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🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Sykesville & Central Maryland
Serene Lavender Farm's June u-pick day near Sykesville, plus Patapsco Valley's river trails and Westminster's orchard and farm museum.
8 places · updated October 17, 2026
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Updated October 17
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The rolling farm country of Carroll, Howard and Frederick counties sits between Baltimore and Frederick, close enough to both cities for an easy day out. Sykesville is the hub: a small town whose Main Street has won national small-town awards, with the Patapsco River valley just to the south and Piney Run's county park a couple of miles away. Westminster's orchards and farm museum lie to the north, and downtown Frederick's creekside park is about 35 minutes west.
The lavender here is small and seasonal. Serene Lavender Farm, a family farm in Sykesville that turns its crop into jams, bouquets and body care, opened its rows for a ticketed u-pick open house on June 13, 2026, and otherwise sells at markets and craft shows. Treasured Roots Farm near Myersville grows culinary lavender and truffles but is not open for visits yet; its lavender teas and baking mixes are sold online. Plan around Serene's June date, then fill the day with river walks, a winery and Main Street.
The lavender farms
- Rising Lotus FarmLavender farm · Poolesville
- Treasured Roots FarmLavender farm · Myersville
Not open to the public yet; on-farm experiences are planned and will be announced by email. Products are sold online.
- Serene Lavender FarmLavender farm · Sykesville
Ticketed u-pick open house days (June 13, 2026, 10 am-4 pm); pick-your-own and educational visits listed with the state farm program; otherwise not open on a regular schedule.
Best time to visit
Mid-May to mid-June brings pick-your-own strawberries at Baugher's in Westminster, and Serene Lavender Farm held its one-day u-pick open house on June 13, 2026, so June is the best month for a lavender trip. Blackberries follow at Baugher's from July into early September, and apples, sunflowers and pumpkin-wagon weekends run through September and October. In fall, Frederick's Canines on the Creek takes over Carroll Creek Park on October 24, 2026, and the Carroll County Farm Museum holds trick-or-treat and evening lantern walks on October 27, 2026. Union Mills Homestead's Christkindlmarkt is November 21, 2026 ($5). Patapsco Valley State Park is open from 9 a.m. to sunset all year.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Patapsco Valley State Park🌳 State park · Ellicott City · about 8 mi, 15 min drive
About 16,000 acres along 32 miles of the Patapsco River, split into areas such as McKeldin, Hilton and Avalon; landmarks include the Swinging Bridge, Cascade Falls near Avalon and the Thomas Viaduct. McKeldin is the closest area to Sykesville.
Open daily, 9 a.m. to sunset
Day-use fees follow the state park fee schedule; check before you go
- Piney Run Park & Nature Center🏞️ Park · Sykesville · about 2 mi, 6 min drive
Carroll County's park and nature center on Martz Road, a quick stop for a walk a few minutes from Serene Lavender Farm. The east-side gate has been closed to cars since April 2024, so use the main entrance at 30 Martz Road.
Main entrance open daily, 7 a.m. to sunset
- Sykesville Main Street🏘️ Town · Sykesville · about 3 mi, 8 min drive
A short, walkable historic main street that won national Coolest Small Town and Best Main Street honors in 2016 and 2020. Good for lunch and browsing; the Sykesville Craft Beer Festival is on November 14, 2026.
- Morgan Run Natural Environment Area🌲 Preserve · Westminster · about 7 mi, 15 min drive
About 2,000 acres of quiet woods and fields off Benrose Lane, used for hiking and horseback riding. Morgan Run itself is a catch-and-release trout stream with a wheelchair-accessible fly-fishing platform.
Sunrise to sunset
- Mt. Pleasant Farmstead (Howard County Conservancy)🌲 Preserve · Woodstock · about 10 mi, 20 min drive
A 232-acre historic farmstead with 5 miles of trails through meadows and woods, run by a nature conservancy with a small nature center.
Trails sunrise to sunset daily; nature center Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (closed winter Saturdays)
Trails free
- Carroll County Farm Museum🏛️ Museum · Westminster · about 14 mi, 25 min drive
A county-run farm museum at 500 South Center Street with exhibits, farm animals, historic trades and living history days. Fall 2026 events include Food Truck Sunday Funday on October 18 and trick-or-treat with evening lantern walks on October 27.
- Union Mills Homestead🏛️ Historic site · Westminster · about 22 mi, 35 min drive
The Shriver family homestead and gristmill on Littlestown Pike, home to six generations of the family; the mill still sells locally grown, freshly ground grain. Its Christkindlmarkt is November 21, 2026.
