Maryland State Parks Are The Place To Be Patriotic This Fourth Of July Weekend

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ANNAPOLIS — The Maryland Park Service has a number of reasons for Marylanders to stay in town during the upcoming July 4 weekend -- 49 to be exact. That’s because in every one of Maryland’s 49 state parks you can find history, culture, adventure and outdoor activities for the entire family. This holiday weekend, why pack up the kids and the car and sit in traffic when you could be sitting by a serene waterfall or walking through a pristine forest? To find the Maryland State Park nearest you, visit http://www.dnr.state.md.us/mdmap.html.

In addition to the regular park offerings, several parks in western and eastern Maryland are holding special events to celebrate the July 4 holiday. They are:

• July 2, 12 to 4 P.M. – Independence Day Campsite Decorating Contest
  Rocky Gap State Park, 2500 Pleasant Valley Road, Flintstone Show your patriotic pride by decorating your campsite for the July 4 weekend. Prizes will be awarded in several categories. The Volunteer Team will sponsor Karaoke in the evening from 6:30 to 10 P.M. The event is free to campers. For more information about the park, call 301-777-2012 or visit http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/rockygap.html.
• July 2, 4 to 8 P.M. – Independence Day Carnival
  Assateague State Park, 7307 Stephen Decatur Highway, Berlin Come to a summer carnival and celebrate Independence Day at the Assateague Nature Center. Activities will include games, crafts, nature programs and a bicycle-decorating contest. There will be great food as well. Proceeds from this fundraising event will benefit the Assateague State Park Nature Center and its interpretive programs. Cost of tickets for games. For more information about the park, call 410-641-2120 or visit http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/eastern/assateague.html.
• July 3, 2 to 3 P.M. – Ice Cream Social and Raptor Show
  Pocomoke River State Park, 3461 Worcester Highway, Snow Hill Cool off with a scoop of ice cream and enjoy a close encounter with our birds of prey. Join the park naturalist to explore the wonderful world of birds. Find out how each of our birds of prey has a unique purpose in nature. Meet at the Shad Landing camp store. Cost is $3 per person, which includes a scoop of ice cream. For more information call 410-632-2566 or visit http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/eastern/pocomokeriver.html.
• July 3, 2 P.M. – Walking Tour: In the Footsteps of the Soldiers
  Turner's Gap, off Alt. 40, near the South Mountain Inn in Boonsboro Join Civil War historian and author Steve Stottlemyer on a hike from Turner's Gap to Fox's Gap along the "Woods Road" used by General Daniel Harvey Hill, C.S.A. to send Confederate troops from one gap to the other during the Battle of South Mountain in 1862. Be prepared for a one-mile hike to Fox's Gap and then back (two-mile round trip). Wear appropriate shoes and clothes and bring plenty of drinking water. For more information or questions about the event, call 301-432-8065 or visit http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/southmountain.html.

The Maryland Park Service, a division of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), manages more than 2500 campsites, 131 cabins, encompassing more than 133,000 acres of land. Maryland’s 49 State Parks are a vital component in Maryland’s economy and quality of life, offering some of the best outdoor recreational opportunities in the state.

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June 27, 2005

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 446,000 acres of public lands and 18,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov