Glen Burnie: Trails and Freetown’s History

The Baltimore & Annapolis Trail and the BWI Trail offer two different route types for a trip focused on Glen Burnie: one runs to Glen Burnie, while the other starts at Dorsey Road in the city and goes around the airport. Freetown offers a historical perspective; the Planet Walk near Harundale Mall features educational displays about the planets. Year-round indoor swimming is available at the North Arundel Aquatic Center. If you’re looking for a hotel in Glen Burnie, considering what matters most to you can help you decide where to stay.

Trails between the railroad and the airport

The Baltimore & Annapolis Trail follows the route of the Annapolis and Baltimore Short Line. Freight and passenger trains operated on this railroad from 1880 onward. The paved trail is 13.3 miles long and runs from Annapolis through forests, farmland, and suburban neighborhoods to Glen Burnie. This route brings together two aspects: the history of a former rail connection and a present-day path through varied landscapes. Both the stated length and the route between Annapolis and Glen Burnie are important for getting your bearings.

The BWI Trail offers a different kind of route. It starts at Dorsey Road in Glen Burnie and also follows a 12.5-mile paved loop around BWI Airport. There are several views of the airport along the loop. Both trails are paved, but their lengths describe different types of routes: the Baltimore & Annapolis Trail runs to Glen Burnie, while the BWI Trail loops around the airport. So when comparing the figures, consider not only the mileage but also whether you’re looking at a one-way route or a loop.

The Thomas A. Dixon Observation Area is on Dorsey Road in Glen Burnie. It has a parking lot and a playground.

Freetown and the Planet Walk

The Freetown community in what is now Glen Burnie is located on land that Captain James Spencer purchased in 1845, after gaining his freedom in 1839. The two dates mark different milestones: first, his gaining freedom, and then, six years later, the land purchase. Freetown became one of the largest communities of free Black people in Anne Arundel County outside Annapolis. This context connects the history of a specific place with the history of the county, and also gives you a geographic point of reference: Freetown is situated in relation to Annapolis and the rest of Anne Arundel County.

The Planet Walk near Harundale Mall is a linear museum with educational displays about the Sun and each planet. Its subject is quite different from Freetown’s history: here, the focus is on astronomy, from the Sun to all the planets. If you’re interested in the planets, it offers a distinct topic alongside local history and the trails.

Year-round indoor swimming

The North Arundel Aquatic Center offers year-round indoor swimming. Swimming is therefore a travel activity that isn’t limited to a particular season. It’s a distinct focus alongside the trails and historical or astronomical topics.

Choosing hotels in Glen Burnie

When looking for a hotel in Glen Burnie, you can first decide which topics matter most for your stay: one of the trails with its distinct route type, Freetown’s history, or indoor swimming. This lets you begin your search with a clear idea of the kind of trip you want, without combining the different places and activities into a single route.

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