.