Maryland offers something for everyone and is a great vacation destination.
If you are looking for a vacation destination that is jam-packed with activities and attractions, then Maryland is the place for you. Traveling west to east across the state, you will encounter a miniature America featuring mountains, flatlands and the sea. The state offers vast appeal while being geographically small enough to experience in a short amount of time.
To begin your trip, decide if you want a traveling vacation, where you move through the state over a set period of time or if you want to choose a central location and branch out from there. Once that is determined, you should look at each area of the state and choose the activities that would make you and your fellow travelers the happiest.
The western part of the state will appeal to the wilderness seeking traveler with lake and mountain activities. Deep Creek Lake is the gem of this area and offers unlimited boating and fishing for the outdoor sports enthusiasts. The lake is surrounded by cabins ranging from rustic to grand and most are available for rent through local real estate companies. Small towns surrounding the tourist area are worth the drive and feature country stores and local handicrafts.
Moving east through the rural counties you will want to plan a visit to the largest city in the state, Baltimore. Once serving as primarily a port of call on the Chesapeake Bay, this waterfront city has experienced quite the renaissance over the last thirty years and continues to grow. The harbor and surrounding area is best enjoyed via water-taxi, a convenient method of transportation to take you to the neighborhoods built around the waterfront. Besides the city's harbor, you will want to include some of the city's historical features in your visit. As the birthplace of Babe Ruth, Baltimore is proud of its baseball history. If the city's major league team the Orioles, are not in town at the time of your trip, you can satisfy your baseball sweet tooth at the Babe Ruth Museum, which is just a short walk from Camden Yards. You may choose to tour this state of the art baseball facility as well, while you are in the neighborhood. Swing across the street to the home of the Baltimore Ravens and enjoy the excitement and pride of a football city.
If sports are not your thing, maybe a spooky trip to the grave of famed horror writer Edgar Allen Poe will tickle your literary funny bone. Every year on the author's birthday, a mysterious figure, cloaked in black, places a bottle of cognac and a rose at the site of the crypt. If you are lucky enough to be in town during this annual tradition, you will have quite a story to tell when you return home.
Once the lights go down, Baltimore offers the best nightlife anywhere. From local taverns to upscale clubs, you can find it all in just about every part of the city. If you want to stay close by, take a walk over to Power Plant Live. This newly renovated "city-square" style area lights up every night with bars, restaurants, clubs and outdoor entertainment. If you prefer a less glamorous style of evening fun, work your way east through Fells Point and Highlandtown, home of the coziest neighborhood bars on the east coast. If you are searching for that feeling of your youth, travel north toward the college campuses and the plethora of college bars.
Just a short drive from downtown Baltimore, you will want to experience the state's capital, Annapolis. A trip to Maryland wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Naval Academy. Annapolis also offers a variety of shopping, particularly in the old town area where antique hunters will be amazed while browsing the variety and selection. Annapolis offers visitors another opportunity to enjoy Maryland's beautiful waterfront.
Moving east through the state and into Harford County, you will find the hometown of one of Maryland's most famous residents, Cal Ripken. After playing his entire baseball career in Baltimore and setting a world record for consecutive games played, Cal built a stadium in the eastern part of the state for his New York Penn League Ironbirds. A visit to the Ripken stadium will give sports buffs a taste of the Oriole Way and the deep roots of baseball tradition in Baltimore. Military enthusiasts will want to pay a visit to the Aberdeen proving grounds while in this part of the state and children will love a visit to the duck decoy museum.
Moving south down the eastern shore will offer visitors the chance to enjoy the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay almost simultaneously. Assateague Island is a great place to camp and depending on the time of year, you may even be lucky enough to spot one of the legendary famed wild horses that traveled across the bay from Chicoteague Island in Virginia. Once you reach Ocean City, the pinnacle of any eastern shore drive, you will want to experience the beachfront resort in all its glory. A vacation Mecca for local residents, this city will be pleasing to every member of the family. Walk along the boardwalk, enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the seashore and dine at a beautiful oceanfront or bayfront restaurant, delighting in the tastes of the Atlantic and Chesapeake.
Maryland is an appealing travel destination for even the most fickle of travelers and you are guaranteed a memorable vacation in this eclectic, east cost town.
