Greenbrier State Park, Boonsboro MD

Located slightly over an hour from parts of the DMV area, Greenbrier State Park is a great place to go for a day at the "beach", a day on the trails, or for some overnight camping. Additionally, boat rentals and fishing make this a place ripe for fun!

If you are choosing to go to the beach area, know that the parking lot fills up quickly. The lake is man-made, and the front beach area is roped off and not more than 4 feet deep at any point. It also slowly gets deeper so little children can play by the shoreline and feel completely safe. They have lifeguards on duty during the summer with hours posted on their website. Our children had a blast playing in the water for hours, and it really felt warm and comfortable. Many people were on the shores as well, having barbecue's and relaxing in the pavilions.

Those who choose not to swim, could still make great use of the lake by renting boats or going fishing. The lake is stocked with several types of fish, and while we only saw a few fisherman, the ones we saw were catching, so this may be a good spot for young anglers (make sure that anglers of age have a fishing license. 

We chose to make use of their camp grounds, and the experience was great for first time campers. The sites were near to each other which allowed us to be maybe 100 feet from our friends (this could be a drawback if you are looking for a place with more privacy, but was a positive for us). There were multiple loops, so there were many campsites to choose from, and the actual camp site was in great shape. The staff had definitely come by before we checked in and raked the site to make sure that it was flat and clean, and the fire pit was also swept clean. Further, the bathrooms were nearby and clean, providing toilets, sinks, and showers. There was also a water pump located only a few campsites away from us which made drinking water readily accessible. The ranger station was also great about giving us information about the hiking trails, and sold ice and fire wood, which made life much easier for beginning campers.

Overall, this was a great experience, and a place that we would come back to in the future.
 All pricing is located on their website, as well as information about making reservations.
Website: http://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/western/greenbrier.aspx

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