A Weekend for the Birds at Lake Kittamaqundi in Maryland

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Nestled amidst the verdant embrace of Columbia, Maryland, the Merriweather Lakehouse Hotel isn’t just a place to stay; it’s an experience. As we drove into the lush greenery, the city’s white noise faded, replaced by the gentle hum of nature.

The rhythm of our weekend would be set to the calls of unseen birds flitting through the trees. And singing to us from records. Not to mention the ones we spotted, either by binoculars or with the naked eye.

Our extended weekend stay progressed like a record, each new track—or moment—resonating with the sights, sounds, and experiences surrounding us.

And birds.

A Glimpse of Columbia and Lake Kittamaqundi

Columbia, Maryland, founded by visionary developer James Rouse in the 1960s, is a planned community designed to enhance the quality of life through a harmonious blend of residential, commercial, and natural spaces.

At its heart lies Lake Kittamaqundi, a 27-acre man-made lake that serves as both a recreational haven and a peaceful retreat for residents and visitors alike. The lake, whose name means “meeting place” in the language of the Piscataway tribe, is encircled by walking paths, picnic spots, and picturesque views, making it an ideal spot for leisurely strolls, kayaking, and bird-watching.

The area around the lake is bustling with cultural and recreational activities, anchored by the iconic Merriweather Post Pavilion, an outdoor concert venue hosting top musical acts and events.

Nearby, the Columbia Mall offers shopping and dining experiences, while Symphony Woods, with its dense foliage and public art installations, provides a serene escape.

This vibrant mix of nature, culture, and community spirit encapsulates the essence of Columbia, making it a perfect backdrop for our weekend at the Merriweather Lakehouse Hotel. For our stay, we would remain primarily on the lake (or in our room overlooking it). Sure enough, birds fluttering from tree to tree were nearly always within view.

Arrival and Introduction to Nature’s Symphony

As we arrived early on a crisp Friday afternoon, Merriweather Lakehouse Hotel unfolded before us like postcard scenes—or today’s equivalent, social media posts. Sunlight danced upon the surface of Lake Kittamaqundi while the rustle of leaves and the gentle lapping of water provided a soothing backdrop.

Our room, a King Balcony overlooking the lake, served as our sanctuary for the weekend, offering panoramic views of the lake and surrounding trees. The scent of lake and tree wafted through the open balcony doors, mingling with the crisp, cool air.

Our room greeted us not only by modern comforts but also with a themed amenity: the For the Birds: The Birdsong Project package. Positioned on a stand in the corner was a Crosley record player, ready to spin a curated collection of records celebrating the melodies of the avian world.

Being a sucker for themed experiences, I approached the beautiful boxed set. “We have 20 records to listen to this weekend,” I said to my wife, Nataliya. I brushed my fingers over the artwork on the cover. “Better get this party started.”

A haunting rendition of the loon’s cry filled the room with the harmonious calls of distant birds, setting the tone for our serene escape.

“Oh boy,” Nataliya said, half-joking but partially concerned. “This could be a long weekend.”

“But probably not long enough,” I said, looking out at the scenery beyond our balcony.

A Weekend for the Birds

At Merriweather Lakehouse Hotel, the connection with nature runs deep, inspiring their partnership with The Birdsong Project to offer guests an immersive experience. The hotel’s Birdsong Project package invites guests to embark on a sensory journey where the tranquil melodies of nature blend seamlessly with modern comforts.

For the Birds: The Birdsong Project is a harmonious collaboration between musicians, poets, and nature enthusiasts, celebrating the timeless beauty of avian melodies. This ambitious endeavor seeks to capture the essence of bird songs worldwide, weaving them into a captivating tapestry of sound that transcends cultural boundaries.

Each record in the For the Birds: The Birdsong Project boxed set features original compositions inspired by birds or birdsong, interspersed with poetic readings and insightful commentary.

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From Yoko Ono’s avant-garde piece to John Cage’s minimalist compositions, every track is a testament to the enchanting diversity of bird song and its profound impact on the human spirit.

The set includes songs by artists like Elvis Costello, Nick Cave, Calexico, Yo-Yo Ma, Natalie Bergman, Steve Gunn, and The Flaming Lips; poetry readings by Liam Neeson, John Lithgow, Greta Gerwig, Adrien Brody, Daryl Hannah, George Saunders, Jonathan Franzen, Sean Penn, and Tilda Swinson; and poetry written by Billy Collins, W.S. Merwin, E.E. Cummings, Edward Hirsch, Mary Oliver, Allen Ginsberg, William Carlos Williams, and Seamus Heaney.

