Area parks great for relaxation

Now that spring is in the air and the weather is warmer, it's time to get out of the library and enjoy some sunshine. Though we don't usually recognize Baltimore for being "crunchy" and outdoorsy, there most definitely are places to go to get out and about on a nice day. The Beach is nice and all, but when you want to get off campus, try one of the local parks.

If you're looking for a nice place you can walk to, a good place to try is Sherwood Gardens in Guilford. It's on Greenway Ave, about a 15-minute walk north of campus, and the tulips there are beautiful.

"It was nice to get away from campus and sit on the nice green lawn, especially on such a beautiful sunny day," said freshman Grettel Zamora. "Seeing all the tulips in full bloom made me really happy. It's a great break from day-to-day routine. Especially with finals coming up, I think everyone should get out of the library for a little bit and go see the tulips!"

Another park that's right nearby is Wyman Park on 30th St. and Charles. Though some people say not to go there alone too late at night, during the day it's a great place for baseball, softball, soccer, football, picnics, walking and more. Wyman Park is especially nice because of its proximity to campus, so if you're looking for a change of place, try it out instead of the Beach sometime.

"I really like Wyman Park. It's so close by, so it's really convenient and now that the weather's so nice, there's no excuse to stay inside," said freshman Jackie Walsh.

A little further away, you might try the Federal Hill Park at 800 Battery Ave, which has a playground, basketball court and places to picnic. It was used as a lookout post during the Civil War, and now it overlooks the Harbor so you can get a very nice view of Baltimore.

If you are still looking for more options try Patterson Park at 200 S. Linwood Ave, which, in addition to picnic areas, a softball/baseball diamond and the usual attractions, also has a place to fish, tennis courts, pavilions, City Farms garden plots and an indoor ice-skating rink.

If you want to go hiking or you're looking for something bigger, you can try the Gywnns Falls Trails at 1901 Ridgetop Rd (Leakin Park). This park boasts 4.5 miles of hiking and biking trails and there are places in the park to fish, canoe, skate, walk and so on.

Druid Hill Park at Druid Park Lake Dr. an Fulton Ave. has playgrounds, a lake, and aviary and the Baltimore Zoo. This park is historically special, too, because in the 1950s, access to the tennis courts and pools of this park were important gains in the civil rights movement. This park is probably the most popular one in the city.

If you want to find out more about all the parks Baltimore has to offer, check out http://www.ci.baltimore.md.us/government/recnparks/.

But the best way to really decide which park is your favorite is to get out there and test them out for yourself. Get some friends together and play a game of softball or Ultimate Frisbee. Put together a picnic to woo that special someone. Take your dog for a run, or if you don't have a dog, borrow someone else's for the day. Remember, especially with finals coming up, sunshine and fresh air are good for you in so many ways, and getting off campus is always a good way to de-stress.