Maryland Travel Guide

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Top Things to See

• View the skyline from the Top of the World Observation Level at Baltimore’s World Trade Center.

• Tour the Baltimore Museum of Art (website: www.artbma.org), Walters Art Museum (website: www.thewalters.org) and the American Visionary Art Museum (website: www.avam.org) for a cultural treat.

• View the star-shaped, brick-built Fort McHenry National Monument (website: www.nps.gov/fomc), whose bombardment in 1814 inspired the writing of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ and where special drills and military ceremonies are performed.

• Begin in Frederick (website: www.fredericktourism.org) for a tour of Civil War sites. A town of quaint brick buildings and parks, it is an excellent starting point to view the region’s history.

• Drink in outstanding panoramic views from the Catoctin peaks in Gambrill State Park (website: www.stateparks.com/gambrill.html).

• Catch a glimpse of Camp David Presidential Retreat, near Thurmont. It is the traditional retreat for US presidents. The public is not allowed inside, but visitors can experience the same lovely landscape in Catoctin Mountain Park (website: www.nps.gov/cato), which surrounds it.

• Drive over the famous Bay Bridge (website: www.cbbt.com) to St Michaels, a quaint town that highlights life along Chesapeake Bay, Crisfield and Smith Island - home to huge populations of Maryland blue crabs.

Top Things to Do

• Tour the National Aquarium (website: www.aqua.org), home to more than 560 species of sub aquatic life. Start your day by having breakfast with the dolphins, or sign up for a sleepover with the sharks.

• Listen to the music at the beautiful Pier Six Concert Pavilion (website: www.piersixpavilion.com) where concerts are hosted during the summer months (June to late September).

• Climb the Washington Monument (website: www.nps.gov/wamo) in the heart of Washington, DC for a panoramic view.

• Take a water taxi ride to the neighborhoods of Fell’s Point (website: www.fellspoint.us) and Little Italy (website: www.littleitalymd.com).

• Sign on for sailing lessons at the world-renowned Annapolis Sailing School (website: www.annapolissailing.com).

• Soak up the sun at Ocean City (website: www.oceancity.org), a lovely beach resort boasting an expansive white sand beach, a 5km- (3-mile-) long boardwalk, amusements, tram rides, boating and deep-sea fishing.

• Hike or bike the old towpath once used by mule-drawn barges in Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park (website: www.nps.gov/choh), stretching 295km (184 miles) from Washington, DC to Cumberland in Western Maryland, and visit the headquarters where George Washington began his military career.

• Enjoy a variety of water-based activities at Deep Creek Lake (website: www.deepcreeklake.com), the state’s four-season resort, or play 18 holes of golf on two scenic championship courses.

• Admire some of the world’s best racehorses during the week-long activities celebrating the annual running of the Preakness Stakes (website: www.preakness.com) in May. It is the second event in thoroughbred racing’s prestigious triple crown.