Maybe you dream of a getaway that will put you in touch with nature -- something vigorous and outdoorsy that challenges you physically while it soothes your soul. This year, kayaking the Amazon and hiking the Alps may be out of your price range. But fortunately, you can discover the great outdoors here in Maryland -- the best bargain around.
We asked people intimately acquainted with our state's natural beauties to share what they like to do on their days off. Maybe you'll want to visit their favorite places. Or maybe their experiences will motivate you to explore some of the other locales listed.
Park naturalist Greg Kearns, who for 12 years has worked at Patuxent River Park in Marlboro, doesn't need getaways -- he works in the middle of one. "One evening," he says, "I sat on the bridge over the Mattaponi Creek that's part of a scenic drive through the park. I stayed very still, and I saw deer, muskrats and otter near the water. There was a beaver messing around with some mud, pushing it back and forth, marking it with his scent. I could hear a pair of great horned owls calling back and forth. A fox walked up behind me -- he didn't see me -- and he was watching the beaver, too.
"I saw a pair of bald eagles that live here -- they're a young pair, nesting for the first time. In just one month, they built a nest 2 feet deep and about 4 or 5 feet across. That same night, I saw about 400 swans overhead, and about 1,000 geese passed over, too, plus some red-tailed hawks.
"That was all in 40 minutes. You don't see that much activity in the middle of the day, but if you camp overnight here, and walk out in the evening, and sit real still, you can see that many animals. I always tell people they should camp here weekdays. It's the best time to come."
Mr. Kearns also recommends canoeing Mattaponi Creek, a freshwater estuary surrounded by patches of wild rice. Canoeing and other park activities require a reservation and park permit. Cost for the full-day canoe rental: $10. Call (301) 627-6074.
Other parks that provide a glimpse of nature:
Pocomoke River State Park, along the Pocomoke, a tidal river, also features canoeing and camping. Call (301) 632-2566.
Elk Neck State Park, located on the Eastern Shore, offers a sandy beach with lifeguards and a bathhouse, plus 300 camp sites for tents and recreational vehicles. Some cabins available. (301) 287-5333.
New Germany State Park sits within Savage River State Forest in Garrett County. You can hike or swim, camp in tents or cabins, or take your backpack into the wilds of the forest and really rough it. Call New Germany: (301) 895-5453; or the state forest: (301) 895-5759.
For a thorough listing of Maryland public and private campsites, call the State Tourism Office at (800) 543-1036 to request the 1991 Maryland Travel and Outdoor Guide.
AS PRESIDENT OF THE Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Will Baker has one complaint: He rarely has time to visit the waters his agency protects. That's why Mr. Baker often accompanies groups of children from city schools on the foundation's educational trips. Doing so gets him out there, on the water. One of his favorite spots is the foundation-owned Great Fox Island, off of Crisfield on the Eastern Shore. Many of the children Mr. Baker accompanies have never been outside of Baltimore. Imagine their shock, then, when the boat deposits them at Great Fox and they find themselves immersed in wilderness. There is no 7-Eleven down the street, because there is no street -- just marshland for miles.
The children sleep in an old hunting lodge, harvest their own food and pedal-pump their water. They find out that crabs and wild birds reign on the island. When the kids get their first glimpse of such a creature up close, "Their eyes really do get as big as saucers!" Mr. Baker says.
"Hopefully, when I retire I'll have time to canoe and sail and fish," he adds. "And hopefully by then, with the help of these kids, the bay will be saved and ready for me."
Write the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to find out about public field trips. The address is 162 Prince George St., Annapolis, Md. 21401.
Other activities on and in the bay:
Hop a ferry from Crisfield on the Eastern Shore to Smith Island. Wild and beautiful, home to great blue herons and snowy egrets, the island has changed little since John Smith found it in 1608. Ferry information: (301) 425-2771.
Scuba dive off of Ocean City or Point Lookout. Best times: October to March, when the water is calm and sea nettles are scarce. Several scuba companies are listed in the yellow pages. Try Scuba Hut: (301) 761-4520.
Sandy Point State Park near Annapolis is a popular swimming and sailboarding spot. Rental boats available. Call: (301) 757-1841.
Assateague Island is wilder and emptier than Sandy Point or Ocean City. You'll find sunbathers, swimmers, fishers and yes, surfers. Call Assateague State Park: (301) 641-2120.
For lists of sailing schools that offer day, weekend and longer trips, for all skill levels, call Annapolis Public Information and Tourism: 269-6125.
YOU CAN SAY THAT WALKING runs in Alan Fisher's family. His parents met at a meeting of the Hikers, a Washington, D.C., club, and during long strolls fell in love. They taught their son to appreciate a vigorous hike through the country, and today, Mr. Fisher makes his living describing his jaunts in detailed guidebooks. ("Country Walks Near Baltimore," "Country Walks Near Washington" and "More Country Walks Near Washington.")
Because he has walked the Baltimore area so often, Mr. Fisher has a hard time picking a favorite spot, choosing instead "any place I haven't been to in a while -- variety is the key."
When pressed, he will say, "Linear stream valley parks are very good for a quick getaway. They are so undeveloped you easily drop out of sight of the surrounding suburbia." Tops on his list are Patapsco and Gunpowder Falls State Parks.
