Maryland is a unique state offering so many different kinds of attractions that it would be hard not to find what you are looking for in your next vacation. There are the mountains, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean, all offering a variety of outdoor activities, local attractions, and historical landmarks. The five different regions of Maryland, the Western, Capital, Central, Southern, and Eastern Shore, all have something to offer every visitor, whether its your first or 101st time to the state.
Vacation Guide - RentalsExpress.com © 2008 The Appalachian Region
The Western Region is in the Appalachian Mountain region where fall foliage arrives first and winter stays the longest. A myriad of wonderful produce is grown here and just by driving down the interstates, any visitor can tour the farms and pick their own fruit. A few delicacies found in the area are apples, peaches, maple syrup, and honey. If you are looking for outdoor adventures, this is the area of the state to visit. With great rivers for rafting and canoeing and the Appalachian Trail in their backyard, western Marylanders can always find something to do outside. You can climb Backbone Mountain, the highest in the state at 3,360 feet or visit McHenry, home to Deep Creek Lake and Wisp Ski Resort, two very popular tourism destinations. For an educational experience, travel to Hancock where you can find Sideling Hill. It is a 350-million-year-old wall of rock formed 100 million years before the dinosaurs. The Western Region is the perfect spot for any avid outdoorsman and anyone who is looking for an adventure. | The Capital Region
The Capital Region includes part of the state that was donated to create Washington, D.C. Although not technically part of the state, D.C. life is very much integrated into this part of Maryland. Although it used to be a predominantly farming area, the Capital Region is now a bustling technology center. It is known for its high-tech centers focusing on the fields of telecommunications, electronics, computers, health and medicine. However, there are still places to visit to learn more about Maryland itself. Frederick County is located in both the Appalachian Mountain and Piedmont Plateau and has more farms than any other county in Maryland, including several vineyards. History buffs will want to visit the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, as well as, the Monocacy National Battlefield, which was pivotal in defending the nation’s capital. In Montgomery County, tourists can walk through an Audubon Naturalist Society sanctuary or view the Great Falls of the Potomac River. | The Central Region
The attractions to be found in the Central Region of the state will surprise you. With the state’s capital, Annapolis, and its largest city, Baltimore, you will hardly have time to take a breath. This region has enough rolling hills, sunsets over the bay, and quaint towns to delight you for your entire vacation. This area is part of both the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the Piedmont Plateau, so the industries in the area range from mining to harvesting seafood. In Annapolis you will find that the port has played, and still does play, an important role in the city. Visit the Historic Annapolis Foundation Museum to see what the port was like back in the days of the Revolutionary War. Go see the 400 year-old Liberty Tree, where the Sons of Liberty met in secret, on the campus of St. John’s College. It was the first public school in the country. One cannot visit Annapolis without visiting the grounds of the U.S. Naval Academy. A must see at the Naval Academy the crypt of John Paul Jones who was a naval hero and is considered the founder of the modern navy. Baltimore, the 13th largest city in the nation, was founded and grew as a shipbuilding empire. Today, one of the most visited sites is the newly redeveloped Baltimore Inner Harbor. Here, you can ride the 27 stories to the Top of the World Observation Level and Museum in the World Trade Center or see a multitude of sea life at the National Aquarium. Sports enthusiasts won’t want to miss a trip to Camden Yards, home to the Baltimore Orioles. You can visit the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Baseball Center, where baseball legend George Herman Ruth was born. Visitors can find a beautiful piece of history in Hartford County. The Concord Point Lighthouse is one of the nation’s oldest continuously working lighthouses and is on one of the most beautiful stretches of coast in the east. | The DelMarVa Peninsula
The Eastern Shore is part of the Delmarva Peninsula bordered by the Chesapeake Bay in the west and the Atlantic Ocean in the east. This region is mostly farmland nourished by these two bodies of water and numerous creeks, streams, and inlets. The rest of the area is best discovered by walking along the banks and shores or relaxing on your front porch overlooking the beach. The region has plenty of historic landmarks and cultural attractions that can be found by biking or hiking the many trails and paths. Visit Chestertown where you can experience area wildlife in the 3,000-acre Remington Farms refuge or take a boat ride and see the historic homes that line the waterfront. St. Michaels is known for its Chesapeake Bay lore that can be found at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. It features exhibits on boat building, the history of boating on the Chesapeake, and the Hooper Strait Lighthouse. In Caroline County, visitors will want to visit the Mason-Dixon Crownstone. It is an elaborately carved English limestone post named after surveyors Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, who settled the boundary dispute between Maryland and Pennsylvania in 1767. This forms part of the infamous Mason-Dixon line. In Cambridge, visit the Brannock Maritime Museum or tour the many historic homes and buildings that depict Chesapeake Bay History. On the Atlantic Coast, visit Ocean City, a resort with miles of sandy beaches and a famous boardwalk. Wild ponies roam the beaches and dunes of Assateague Island National Seashore, a 37-mile long barrier island south of Ocean City. One legend says the ponies are descendants of horses that survived the shipwreck of a Spanish galleon, yet another says early settlers brought them to the New World. It is a beautiful place to visit and take a relaxing day walking or riding along the shore. |
This gateway between the North and the South offers so much for any kind of visitor to the state. From the lore of the Chesapeake Bay Area to the many Civil and Revolutionary War sites to the beaches, streams, and mountains, you can plan any kind of vacation to Maryland. The quaint towns and large metropolitans are waiting for your visit. |
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The Sailing Capital of the World
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Annapolis is the capital of Maryland and the home of the United States Naval Academy. This charming town exudes a deep sense of history. Known as the sailing capital of the world, it can make your visit here memorable.
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