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Explore the timeless traditions and deep maritime roots of Western Shore towns along the Chesapeake Bay. Go sailing, bird watching, museum hopping or just relax on a sandy beach. The recreational opportunities are plentiful with each golden Chesapeake Bay day. Enjoy a relaxing beach getaway, navigate the bay’s waters, visit a heritage site or savor a delicious seafood meal. From bayside towns to fishing communities, this byway showcases the history and culture of this region[...]

Rails, Sails, Tales & Fishtails Day 1: Arrive in the Baltimore area, check into hotel. Enjoy an evening dinner cruise on Spirit of Inner Harbor. Day 2: Start your day with a Narrated City Tour to hear some of the city’s best known stories and see some local movie and television sites. Enjoy a memorable tour highlighting the city during its growth and see the statuary and historic homes in Mount Vernon Place, the Basilica[...]

Pet-Friendly Maryland Parks may be the obvious destinations that come to mind when you imagine spending a day with your dog. Fortunately Maryland State Parks offer many pet-friendly options. In some cases, pets are allowed in undeveloped sections of parks. Other parks allow pets in day use and picnic areas, but not on the beach. Check the DNR website about the park that interests you. Maryland State Parks also offer guidelines for responsible pet ownership[...]

Enjoy a great day or evening out with friends or family, playing games, enjoying rides, food, live entertainment, contests and much more. Local produce and livestock will create a great agricultural learning experience for all. Check out the Maryland Department of Agriculture's full list of county fairs and agricultural expos. The Maryland State Fair This is usually the summer's crescendo offering great food, fun and family entertainment including: tame and thrilling rides, classic fair and[...]

Mrs. Kitching’s Original Smith Island Cake Smith Island Layer Cake With Traditional Chocolate Icing A beloved Maryland tradition, the official Maryland State Dessert is a standout on any table. With its thin layers of delicate yellow cake each slathered in a decadent schmear of icing, Smith Island cake would be too beautiful to eat… if it weren’t so darned delicious! No one is quite sure where this delicious dessert got its start, but many folks[...]

Day 1 A Day By The Bay Start your day in Annapolis, on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. Let an Annapolis Tours by Watermark attired guide take you back to the 18th century. They will lead you through the Old Senate Chamber, in the Maryland State Capital Building, where in 1783 George Washington resigned as Commander-in-Chief. Travel through the gates of the United States Naval Academy, founded in1845, and home to 4,000 of our[...]

The early hotspots for colonial horse sports, including racing and foxchasing, were in Southern Maryland, Annapolis and the Eastern Shore areas of the state. But this began to change in the 1700s as settlers migrated north and west and the commercial scene shifted to Baltimore City. The first major Baltimore County horse farm was established in what is now Towson at Hampton Mansion, where Charles Carnan Ridgeley bred and raised Thoroughbreds in the late 1700s[...]

From Western Maryland’s Deep Creek Lake to the Chesapeake Bay, and with rivers and lakes in between, there are ample opportunities to get on—or in—the water in Maryland. Here are some highlights from around the state. Deep Creek Lake Water Sports If you are looking to zip around the water on a powerboat, water-ski or go tubing, head to Deep Creek Lake . You can also rent a pontoon boat, kayak, or paddleboard and just[...]

Maryland's Many Nicknames Maryland has been called "America in Miniature" because so much is packed into its 10,460 square miles of land and water. You can find just about any kind of natural feature here, except a desert. That's because water is almost everywhere in Maryland. The "America In Miniature" title also applies to the role Maryland has played in our nation's history, from the founding of the United States to the present. And like[...]