Once, on the Patapsco River near Daniels, Mr. Fisher watched a group of otters as they swam down the rapids. "They were playing, just bobbing along, down chutes and over the falls," he says, sounding not in the least surprised.
Any more tips from the walking pro? "The sheerest wilderness is the Hereford area of Gunpowder Falls. The North Central Railroad is the nicest of that type of path I've ever seen. And at the end of a day I've otherwise wasted by working, I often go to Leakin Park, a remarkable wilderness enclave within Baltimore city."
Other Maryland hiking areas:
The Appalachian Trail crosses 38 miles of Maryland. You can pick up the trail north of Harpers Ferry, in Gathland State Park, or in Greenbriar State Park. Call the Appalachian Trail Conference: (304) 535-6331.
Stroll Cylburn Arboretum's garden paths in the evening; the area is lovely. Call 396-0180.
Hike through Gunpowder Falls State Park until you reach Prettyboy Dam. Call: 592-2897.
Mr. Fisher recommends Leakin Park and adjacent Gwynns Falls Park. Call: 396-0010.
To glimpse some of the state's finest cascading waters, visit McKeldin Falls in Patapsco Valley State Park. It features well-marked trails. Call Maryland Park Service for information: 461-5005.
Oregon Ridge Park offers marked trails through its 1,000 acres. Call: 887-1815.
TROUT ARE TO STREAMS what canaries are to coal mines: Their presence indicates a safe, healthy environment. If trout disappear, it indicates that a stream is in trouble, possibly from water warming or chemical contamination.
In 1959, a national organization called Trout Unlimited was formed because members noticed trout were disappearing at an alarming rate. The group set out, through grass-roots lobbying, to stop stream degradation and the subsequent loss of fish habitat and fish.
Trout Unlimited's members are fishermen who love the sport in part because it leads them to some of the state's prettiest wilderness areas. Wally Vait, longtime member of the club's local chapter, is acquainted with many of the 425 miles of trout streams that flow through Maryland.
For excellent fly-fishing and scenic views, he suggests visiting Jones Falls above Lake Roland -- historically the best trout stream in the state. No fish stocking takes place there -- the fish are wild and wily. A caveat: Much of the land around Jones Falls is privately owned, so be sure to secure landowners' permission before fishing there.
For beginning fishers, Mr. Vait recommends Big Hunting Creek in the Catoctin Mountains, a catch-and-release stream loaded with stocked rainbow and wild brown trout. Also, the eight-mile stretch of the Gunpowder River between Prettyboy and Loch Raven reservoirs is one of the top 100 trout streams in the United States, according to Trout Magazine. This year, an additional four miles of catch-and-release water were opened on the Gunpowder, and will be managed for wild, not stocked, trout.
Other outdoor sports activities:
White-water rafting on the Upper Youghiogheny River in Friendsville, Md., will jump-start your heart. With Class III, IV and V rapids with names like: "Bastard" and "Fat Man's Squeeze," the experience is not for the meek. Call Upper Yough Expeditions at: (301) 746-5808.
Take a daylong rafting trip on the Potomac River with Blue Ridge Outfitters. The scenery is spectacular, from the initial plunge down Great Falls to the squeeze through sheer rock cliffs that form a mile-long can- yon. Call: (304) 725-3444.
Bike the B&A; Trail, a "greenway" between Glen Burnie and Annapolis. Running along a former railroad bed, the 10-foot wide path is paved and pleasant. Call the B&A; Trail Park: 222-6244.
To hunt duck and geese, the Eastern Shore is the spot. Kent, north Talbot and Queen Anne's counties are the best areas. Call the Department of Natural Resources at 974-3195.
To observe wild birds and mammals, flora and fauna, sign up for a Maryland Nature Conservancy trip. The group's packages lead you through privately owned, secluded lands throughout the state. Call: (301) 656-8673.
And finally, you can try your luck at a true Maryland activity: crabbing. You'll find crabs nestled at the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay, often congregating at piers and pilings. Public piers in Baltimore: North Point, Stony Creek and the Hanover Street Bridge. Best months for crabbing: August and September. How to crab: Launch crab traps, or bait trot line with chicken necks and when a crab bites, scoop him up with a long-handled net.
Call the Department of Natural Resources at 974-3365 for a copy of "The Happy Crabber," a brochure that offers tips on catching these delicious crustaceans. It also lists rules and regulations, like minimum sizes (hard shell 5 inches; soft shell 3 1/2 inches; peeler 3 inches) and maximum catch (two bushels).
VIEWING MARYLAND ON A SEVEN-DAY BIKE TOUR
CYCLE ACROSS MARYLAND (CAM-Tour) is a seven-day cycling vacation tour for family and friends. Sponsored by First National Bank of Maryland, CAM-Tour '91 will take cyclists on a 350-mile non-competitive tour that will wrap the Chesapeake Bay, exploring both the eastern and western shores.
Bicycle enthusiasts of all ages are welcome. The $120 registration fee ($110 if application is postmarked before May 25) includes nightly camping space, T-shirt, tour book, first-aid stations, bike-repair vans, sag vehicles, showers, daily transportation of baggage, and nightly entertainment at each host site. Breakfast and dinner meals will be available at host sites for a nominal charge.
Registration is limited. For information call (800) 842-BANK or write to CAM-Tour '91, P.O. Box 21572, Baltimore, Md. 21208.