- Historic Ellicott City🏘️ Town · Ellicott City · about 17 mi, 30 min drive
An old Baltimore and Ohio Railroad stop with 18th- and 19th-century buildings on Main Street, independent shops, murals and the B&O Ellicott City Station Museum. A free trolley loops downtown on weekends, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Monocacy National Battlefield🏛️ Historic site · Frederick · about 27 mi, 35 min drive
Site of the July 9, 1864 battle in which outnumbered Union troops slowed a Confederate march on Washington. Walk any of six trails or follow the self-guided driving tour.
Grounds open daily 7:30 a.m. to 20 minutes after sunset
- Carroll Creek Park🏞️ Park · Frederick · about 28 mi, 35 min drive
A 1.5-mile linear park built over Carroll Creek through downtown Frederick's historic district, with fountains, water gardens, public art and creekside restaurants. Downtown has more than 200 shops, galleries and places to eat.
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- E W Beck's Restaurant & PubRestaurant · Sykesville
A family-founded pub on Sykesville's Main Street since 1992, handy for lunch or Sunday brunch before a walk through town.
- Loew VineyardsWinery or vineyard (21+) · Mt Airy
A family winery about 20 minutes west, known for its kosher honey wine, with guided tastings Friday to Sunday and picnics welcome.
- Baugher's Orchards and FarmsApple orchard · Westminster
A Westminster orchard farmed by the same family since 1904, with pick-your-own fruit from strawberries in May to apples and pumpkins in October.
- Liberatore's RistoranteRestaurant · Eldersburg
The original 1988 Liberatore's Italian dining room in Eldersburg, close to Sykesville for an evening meal.
- Boordy VineyardsWinery or vineyard (21+) · Hydes
A farm winery making wine since 1945, with flights in an 18th-century fieldstone barn; worth the longer drive east toward Hydes.
A one-day plan
- 10:00 AMSerene Lavender Farm
On its u-pick open house day (June 13 in 2026, tickets required), cut a bundle and shop the jams and bouquets; about an hour. On other days the farm is not open, so start at Piney Run instead.
- 11:15 AMPiney Run Park & Nature Center · about 6 min drive
Walk near the nature center for 45 minutes; enter at 30 Martz Road.
- 12:15 PME W Beck's Restaurant & Pub · about 10 min drive
Lunch on Main Street, then stroll the shops on foot; about an hour and 15 minutes.
- 1:45 PMPatapsco Valley State Park, McKeldin Area · about 15 min drive
An hour on the river trails; leashed dogs are allowed in the McKeldin area.
- 3:00 PMMt. Pleasant Farmstead · about 15 min drive
A 45-minute loop on the free trails through meadows and woods.
- 4:00 PMLoew Vineyards · about 30 min drive
End with a tasting or a glass on the grounds (open Saturday until 6 p.m. in 2026); plan a designated driver.
Tips
- Distances and drive times on this page are measured from Serene Lavender Farm in Sykesville.
- Serene Lavender Farm opens to visitors only on announced open house days, with tickets; Treasured Roots Farm near Myersville is not open for visits yet, so buy its lavender online.
- At Piney Run Park use the main entrance at 30 Martz Road; the east-side gate has been closed to cars since April 2024.
- Patapsco Valley allows leashed dogs in the McKeldin, Avalon, Orange Grove and Glen Artney areas, but not in Pickall.
- Baugher's allows service animals only, and some outside vendors at the farm take cash only.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
Can I visit a lavender farm near Sykesville?
Yes, on open house days. Serene Lavender Farm in Sykesville held a ticketed u-pick open house on June 13, 2026; the rest of the year it sells at farmers markets and craft shows.
When is the best month for a lavender trip in Central Maryland?
June. Serene's u-pick day falls in mid-June, and strawberry picking at Baugher's in Westminster runs from mid-May to about mid-June.
Can I bring my dog to Patapsco Valley State Park?
In most areas, yes: dogs are allowed in McKeldin, Avalon, Orange Grove and Glen Artney and must be leashed in Daniels. They are not allowed in the Pickall area or Hilton's campground.
How far is Frederick from Sykesville?
About 28 miles, or roughly 35 minutes by car, to Carroll Creek Park in downtown Frederick.
🪪 Collect a stamp at every stop
The free Lavender Passport keeps a stamp for each farm and stop you visit, in real life and in the Lavender Farm Simulator. At the farm, play Field Quest to collect plant varieties as you walk, climb the leaderboards and unlock sponsor rewards.
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