We love adventures! I have a friend that also blogs that taught me a fun, sometimes unsuccessful, but neat trick (check it out: TheBuckitBlog). You bring up a map, search the green areas, pick one, and explore. Now as I mentioned before this can sometimes be unsuccessful, however sometimes it leads to a little slice of outdoor heaven. This specific adventure lead us to Eastern Neck Island, Maryland. A quaint little island loaded with history, nature trails, wildlife, insects, and so much more. Something definitely worth seeking out.
Eastern Neck Island
Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge is a 2,285 acre island providing habitat for thousands of wintering waterfowl including the tundra swan along with many other animals. The Refuge is pretty flat and consists of 4 miles of roads which makes it a perfect spot to ride bicycles. There are 7 trails throughout the refuge including 2 wheelchair accessible trails.
The many trails throughout Eastern Neck allow you to see a variety of wildlife as well as some spectacular scenic views. We loved the Bayview-Butterfly Trail. When standing on the observation deck you can see the Chesapeake Bay Bridge as well as the Key Bridge in Baltimore, a truly spectacular sight.
Whether you are bird watching, checking out the beautiful Bayscapes, or just hoping to walk and soak in the great outdoors, Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge will not disappoint.
If you look closely you can see the Bay Bridge in the background.
Be Prepared
As with any adventure you should always be prepared! Make sure to check out your destination, if possible. It always helps to know what to wear, pack, and how to dress before you head out!
On this specific outing I was not and so we weren’t able to do all the things I had hoped for. Don’t be like me! 😉
Do’s:
- Bring your camera
- There are a ton of great areas for pictures as well as a lot of wildlife.
- Check out the Friends of Eastern Neck Bookstore
- You can find the bookstore towards the back of the island at the Visitor Center.
- Bring your canoe/kayak.
- There is a great water tour that begins at the Bogle’s Wharf trail. The trail consists of seven points of interest including island loss, wetland restoration, historical locations, wildlife viewing areas and so much more.
Don’ts:
- Don’t forget your bug spray.
- This time of year there are bugs galore and you wouldn’t want your adventure to get cut short (like ours did).
- Don’t leave your walking shoes at home.
- Some of the more off-road trails definitely require appropriate footwear.
- Don’t be afraid to come back again.
- Each season offers something different at Eastern Neck so be sure to check it out again. (I can’t wait to go back after Thanksgiving when the Tundra Swan arrive).
- Don’t forget to enjoy, relax, and have fun!
- After all, that is what these adventures are all about.
For more ideas on nature walks you can read Scavenger Hunts: How to Take Your Nature Walk to a Whole New Level and Nature Walk Series: Incorporating Letters and Numbers. If you are looking for other awesome adventure locations in the DelMarva and Pennsylvania areas check out ChesLen Reserve and Cunningham Fall State Park.
As always I would love to hear about your favorite adventures or local nature spots! What do you love about nature walks? What is your favorite thing to do?
Until next time,
Some fun outdoor nature walk accessories:
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