Maryland
Discover Maryland
Maryland is a Mid-Atlantic state in the USA. Nicknamed America in Miniature, Maryland has sea and mountain, urban and rural, historic and modern. It ranges from some of the nation's most densely populated areas around Washington, D.C., to bucolic rural areas in the east around the Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore, and in the Appalachian Mountains in the west. Baltimore is the state's biggest city, with literal boatloads of tourist attractions around its Inner Harbor; Annapolis, with its historical maritime charm, is its capital. The largest and most well known geographic feature of Maryland is the Chesapeake Bay, the world's third largest estuary. At one time it was called the world's protein basket because it produced so much seafood in the form of fish and shellfish, in particular its most famous product, Blue Crabs. Today the bay is a poster child for what happens from overfishing and pollution, but Maryland leads the country in many progressive "Save the Bay" programs to save wetlands, and halt the flow of pollutants from the more than 12 million people who live in its watershed from Pennsylvania to Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay is a magnet for sailing and fishing sports activities.
What to Experience in Maryland
Taste of Maryland...
Local Maryland cuisine is as richly exotic. Unfortunately, it's also under-appreciated or over-fished, and therefore can sometimes be hard to find. Without a doubt, the state is known first for its Maryland Blue Crabs, fished from the Chesapeake Bay, served in magnificent quantities, drenched in Old Bay (a peppery mix of celery salt, bay leaf, mustard seed, black and red pepper, cinnamon, and ginger), accompanied by copious amounts of beer, and a total, wonderful mess. The blue crab, symbol of the state, adorns drivers licenses and other state paraphernalia, and is a considerable source of state pride—all the more disappointing that farm run-off into the bay from the nine states of the Chesapeake Basin has decimated the local blue crab population, greatly limiting the fishing haul, and meaning that you are often eating crabs from the Gulf of Mexico unless you caught them yourself. The no less magnificent crab feasts continue, though, along and around the Bay in small crab shacks and in restaurants around Annapolis and Baltimore, and throughout the Chesapeake Bay region. Soft Shell Blue Crabs, another Maryland staple, are available throughout the world in fine restaurants as a high class delicacy; here they're everyday bar food in the summer. The Chesapeake Blue Crabs are a bit of a natural freak, crabs that "molt" annually as they outgrow their shells. The shells grow back, but smart fishermen don't give them a chance.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Maryland into what it is today.
Maryland got its name from Henrietta Maria of France, the wife of Charles I of France. As one of the Thirteen Colonies, the state was central to the early United States history. In 1790, Maryland provided land for the District of Columbia. Maryland's border disputes with its northern neighbour Pennsylvania were settled in 1760, as the Mason–Dixon line was drawn. The line is a metonym for the North–South divide, as Maryland has traditionally been a Southern state. While Maryland had slavery until the American Civil War, racial segregation was softer than in the Deep South, and the state was among the border states which remained in the Union. Both factions fought hard for Maryland, and especially the 1862 battle of Antietam gave the Union an upper hand. The state saw industrial expansion in the late 19th century, until the manufacturing crisis of the 1960s. The economy has diversified considerably become a national leader in biotech, healthcare, government services, hospitality and tech among other industries. Much of this wealth is concentrated in neighboring, Washington, D.C. and its suburbs in Maryland, above all, Montgomery, Howard and Prince George's County, which all rank among the most affluent areas in the country. In contrast, Baltimore has struggled to reinvent itself with urban decay a feature outside downtown and the popular tourist neighborhoods....
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsMany international and domestic flights arrive into the state's main airport, Thurgood Marshall Baltimore-Washington International (BWI). Many air travelers to Maryland arrive at Reagan National Airport (DCA) and Dulles International Airport (IAD), both located in Northern Virginia. In addition, regional flights can be booked to Salisbury (SBY) in the east, or Hagerstown (HGR) in the west. Maryland is well served by rail. Acela Express, the flagship Amtrak train runs hourly from Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. to the largest city in Maryland, Baltimore as well as to the BWI Marshall Airport. The slower Northeast Regional connects the same cities but with additional stops in between, additionally it also runs from several cities in Virginia. It stops in the following cities within Maryland: Aberdeen, Baltimore, BWI Marshall Airport, Cumberland, New Carrollton, Rockville, and Salisbury....
Regions
Explore AreasThe largest and most well known geographic feature of Maryland is the Chesapeake Bay, the world's third largest estuary. At one time it was called the world's protein basket because it produced so muc…...
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Maryland's biggest attractions by way of sightseeing are almost all in Baltimore, centered around the Inner Harbor, including the National Aquarium, historic Fort McHenry, the Maryland Zoo, and a host of great museums. Annapolis is sightseeing destination #2, home to the Maryland State House (which once served as the nation's capitol), the U.S. Naval Academy, and a lovely historic center. Ocean City has its fair share of fun tourist kitsch as well. For more off-the-beaten path sights, look for the National Mormon Temple in Kensington at Christmas time, or visit Cumberland's historic district, set in the beautiful Allegheny Mountains. The big activities here revolve either around sporting events, or outdoor sports. Sports are a big deal in Baltimore, which is a city utterly mad for Baltimore Ravens football—half the businesses in the city deck themselves out in the teams colors. No less important to the city is the Baltimore Orioles baseball team.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
In Baltimore, the main tourist areas are very safe (and heavily patrolled by police); one does not, however, have to wander far to find more dangerous areas. The rest of the state, with the exception of some non-touristy parts of Prince George's County and Annapolis, is very safe. The state's wildlife is relatively non-threatening, with wolves and cougars having disappeared years ago. However, the westernmost four counties have breeding populations of black bears. Deer are very common throughout the state and pose a hazard to motorists. Maryland is a culturally and politically diverse state that was very conflicted during the American Civil War. While that was 150 years ago and is thankfully in the past, there is still a cultural divide between the affluent, cosmopolitan central region and some of the areas on the Eastern Shore and along the Western and far Southern edge of the state.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Maryland
city with high rise buildings under blue sky during daytime
a river running through a lush green forest
Waterfront townhouses
Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Annapolis, MD
Baltimore Harbor
body of water across houses
Sunset on the Harbor
River forking around two hills.
Race Street in the downtown area of Cambridge, Maryland.
Kites flying outside the Kite Loft in Ocean City, Maryland. OCMD is a resort town in the U.S. state of Maryland between the Atlantic Ocean and Isle of Wight Bay. It features miles of beach and a wooden boardwalk lined with restaurants, shops and hotels. At the boardwalk's southern end, Trimper’s Rides has hosted theme-park attractions for decades. The surrounding waters are active with kayaks and tour boats, some of which journey to popular Assateague Island nearby. This photograph was take in 2020, by Jeff McLain. Please credit appropriately.
city with high rise buildings under blue sky during daytime
a river running through a lush green forest
Waterfront townhouses