Through this unique audio journey, The Birdsong Project invites listeners to reconnect with the sounds of birdsong we often ignore. The project also aims to raise awareness about bird conservation and collaborates with environmental organizations to support bird habitat and conservation efforts.

Jeff Tweedy’s gravelly voice, Shel Silverstein’s whimsical poem, and Matthew McConaughey’s soulful reading drifted through the room, combining with actual birdsong from outside our open balcony door.

“Talk about taking a concept album to its limits,” I said, admiring the art on each of the 20 sleeves and perusing the diversity of the tracks.

We then ventured down to the Rookery Bar downstairs for some pre-dinner cocktails on a comfortable leather sofa. Andrew Bird’s song, “Rare Birds,” echoed in my head as we enjoyed our cocktails and then moved on to the dining area, where we ate dinner at a ceiling-to-floor window overlooking the lake.

The pub fare—burgers and chicken—paired well with our bourbon-fueled cocktails. I asked Nataliya if she felt funny eating chicken during this bird-themed weekend.

“No,” she said. “It tastes great.”

Exploring the Harmonious Haven

The next morning, as the sunlight shone through our balcony slider, I got out of bed just long enough to drop the needle on the next record before getting back in bed. The pink-sunrise sky beyond the window and music set the tone for our day of relaxed exploration.

After the record—and coffee in our room—we went downstairs to fuel up on a delightful breakfast of eggs, bacon, and corn-flake-dipped French toast at the hotel’s best restaurant, Lak.

Then, we took a leisurely stroll around the lake on the paved walkway. Our stroll was leisurely but not aimless; we made our way to the Pearl Spa, just a five-minute walk away along the lakeside path. The Pearl Spa is another of Merriweather Lakehouse’s partners, offering hotel-and-spa packages.

The guided yoga sessions infused with Reiki left us feeling relaxed and invigorated, and ready for an hour and a half in their “Healing Waters” area, where we enjoyed the swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, and steam bath. (We double-dipped in the hot tub, steam bath, and sauna.) The spa experience ended with us in a relaxing lounge area with spiced African tea.

The Birdsong Project continued its serenade at the hotel, weaving a tapestry of sound that followed us wherever we went. Record 11, featuring Octavia Butler’s “I will be a bestselling author,” resonated with me as a writer. Beck’s “Morning” was another interesting entry.

However, it inspired us to leave our room for an afternoon stroll around the lake, birdwatching binoculars in hand (also provided by the hotel’s Birdsong Project package, along with some trail mix and boxed water).

We strolled along and greeted others who walked by. Turtles perched on rocks along the lakeside, birds flittered from tree branch to tree branch, children played along the water, and couples sat on benches in conversation.

When we returned, we dropped the needle on another record before dinner, enjoying a glass of wine as we sat in chairs overlooking the lake on our balcony. Poetry and music and birdsong paired with the wine and the view.

Culinary Delights at Lak

We escaped the birds long enough for a delicious meal at Lak, where locally sourced ingredients took center stage. I had the succulent steak and Nataliya enjoyed juicy pork chops. Everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly, and the food paired well with local wines from Columbia. For dessert, we shared a limoncello tiramisu and banana cream puff.

For second dessert, we returned to our room for another record of birdsong as we finished off the bottle of wine we had opened earlier in the day, the moonlight reflecting off the lake beyond our balcony.

Open Your Ears

As Sunday dawned, Michael Keaton provided a wake-up call as he read to us from our first record of the day. We savored one last lakeside breakfast, this time at Osprey Café. (The hotel has no shortage of culinary options.) We soaked in the tranquil views before returning to our room to finish up the boxed set.

“I guess we’re not going to make it through the entire set,” I admitted. We only managed to make it through record 19.

“No, it doesn’t look like you can do it in one weekend,” Nataliya said. “But that’s okay. It gives us an excuse to return.”

Not that an excuse is needed.

Although we didn’t complete the 20-LP set, The Birdsong Project did accomplish what it set out to: an increased awareness of birds. When we returned home and sat in our backyard, it was amazing how many birds we heard singing as they perched in the surrounding trees. Surely, they’d always been there. We just hadn’t been listening.

We had a wonderful stay at Merriweather Lakehouse Hotel and highly recommend it. But the real lesson? Open your ears to the sounds of nature—and the sights and smells—that are very likely already around you. Sometimes the best destination happens to be wherever you happen to be.

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Author’s Bio: Eric D. Goodman is the author of seven books. His most recent, Faraway Tables, is a collection of poems focused on travel and a longing for other places. Learn more about Eric and his writing at www.EricDGoodman.com.