The Birdsong Society at Merriweather Lakehouse Hotel

 

Clever, with the reward of flight, showy stunning feathers, melodic songs and quirky behaviors, birds are straightforward to like. For many people, hen watching turned a enjoyable and simple technique to join with nature and get exterior through the pandemic. In reality, birding is now thought-about the second hottest out of doors exercise after gardening.

However the advantages of birds go deeper than giving us a second of free leisure out our window. 

Birds remodel and defend landscapes all over the world, conserving marshes, grasslands, coral reefs and forests wholesome. They’re additionally vital seed spreaders, pollinators and environment friendly exterminators. A current examine discovered they will devour as much as 500 million tons of illness and crop destroying bugs annually. (1) 

The conservation of birds is significant for the well being of the planet. However they’re good for our well being too. Research present that being round birds and listening to their songs can decrease stress, scale back anxiousness and increase psychological well being.(2)

However have you ever ever considered mixing your love of birds into your travels? 

Now the brand new boutique Merriweather Lakehouse Lodge on Lake Kittamaqundi in Columbia, Maryland is making it simpler than ever with their Birdsong Society room bundle designed particularly for hen lovers.

Shortly changing into a hotspot for birders and nature lovers, this immersive birding bundle permits friends to be surrounded by hen songs in and across the resort via a partnership with The Birdsong Society. 

For The Birds: The Birdsong Mission

For The Birds: The Birdsong Mission from The Chook Music Society is a considered one of a form artistic collaborative venture of musicians, artists, poets, actors and environmentalists who’ve come collectively to assist the conservation and schooling of birds.

This stunning and distinctive report assortment is accessible to hearken to and luxuriate in within the consolation of your lakeside suite.

E book a Birdsong Society Suite at Merriweather Lakehouse Lodge, and through your keep you’ll have entry to: 

• The ‘For the Birds’ The Birdsong Mission Boxed Set: A 20 LP vinyl report assortment with 172 items of latest music, 73 works of bird-inspired poetry and a 60-page art-filled companion piece produced by Grammy Award-winning music supervisor Randall Poster impressed by the great thing about birdsong. See the complete checklist of artistic contributors and artists right here.
• A Crosley Report Participant to hearken to ‘For the Birds’.
• Warby Parker binoculars to borrow to your birdwatching keep.
• Complimentary snacks together with Boxed Water is Higher and Shār path combine to maintain you fueled to your bird-watching adventures. 
• A Copy of The Maryland Chook Information to take residence. This lovable kids’s e-book by native 11-year-old hen lover Xaviana Leis will present you birds you may anticipate to see in your go to and profit the Owl Moon Raptor Middle, a neighborhood Maryland wildlife rescue. 

All proceeds from the purchases of The Birdsong Mission ‘For the Birds’ by the resort profit the Audubon society’s mission to guard birds and their habitat. 

Concerning the Merriweather Lakehouse Lodge 

A part of Marriott’s Autograph Assortment (a bunch of over 180 distinctive unbiased accommodations, upscale and luxurious accommodations), Merriweather Lakehouse Lodge is a contemporary lakeside retreat tucked into seven wooded acres overlooking the 27-acre Lake Kittamaqundi. A well-liked native spot for health fans and nature lovers, it’s the proper place to chill out and hen watch.

The resort affords 212 serene luxurious visitor rooms, beautiful eating, a shocking foyer and bar, a comfortable café, and a fully-equipped health middle. Plus, the breathtaking floor-to-ceiling views will make you by no means wish to depart this tranquil haven.

Visitor room comforts and facilities embody:

• Luxurious Linens
• C.O. Bigelow Lavender-Peppermint Tub Necessities
• 55′ Flat Display screen Sensible TV
• A Mini Fridge
• A Keurig Espresso maker

The resort can be solely a 15-minute stroll from the Merriweather Publish Pavilion which Billboard Journal and Rolling Stone have acknowledged as the most effective out of doors amphitheaters within the U.S. For the final 40 years, it’s drawn among the largest acts in music, together with Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Santana, and Taylor Swift. 

That’s why celebrating and having fun with nature, music and birds with the Birdsong Mission is a pure match right here. 

For extra intensive rest, yoga and holistic therapies, go to the 27,000 sq. foot The Pearl Spa a brief stroll down the lake from the resort.

The place to See Birds on the Merriweather Lakehouse Lodge

Chook lovers shall be blissful to study that Lake Kittamaqundi and its surrounding space are actually residence to quite a lot of hen species, together with water birds like belted kingfishers and nice blue herons. 

