Sandy Point Park Quest

Park Quest is a team or family event that asks participants to register in advance, visit as many of the 24 state parks in Maryland that they can and hunt for clues along the way. Each park uses a different theme to help families learn more about the park and its history.

Unfortunately, the program is officially limited to 1,000 families and registration is now closed. However, the park service encourages families to take advantage of the trails that are set up throughout the park to learn more about each individual park.

Yesterday, my 4-year-old son, my very fit mother-in-law and I headed to Sandy Point State park to give it a try. Over the years I have been to Sandy Point a number of times. Usually I go in, head to the playground or the beach and spend the day relaxing.

Yesterday I spent the better part of the morning wandering through the park completing the 11-part quest. I was pleasantly surprised by all this park has to offer.

I had heard that the park had once been a working farm of a wealthy family, but I had never stopped long enough to consider what it might have looked like back in the 1700s.

The theme of the Sandy Point Park Quest is a Pirate’s Treasure. Our first stop was at the Marine Store and was marked by the Jolly Roger flying high above the store. Before getting started, we checked to make sure we could still walk around looking for the clues if we had not registered. After we were given the go ahead, we were directed toward our first clue.

The clues for Park Quest are clearly marked and they are seldom more than a couple of hundred yards apart. We made our way from the Marine Store through 10 clues, stopping along the way to learn more about the history and ecology of the park, and finally made our way to the treasure.

I found it interesting that the same game had two separate effects on me and my son. I tend to rush through life, running more often than walking and I am aware that I miss a lot this way.

Yesterday, I slowed down. Areas of the park I had never seen were revealed to me. Though the old horse barn is no longer standing, I slowed down long enough to explore the area around it, including the troughs that are still standing.

I took the time to stand between the line of cedars and imagine what the mansion house would have looked like back in the day, and took the time to admire the refurbishment that is the works for the mansion house itself.

In contrast Zane is a dawdler. He loves to take his time getting through life. But as we explored Sandy Point, he ran from point to point, anxious to find the next clue and ultimately make it to the pirate’s treasure.

For him it was a race with a few rocks and tree stumps to add the effect of an obstacle course thrown in. The trail ends between the playground and the beach and though there is no treasure chest, the treasure that is laid out before you well is worth seeing.

Of the 24 parks Sandy Point is the closest for our family, but just 20 minutes down the road, near BWI airport is Patapsco Valley State Park. The rest of parks are scattered far and wide around Maryland.

Having learned so much and thoroughly enjoyed our time at a familiar park, I look forward to making some day trips to visit more of the parks over the summer.