The Birdsong Society at Merriweather Lakehouse Lodge

 

Clever, with the present of flight, showy lovely feathers, melodic songs and quirky behaviors, birds are simple to like. For many people, fowl watching turned a enjoyable and straightforward approach to join with nature and get exterior through the pandemic. The truth is, 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 rework and defend landscapes all over the world, holding marshes, grasslands, coral reefs and forests wholesome. They’re additionally essential seed spreaders, pollinators and environment friendly exterminators. A current research discovered they’ll devour as much as 500 million tons of illness and crop destroying bugs every year. (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 nervousness and enhance 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 fowl lovers.

Shortly turning into a hotspot for birders and nature lovers, this immersive birding bundle permits friends to be surrounded by fowl songs in and across the lodge by means of a partnership with The Birdsong Society. 

For The Birds: The Birdsong Undertaking

For The Birds: The Birdsong Undertaking from The Fowl Tune Society is a one in every of a sort artistic collaborative mission of musicians, artists, poets, actors and environmentalists who’ve come collectively to assist the conservation and schooling of birds.

This lovely and distinctive report assortment is obtainable to hearken to and revel in within the consolation of your lakeside suite.

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

• The ‘For the Birds’ The Birdsong Undertaking 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 fantastic thing about birdsong. See the total listing of artistic contributors and artists right here.
• A Crosley Report Participant to hearken to ‘For the Birds’.
• Warby Parker binoculars to borrow in your birdwatching keep.
• Complimentary snacks together with Boxed Water is Higher and Shār path combine to maintain you fueled in your bird-watching adventures. 
• A Copy of The Maryland Fowl Information to take residence. This cute kids’s guide by native 11-year-old fowl lover Xaviana Leis will present you birds you’ll be able to count on 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 Undertaking ‘For the Birds’ by the lodge 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 impartial 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 preferred native spot for health lovers and nature lovers, it’s the proper place to chill out and fowl watch.

The lodge presents 212 serene luxurious visitor rooms, beautiful eating, a surprising 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 go away this tranquil haven.

Visitor room comforts and facilities embody:

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

The lodge can also be solely a 15-minute stroll from the Merriweather Submit Pavilion which Billboard Journal and Rolling Stone have acknowledged as among the best 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 Undertaking 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 lodge.

The place to See Birds on the Merriweather Lakehouse Lodge

Fowl lovers shall be blissful to be taught that Lake Kittamaqundi and its surrounding space are actually residence to a wide range of fowl 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 lodge. If you’d like 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. 

Guide a room with a balcony the place you’ll be able to see and listen to water birds like cardinals, wrens, chickadees, warblers, blue jays, geese, geese from the consolation of your individual balcony. We had been even fortunate sufficient to see a blue heron gliding by at nightfall.

 💡 Tip: Examine right here for day by day fowl sightings at Lake Kittamaqundi!

Greatest Time to See Birds at Lake Kittamaqundi

You’ll have one of the best probability of seeing essentially the most number of birds early within the morning, beginning at daybreak and within the late afternoon by means of nightfall. However we had fowl 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 lodge has some implausible eating choices.   

The Osprey Cafe: Seize Contemporary Gourmand Espresso + Pastries 

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

The espresso is scrumptious, however the rotating collection of contemporary 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 fireside 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 lodge’s Rookery Bar & Lounge for a seasonally impressed craft cocktail and a chunk whilst you take pleasure in 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.

In the event you’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’ll be able to’t go flawed with the Bavarian Pretzel with beer, cheese and stout mustard. However in case you’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 a fantastic craft beer and wine choice. See the most recent 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 trendy, American effective 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 must be stored easy and engaging. Along with the Merriweather culinary crew, we’re creating dishes that talk for themselves with out added distractions or over-the-top elements.”

Made out of-scratch, with regionally sourced and grown Howard County elements when potential, at Lāk you’ll be able to style the emphasis on taste and freshness in each chunk. 

Attempt the plump and scrumptious Outdated 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 purple wine demi-glace. In the event you’re fortunate to go to on an evening with the Brief Rib particular, order it. Chef Kristina’s quick rib is braised till fork tender after which served over ultra-creamy potatoes, contemporary 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 virtually too fairly to eat. Nearly.

➡ 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 lodge) 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 lodge or you may as well take a 2 minute drive over.  See the path map. Birding data.

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

Lake Elkhorn Park:  Solely 3.4 miles from the Merriweather Lakehouse Lodge, this park encompasses a 37-acre lake the place you’ll be able to 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 data.

The Robinson Nature Middle: Lower than 10 minutes south of the lodge, on 18 acres, this Nature middle with two-stories of hands-on reveals 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 in case you’re severe about birding, carry alongside a extra highly effective pair. They begin at about $20 on Amazon.

And if you would like birding footage, carry alongside a digicam with a zoom lens. Even the most costly cell telephones don’t have sufficient zoom energy to get birds which can be too far-off. 

Put together to decorate in layers if visiting throughout colder climate. Don’t overlook to carry 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 a wide range of eating, buying and leisure choices. Its rising downtown space, generally known as City Middle, is residence to the Mall of Columbia. A five-minute stroll from the lodge, 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 area, 114 miles of trails, and 5 lakes for anybody desirous to fowl 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 lodge is Columbia’s well-known Merriweather Submit Pavilion. This out of doors live performance venue inside 40-acres of preserved land known as Symphony Woods, was named the second finest amphitheater within the U.S. by Billboard journal.

Remaining Ideas

For a soothing lakeside luxurious getaway that mixes birding journey and conservation with luxurious lodging, implausible eating on Lake Kittamaqundi in Columbia Maryland, guide The Birdsong Society at Merriweather Package deal by means of 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 lodge is free and straightforward. Self-park within the storage straight throughout from the lodge. 
  • Proximity to Main Cities: Solely half-hour south of Baltimore and 1 hour from D.C.

Close by Birding + Nature Points of interest

Different Close by Points of interest

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

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