Head to the lake’s pier to identify one of many many species of geese like ring-necked geese, geese, northern shovelers, pied-billed grebes, and hooded mergansers that go to the lake.  

Then discover the 1.4-mile wooded and paved path across the lake accessible behind the resort. In order for you extra time in nature, take the connecting path (a 20-minute stroll) over to close by Wilde Lake, one other attractive native spot for herons and different water birds like cormorants. 

Finishing the loop round each lakes is ‌4.6 miles lengthy. 

E book a room with a balcony the place you may see and listen to water birds like cardinals, wrens, chickadees, warblers, blue jays, geese, geese from the consolation of your personal balcony. We had been even fortunate sufficient to see a blue heron gliding by at nightfall.

 💡 Tip: Verify right here for day by day hen sightings at Lake Kittamaqundi

Finest Time to See Birds at Lake Kittamaqundi

You’ll have the most effective likelihood of seeing essentially the most number of birds early within the morning, beginning at daybreak and within the late afternoon via nightfall. However we had hen sightings strolling the paths all through the afternoon throughout our keep.

Birds are ‌least energetic at midday. Complete Meals is a brief stroll from the south finish of Lake Kittamaqundi (2 minutes) so this can be a nice time to seize lunch and take a espresso to go to benefit from the lakeside. 

The place to Eat on the Merriweather Lakehouse Lodge

When starvation units in after a full day of birding, the resort has some implausible eating choices.   

The Osprey Cafe: Seize Recent Gourmand Espresso + Pastries 

If you happen to don’t desire a sit-down breakfast, however want somewhat one thing within the morning, the stylish lobby-side Osprey Cafe serves up gourmand Lavazza espresso drinks, like latte’s, breakfast sandwiches and snacks 7am to 2pm. 

The espresso is scrumptious, however the rotating choice of recent baked pastries, together with croissants and muffins, baked by in-house pastry Chef Brian Holland are a scrumptious deal with.

Take your order to go or seize a seat in entrance of the hearth and benefit from the lake views. 

 ➡ See The Osprey Cafe menu.

The Rookery Bar: Craft Cocktails + Scrumptious Bites 

After a enjoyable day of birding, head over to the resort’s Rookery Bar & Lounge for a seasonally impressed craft cocktail and a chew when you get pleasure from a mesmerizing sundown over the lake.

Attempt a few of their current refreshing fall impressed additions to the drink menu, just like the Autumn Lak Sangria made with white wine and fall fruit, or the Pearadise cocktail made with bourbon, pear liqueur, bubbly ginger ale, and tangy lime juice. 

For one thing with a contact of candy, the pumpkin spice espresso martini made with vanilla vodka, Kahlua and garnished with cinnamon is the proper after dinner drink.

If you happen to’re hungry and might’t pull your self away from the lake views and pleasant vibe, order up some dishes from their artistic bar menu that features apps, salads, burgers and sandwiches. 

You may’t go mistaken with the Bavarian Pretzel with beer, cheese and stout mustard. However if you happen to’re a crab lover, the Corn and Crab chowder is a should. Creamy candy corn and a beneficiant quantity of lump crab are in a wealthy creamy wealthy broth and “garnished” with three mini crab muffins. It’s the crab chowder of all chowders and it’s unimaginable. 

The Rookery Bar opens at 4 pm every evening and, together with craft cocktails, additionally has an important craft beer and wine choice. See the newest menu.

Lāk: A Stellar Eating Expertise for Breakfast or Lunch 

For a particular eating expertise, Lāk (pronounced “lake”) is the Merriweather’s Lake Home Lodge’s cool and fashionable, American superb eating restaurant that serves breakfast and dinner day by day, and brunch on the weekends. 

Now Chef Kristina Brown, previously of the 4 Seasons Baltimore, is working to make it a premier Columbia eating vacation spot. 

Brown’s philosophy within the kitchen: “I imagine meals needs to be stored easy and attractive. Along with the Merriweather culinary workforce, we’re creating dishes that talk for themselves with out added distractions or over-the-top components.”

Made out of-scratch, with regionally sourced and grown Howard County components when potential, at Lāk you may style the emphasis on taste and freshness in each chew. 

Attempt the plump and scrumptious Previous Bay brined colossal black tiger Shrimp Cocktail for an incredible begin. Or get your greens with the Chopped Kale Salad topped with apples, pecans and goat cheese after which tossed with a tangy, candy and spicy cranberry chipotle French dressing.

