Quiet Waters Park Annapolis, MD

Quiet Waters in Annapolis is truly a great dog park. We don't get to go as often as I would like, as it's about 40 minutes or so from where we live, but it is always well worth the trip. Yesterday we were there for a Lab Rescue Picnic and I'm still amazed at how many Labs were in one place. I lost count at around 35 or so. It was complete raucous, organized chaos in the best way. The labs enjoyed hours of swimming and running around which is just the best to watch. Labs are goofy dogs that love a good time. I'm so glad that Zoey was able to get that kind of socialization and exercise, since most of her fun tends to be on-leash due to where we live. We had good food, great fun, and I think Zoey is still exhausted. Luckily the weather held up for us, and it rained just a little bit at the beginning of the afternoon, and held off the rest of the time we were there.

Quiet Waters has three off-leash areas. There is a separate special area for little guys, a larger fenced in area for big dogs, and the dog beach (my favorite part) just a short walk from the parking area. It's a well-maintained facility, with tons of areas to toss used bags, and there are also lots of bag dispenser stations found throughout the park. It costs $6 per car to enter the park, and it's good to keep in mind that Quiet Waters is closed on Tuesdays. The fenced-in areas have water spigots and hoses and lots of bowls, and yesterday there were kiddie pools for pups to wade in and beat the summer heat. Zoey finally figured out what the wading pools were for, and once that happened it was tough trying to persuade her to leave her watery oasis. When headed to the dog beach, it's best to bring a water bottle with you, as there aren't any freshwater sources and the dogs are getting tons of exercise. If they get too thirsty they start chugging bay water, which means MILLIONS of bathroom breaks later and potentially some seriously unpleasant curbing situations. There is a hosing station for getting some of the sand and grit out of their coats, but no shampoos or detergents are allowed. It's a great way to get them rinsed off (and smelling less like bay scallops) and a fantastic amenity that the park features. Bring a towel as well. We forgot one yesterday and improvised with John's undershirt. Oops. Towels are top of the packing list for next time.

Quiet Waters is a truly wonderful park. There are lots of pavilions available to rent for large groups and tons of places to enjoy a picnic lunch. They do some large events at the main building, and with its lovely gardens and fountains, I could see why someone would opt for this location to hold their special occasion. Throughout the summer, they hold concerts in the amphitheater and that could be worth checking out sometime. If you're near Annapolis, or want to take a day trip that includes tons of wet-nosed, wagging tail fun for your dog, Quiet Waters should be at the top of the list. It's always a good time and makes for a very tired dog.