Charlotte, The National WIldlife Visitor Center is on Powder Mill Road, about 3/4-mile south of its intersection with Rt. 197. From the BW Parkway (there may be alternative exits I am unaware of) take the Rt. 197 exit (Laurel/Bowie) and head east on 197 toward Bowie. You will come to the intersection with Powder Mill Road in a mile or so. Turn right (south) onto Powder Mill and watch for the well-marked entrance to the Visitor Center on the left. Be warned...there were no gulls there today, Sunday 10 January, as of about 10:30 a.m. According to the ranger, there had been a large flock on the ice at 9 am (before the Visitor Center opened) but they had gotten up in the air and dispersed long before opening time. Best, Norm > Thanks for the directions to the Patuxent Visitor's Center. > > I can't find the place for sure on my map. One person mentioned route 198 > and another 193. It appears to me that it is close to 197 which is the > road my map shows for Sandy Hill Landfill. > > Is it the area west of the landfill marked with Goose Pond, Redington > Lake, and Harding Spring? > > Charlotte Friend > in VA but born and raised in Balto and lived 4 yrs in PG. > =============== Norm Saunders Colesville, MD osprey@ari.net