Self-Care & Leisure While Social Distancing in the Greater Baltimore Area
2020 has been a year unlike any other! After months of being quarantined at home, you may be craving opportunities for leisure and self-care that won’t take a toll on your physical or emotional well-being. As such, we’ve included a list of our favorite Baltimore area spaces where you can enjoy yourself while also following best practices during this pandemic. We encourage you to follow recommended steps for your health and safety while trying to practice social distancing. Wear your mask properly, stay 6 feet apart, and grab your favorite hand sanitizer before you leave the house to enjoy any of these great locations. As always, listen to your body. If one of these activities or locations does not feel right for you, respect what your body is telling you.
Cylburn Arboretum
Rivky Steen, LGPC, LifeSpring Therapist
Cylburn Arboretum in Baltimore City is hands down my favorite gem in promoting my personal self-care. You can find me there wandering through the beautiful gardens and ponds or sitting on a bench beneath a shade tree writing in my journal. I love the grounding power of being connected to the earth beneath and the skies above. I also love the boundlessness, stillness, and the beauty of nature as it surrounds me. I do my best thinking there.
During the pandemic, the arboretum has taken on new meaning for me. As we struggle to find social distancing activities for me and my family, the arboretum has become an ideal solution. My children enjoy scootering and biking the myriad of paths that run through the arboretum as I enjoy connecting with my husband and family there. Down the line, I hope that many of the fond memories that me and my family have of the pandemic will include our wonderful time spent at Cylburn Arboretum.
The NCR Trail
Sara Secada-Lovio, LCPC, LifeSpring Therapist
I always enjoy going to the NCR trail. I like that the path is easy to follow, shady and cool, and has activities along the way (hiking, biking, tubing). I also like that the path is wide enough for people to pass each other. Going on the trail is a nice way to connect to nature and escape that isn't too far away. This trail may be enjoyable for people who might be feeling some stress and want a change of scenery.
The Maryland Zoo
Rebecca Lencz, LCPC, LifeSpring Therapist
I just took my family to the Maryland Zoo yesterday, and we really enjoyed our time together there! Tickets, in my opinion, are worth the expense and are a good way to support the zoo and all they do. Additionally, when bringing a family, it makes sense to pay for zoo membership instead of individual tickets, allowing for more zoo outings as part of the same price.
The zoo takes social distancing and corona restrictions seriously, so you have to book an arrival time slot online before coming as a way of controlling crowd numbers. There are areas where mask wearing is required, designated walkways for social distancing reasons, and hand sanitation stations, and some of the more constricted indoor areas of the zoo are currently closed.
I have always found my "happy place" there, not only because we all enjoy watching and interacting with the animals, but because the natural surroundings are just so scenic, pretty and calming. This time we brought lunch, and enjoyably ate at a picnic table in a shady area surrounded by greenery. In my opinion, the zoo is the perfect location to just get a break from stress and enjoy the calm and relaxing atmosphere of nature and companionship. People there are friendly, the kids are excited and occupied, you get to walk as well as to sit, and it really is a great outing that is close-by and yet global in all it offers!
Loch Raven Reservoir
Cathy Kioi, LCPC, LifeSpring Therapist
One location that I have enjoyed during the quarantine is the Loch Raven Reservoir. The reason I love this place and recommend it during social distancing, is because it offers a large outdoor area for people to explore without being too close to each other. Some activities to engage in at this location include short and long hiking trails, bird watching, feeding the ducks, sitting by the water to relax, picnicking on the grass with your family, and reading by the water. This location is great for mental health and self care, because it allows you to unplug from the digital world and take in your surroundings in nature surrounded by mature trees and water, which leaves you feeling calm and relaxed by the end of your visit.
Lake Roland
Melissa Wesner, LCPC, LifeSpring Therapist
As someone who has lived in Baltimore City for over 13 years, I have long appreciated opportunities to get away from the bricks, cement, and macadam of city life. Lake Roland is a nice, green getaway for city dwellers who don’t want to travel far for some time in nature. At Lake Roland, you can go for a walk, have an outdoor picnic, kayak, or just hang out by the water. There’s no admission fee, and there’s usually ample parking. In terms of social distancing, Lake Roland provides an opportunity to get some fresh air and movement while keeping a safe distance from others.
The Maryland Science Center
Madison Hager, Social Media & Digital Marketing Assistant
The Science Center is a place that a lot of individuals who grew up in Baltimore associate with being a grade school field trip. However, I think as we grow we can develop a greater appreciation for the information they provide and have more experience and ability to better understand what they're trying to teach us.
As someone who struggles to engage and focus at art museums, the Science Center is a place where I can still learn but have the opportunity to have a hands-on experience. The Science Center is accessible for any individual, and they have limited capacity to ensure that you will not be surrounded by individuals outside of your group. They’ve implemented a number of new safety measures to protect workers and visitors during the pandemic.
You can go through the exhibits at your own pace, take your time, and definitely remain distanced from the other individuals in the area. It is also a great place to bring children and get out of the house for a bit. Of course, masks are still required and I would also recommend pulling out the hand sanitizer!
For me, it always feels good and uplifting to learn something new, or even to relearn some things. As adults, it's always helpful to refresh and realize we now have the ability to learn things from a more mature perspective. It's definitely empowering and uplifting, and also makes you feel like you've spent your day doing something beneficial. Not only that, but when I'm in the planetarium it really puts into perspective how big our world is and how amazing it is that we have the opportunity to be here!
Try something new!
If you try out any of these locations, let us know! If you already have some of your own favorite locations for leisure and self-care while social distancing, let us know about your Greater Baltimore gems as well! At the end of the day, we want you to be able to maintain emotional and physical wellness while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Photos: Jackie Park and Steve Halama on Unsplash
Date of Download: 8/25/2020
