Granville Gude Park and Lakehouse in Laurel, MD
Granville Gude Park and Lakehouse is a small park with walking paths winding through manicured streets and a lake.
Sometimes the best areas for walking are those that others ignore. The Granville Gude (pronounced "goody") Park and Lakehouse is one such area. It's conveniently located just behind Chido's Tex-Mex Grill restaurant and has access to a wide variety of shopping, food, conveniences, and entertainment. It's an awesome place to stroll before or after a meal, a movie at the cinema, or with friends (both the human and furry kind) as a way to relax. It is also family friendly, with multiple playgrounds and lots of green for running in the grass.
While its flower garden is sparse, the park makes up for it with its sprawling hills and walking trails. Starting from behind Chido's Tex-Mex Grill, visitors will find the park's grassy area. Following it will lead to the park's lake, meeting space, pavilion, exercise units, and seating areas. If you're up for a pleasant adventure, follow the walking path that opens just at the foot of the hill. Beyond the lake, you will be guided through a paved path dotted with bird feeders. Each of these has a distinct personality, like the one fashioned like a small piano for example. Sit along the path to listen for and watch the birds go by or peer into the lake to see what fish might jump into the air.
The Gude Park and Lakehouse winds through a quiet neighborhood and is separated at some points by neighborhood streets. Don't be afraid to cross here because it is there that the lake extends and you may happen upon flocks of local geese and ducks. Yes, you may need to walk through the very same pathways that the birds choose to do their business, but it is a pleasant reminder that we are not alone. As much as we share the air and land with the birds and wildlife that enjoy the park, they share it with us, too. Gude Park is a powerful example of the happy coexistence between animal and man.
The walking path will lead you back where you started, although you will cross some neighborhood streets to get there.
Tips for Your Visit to the Granville Gude Park and Lakehouse
Avoid parking in the lot for Chido's Tex-Mex Grill unless you plan to eat there. There are several signs making it clear that the lot is only for customers.
Alternative parking can be found at lots for other businesses that line the border of the park. Consider parking at Town Centre at Laurel, a shopping mall that's about a 10-minute walk away. Besides shopping and food, the mall has a movie theater and a Chuck E. Cheese for family entertainment.
If you park at the town center, you can use the Tesla Supercharger stations that are just steps from the Regal Laurel Town Center indoor movie theater.
Where to Eat
Make it an Asian-theme affair. Start with a meal at Thai at Laurel. Then finish with a tall drink of boba from Kung Fu Tea.
Where to Shop
Looking for a new outfit? Try Vivi Trendsetter Boutique for fashions that are hard to find at larger stores.
Lush Garden Crush Overall Rating
For a neighborhood park adjacent to an area bustling with commerce, Granville Gude Park offers an unexpected respite. It's a quiet area with lots of people around, which makes it perfect for visitors who enjoy walking at length but not in seclusion. Its proximity to other activities makes it a spot where you could spend a good length of time. You could buy lunch to go and eat at one of the park's benches, for example. With all that this small park has going for it, it's difficult to see this area as anything other than top notch. So while the landscape tends toward a mix of maintained grassy areas, neighborhood streets, and woods rather than flowers, it's a park well deserving of our 5-star rating.