For a hearty and satisfying entrée excellent for the cooler months, we adored the superbly seared Half Rack of New Zealand Lamb served over decadent creamy polenta and completed with a crimson wine demi-glace. If you happen to’re fortunate to go to on an evening with the Quick Rib particular, order it. Chef Kristina’s brief rib is braised till fork tender after which served over ultra-creamy potatoes, recent sauteed spinach and topped with hearty mushrooms and delicate micro greens. It’s excellent.

For a candy end, go for the scrumptious seasonal pumpkin brownie served in a skillet and topped with whipped cream. It’s nearly too fairly to eat. Virtually.

➡ See Lāk’s menu and hours.

Different Native Spots in Columbia, Maryland For Birdwatching

Wilde Lake:  After you’ve explored Lake Kittamaqundi, take the path on the north finish of the lake (to the left if leaving from the again of the resort) to close by 22-acre Wilde Lake that flows downstream into Lake Kittamaqundi. It is a good spot for seeing water fowl like double-crested cormorants, herons and turtles sunning themselves. The trail round Wilde Lake is gorgeous and 1.46 miles lengthy. 

It’s a few 20-minute stroll from Merriweather Lakehouse resort or you can too take a 2 minute drive over.  See the path map. Birding info.

Centennial Park: An 8 minute drive north of the Merriweather Lake Lodge this award-winning 337-acre park is residence to quite a lot of wildlife corresponding to white-tailed deer, beavers, foxes, turtles, 37 species of waterfowl (herons included) and quite a lot of songbird species. See the path map. Birding info. 

Lake Elkhorn Park:  Solely 3.4 miles from the Merriweather Lakehouse Lodge, this park encompasses a 37-acre lake the place you may hike the two.5-mile paved path and seven.3 miles of interconnecting paved paths excellent for birdwatching and seeing different wildlife like foxes and deer. The park is open from dawn to sundown and has ample parking and restrooms. See the path map. Birding info.

The Robinson Nature Middle: Lower than 10 minutes south of the resort, on 18 acres, this Nature middle with two-stories of hands-on displays has a 1.1 mile nature path with river views and entry to historic mill ruins. See the path map. 

What to Carry With You

The binoculars within the room are a candy gesture, however if you happen to’re severe about birding, convey alongside a extra highly effective pair. They begin at about $20 on Amazon.

And if you’d like birding footage, convey alongside a digicam with a zoom lens. Even the costliest cell telephones don’t have sufficient zoom energy to get birds which might be too distant. 

Put together to decorate in layers if visiting throughout colder climate. Don’t overlook to convey your complimentary water and path combine with you on the lake path.

About Columbia, Maryland

Named the “most secure metropolis” by Forbes Journal, Columbia, Maryland is an ideal vacation spot for individuals who wish to join with nature, however nonetheless be minutes from quite a lot of eating, procuring and leisure choices. Its rising downtown space, often known as City Middle, is residence to the Mall of Columbia. A five-minute stroll from the resort, the mall has over 200 locations to buy and eat. 

One of many distinctive traits of Columbia is that it maintains 3600 acres of open house, 114 miles of trails, and 5 lakes for anybody eager to hen or just benefit from the outside. 

Columbia’s Lakefront District, the place the Merriwether Lake Lodge is, is a well-liked spot for festivals and different out of doors occasions all year long. A couple of minutes from the resort is Columbia’s well-known Merriweather Publish Pavilion. This out of doors live performance venue inside 40-acres of preserved land known as Symphony Woods, was named the second greatest amphitheater within the U.S. by Billboard journal.

Closing Ideas

For a soothing lakeside luxurious getaway that mixes birding journey and conservation with luxurious lodging, implausible eating on Lake Kittamaqundi in Columbia Maryland, e-book The Birdsong Society at Merriweather Bundle via February 29, 2024.

RESERVE NOW

Merriweather Lakehouse Lodge Location and Parking

• • Lodge: Merriweather Lakehouse, Autograph Assortment
  • Lodge Handle: 10209 Wincopin Circle, Columbia, MD 21044
  • Web site: https://merriweatherlakehouse.com/
    
  • Tel: +1 410-730-3900
  • Parking: Parking on the resort is free and simple. Self-park within the storage immediately throughout from the resort. 
  • Proximity to Main Cities: Solely half-hour south of Baltimore and 1 hour from D.C.

Close by Birding + Nature Sights

Different Close by Sights

* Nationwide Audubon Society will obtain 100% of the royalties from For the Birds: The Birdsong Mission field set gross sales and 100% of royalties generated by the digital streaming of audio tracks, topic to the varied phrases of operation and costs related to every particular person digital streaming platform.

Discover Extra of Maryland