Adventures with Muck and KP: Exploring Maryland: Ellicott City and Elk Neck State Park

Deciding we needed to go do something one Saturday, Jim and I got in the car, earlier than usual, with the goal of getting out to Elk Neck State Park
View Larger Map">. When I say earlier than usual, I mean leaving the house before noon! Since Elk Neck State Park is about 2 hours from us, one hour north of Baltimore, we decided to stop half way at Ellicott City, Maryland for a quick lunch and walk around.

Historic Ellicott City was founded in 1772 by three quaker brothers, from Pennsylvania, and soon became one of the largest milling and manufacturing towns in the east. What I find super interesting is how the brothers helped transform the agriculture in that area by planting wheat (instead of tobacco) and implementing fertilizers. It is also the first terminus of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (Photo below of stop), and is deemed the oldest surviving railroad station in the country. The famous race between "Tom Thumb" and a horse drawn carriage took place on a relay return trip to Ellicott City. The Enchanted Forest was once a popular attraction to the area.

Here is a photo of the train station:

The town is very cute, located in the bottom of the river valley, the Patapsco River. It is known for is great antiquing.

Main Street

Cabin circa 1780:

Jim really liked this sign:

Over all it was a really nice town and we are looking forward to the return visit! We left here and headed up I-95 past Baltimore paying a total of $9 bucks in tolls! GRRR!

But eventually we arrived in Elk Neck State Park, to hike bluffs along the chesapeake bay to a lighthouse, The Turkey Point lighthouse. The lighthouse sits atop 100 foot bluffs on the bay and dates back to 1833. It is about a two mile hike up and around to the lighthouse and below are the photos I took. It was close to sunset making it better