Baltimore Trails is a comprehensive and detailed guide to trails on public lands in and around Baltimore. Discover Hemlock Gorge, a small slice of Appalachia transported into northern Baltimore County, with its timeless peace and ancient gnarled hemlocks; or Black Marsh, where birds skulk among the vegetation of pristine freshwater wetlands; or the unique landscape of Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area, which shelters more than 38 rare plant species. Baltimore Trails

A week-by-week look at the abundant wildlife and plants in and around Maryland—where and when to find them.When can you find ripe blueberries along the Appalachian Trail in Maryland? Where can you see the air filled with monarch butterflies as they migrate south each autumn? If you want to enjoy nature this weekend, where is the best place to visit? Bryan MacKay can tell you.Written as an almanac, A Year across Maryland invites you to explore the n...

Explore the natural beauty of Maryland on foot.Maryland affords a rich variety of natural places for residents and visitors to enjoy, from the Chesapeake shores through expansive Piedmont farmland to the Appalachian Plateau. And whether you’re headed to the seashore or the mountains, there are few better ways to experience these landscapes than on foot. With its excellent system of public lands—including national parks, state parks and forests, and even privately o...

A week-by-week look at the abundant wildlife and plants in and around Maryland—where and when to find them.When can you find ripe blueberries along the Appalachian Trail in Maryland? Where can you see the air filled with monarch butterflies as they migrate south each autumn? If you want to enjoy nature this weekend, where is the best place to visit? Bryan MacKay can tell you.Written as an almanac, A Year across Maryland invites you to explore the n...

Explore the natural beauty of Maryland by bike.As off-road, family-friendly bike paths have increased in popularity, cycling has become a safe and healthy way to exercise out-of-doors and enjoy the beauty of nature. In Maryland, cyclists are fortunate to have access to a range of paved and unpaved recreational trails throughout some of the state’s most scenic landscapes. Cycle Maryland is your guide to the best of these trails.A lifelong Maryland r...

Explore the natural beauty of Maryland by water.With the Chesapeake Bay—the largest estuary in the United States—the Potomac, Monocacy, and Patapsco Rivers, and countless streams, creeks, swamps, and marshes, Maryland is an ideal locale for people to take to the water and enjoy the natural beauty of the Free State.In Paddle Maryland, lifelong Marylander and devoted paddler Bryan MacKay presents twenty-two of his favorite canoe and kayak trips. From...

When we think of wild animals, we don't immediately associate them with the cities we live in. But a closer look soon reveals that we share our urban environment with a great many untamed creatures. Heavily illustrated and full of entertaining and informative facts, City Critters examines how and why so many wild animals choose to live in places that, on first glance at least, seem contrary to their needs. How do those deer, raccoons, squirrels, skunks, coyotes, crows, gulls and geese – no...

" This little gem fills you in on everything finned, furred, feathered, or leafed, and how to find it, in all five boroughs" ( House and Garden).New York just might be the most biologically diverse city in temperate America. The five boroughs sit atop one of the most naturally rich sites in North America, directly under the Atlantic migratory flyway, at the mouth of a 300-mile-long river, and on three islands?Manhattan, Staten, and Long.Leslie Day, a...

First explored by naturalist William Bartram in the 1760s, the St. Johns River stretches 310 miles along Florida's east coast, making it the longest river in the state. The first "highway" through the once wild interior of Florida, the St. Johns may appear ordinary, but within its banks are some of the most fascinating natural phenomena and historic mysteries in the state. The river, no longer the commercial resource it once was, is now largely ignored by Florida's residents and visitors a...

A vibrant, family-friendly guide to the unexpected nature found in and around Philadelphia.Philadelphia may seem like a concrete jungle, but in reality, it's full of amazing wildlife. You just need to know where to find it! Equal parts natural history, field guide, and trip planner, Wild Philly has something for everyone. This handy yet extensive guide looks at the factors that shape local nature and profiles over 100 local species, from beautiful flowers ...

This updated third edition offers day hikes for all skill levels and abilities, including an underground hike through an old gold mine and a climb to the top of the highest peak along the Blue Ridge Parkway.The mountain ranges of North Carolina—from the Blue Ridge and Great Smokies to the southern foothills—are distinguished by steep gorges, spectacular waterfalls, lush forests, open vistas and temperate weather, making them a popular hiking destination in every se...

Enjoy great hikes from New Hampshire's seacoast to the Canadian border.Whether you’re after a simple woods walk or a challenging trek up a 4,000-foot peak, the 6th edition of this indispensable hiking guide has it. Sit beside a brook in southern New Hampshire or climb a fire tower in the far north, visit state parks, explore ice caves in King Ravine, pick blueberries, or embark on a backpacking trip—all in the gorgeous Granite State.