Columbia: Lake Kittamaqundi, Trails and Culture

Columbia offers several concrete points of interest to consider when planning a trip: a man-made lake in Town Center, an extensive network of trails, and arts, music, and recreation offerings. These features each have a distinct appeal. Lake Kittamaqundi represents the landscape in Town Center; the trails invite you to walk, bike, and jog, while events and cultural venues shape the program according to the season and your interests.

Lake Kittamaqundi and Columbia’s Trail Network

Lake Kittamaqundi is a 27-acre man-made lake in Columbia’s Town Center. It offers a clearly defined connection to the landscape right in the heart of Town Center. In addition, an extensive network of trails shapes the ways you can get around Columbia on foot or by bike. The Columbia Association maintains more than 114 miles of trails and sidewalks for walking, biking, and jogging. The trails, which are separated from motorized traffic, are suitable for walking and biking. While Lake Kittamaqundi refers to a single lake, the trail network offers different ways to get around. This lets you include two very different aspects of Columbia in your travel plans.

Events at the Lakefront

The Columbia Festival of the Arts LakeFest is a free outdoor event at the Downtown Columbia Lakefront. The three-day format combines live music with a juried visual arts exhibition, crafts, entertainment, and activities for children. Lakefront Live has a different seasonal focus: in summer, the Columbia Association Lakefront offers free music, movies, and special events. The distinction is useful for planning your dates: LakeFest brings together a variety of arts and entertainment in a three-day format, while Lakefront Live offers music, movies, and other events in summer. Since the seasonal program may change, check the dates and program information for your preferred travel dates before your trip.

Cultural Venues and History

Merriweather Post Pavilion brings together music history and architecture. It was built as the summer home of the National Symphony Orchestra and designed by Frank Gehry. A History Walk explores the venue’s history, adding a distinct historical perspective to these two features. For those interested in art, the Columbia Art Center offers art classes year-round. If you’d like to include a class in your plans, check the current schedule, as specific class times may change.

Playgrounds and Recreation

Blandair Regional Park in Columbia has an inclusive, ADA-compliant “Play-for-all” playground with six different play areas. Nature Place at Robinson Nature Center is an outdoor playground featuring creative sounds and a tunnel. The features highlight different aspects: the Blandair Regional Park playground stands out for its six areas and ADA compliance, while Nature Place is distinguished by its sounds and tunnel. If playgrounds are part of your trip planning, this comparison offers concrete points to help you decide which of these features matter most to you.

Discover more destinations: Ellicott City, Jessup, Elkridge.

For the broader travel overview: Howard.