weekend in Baltimore? (delicious cheap food, cool nature?)

My sweety and I are coming to Baltimore for a wedding this weekend. We%26#39;d like suggestions for a cool place to eat Friday night and a good breakfast/brunch spot for Saturday/Sunday. We%26#39;ll be staying in Hunt Valley - we could take the light rail into the city maybe, or eating near/in H.V. is okay. I do not like driving in urban areas so we will not be driving into downtown Baltimore. We%26#39;re foodies -- but foodies on a budget -- so we%26#39;d like some casual yet inspired places to eat. Thanks in advance! Also looking for a pretty nature walk near Hunt Valley, and any other *gems* in the area for two outdoorsy foodies. Neat bookstores?

weekend in Baltimore? (delicious cheap food, cool nature?)

there%26#39;s lovely hiking to be had along the river gorge of gunpowder falls state park....best bet off york road would be to start just west of york road at falls road...not sure how to give exact directions, though, i do it on autopilot....maybe you could google it or someone else will be better at this. it%26#39;s a beautiful walk.

another option would be the nature trails at oregon ridge, which i%26#39;ve never done myself.

probably the best bookstore in that immediate area would be the ';greetings %26amp; readings'; in hunt valley town center on shawan road. it%26#39;s huge %26amp; has a terrific selection of books AND other stuff!

weekend in Baltimore? (delicious cheap food, cool nature?)

ok...i was referring to the ';HEREFORD'; area of the gunpowder...which is really close to hunt valley.

here%26#39;s a link

鈥tate.md.us/publiclands/鈥unpowder.html

ok...still dithering.....another good place to start would be at masemore road. easier. just take york road to mt. carmel %26amp; make a left, go to masemore %26amp; make a right, continue past the little mill house (really tight turn there) %26amp; park in the lot just below it. follow the trail maps in any direction you choose from there. heading west is a little more challenging but very beautiful. i used to love it, but don%26#39;t do it anymore at almost 60 years of age.

if there was only an edit function on this forum, i wouldn%26#39;t feel so obnoxious LOL...

but say you were going to visit greetings %26amp; readings in the hunt valley town center for a bookstore....and you also like food...

there%26#39;s a wegman%26#39;s food store as well. you could investigate that...if you go early, you could pick up stuff for a picnic to take on your hike....%26amp; some stuff to take home maybe? quite the selection, they have! the cheese section is pretty amazing.

or...for a picnic lunch, stop at graul%26#39;s food market on mt. carmel road very close to york road. excellent local market %26amp; better for a pre-hike stop for a picnic lunch.,....

some day i will learn to wait to post till i get it all together....i%26#39;m so used to sites with an editing option LOL...

The NCR (North Central Railroad) Trail is a converted rail line that%26#39;s a great nature walk. Grab some food at the Wegmans and it%26#39;s about a mile from there.

www.dnr.state.md.us/greenways/ncrt_trail.html

Thanks so much for all of the tips! How about suggestions for a great breakfast? I%26#39;ve read that Ashland Cafe is pretty good - what do you guys think? Crossing my fingers for great weather so I can check out those trails you guys mention!

can%26#39;t help with breakfast in that area, lord knows...i seldom even manage to get up on sundays in time to cook a brunch at home LOL...

but supposedly the oregon grill has a very good sunday brunch. expensive, though. i have no clue about the ashland cafe.

Ashland Cafe has really good homestyle food. Not a fancy place- homey. Large portions!!

Also Oregon Ridge Park is very close. You could take a picnic lunch there[ from Wegmens- they have a huge variety of already prepared food you could grab and go } and enjoy the outdoors [if weather permits]