Fun things to do in Maryland


maryland-map Western MD Capital MD Central MD Eastern Shore Southern MD

Western MD:

Deep Creek Lake State Park - If you like boating, hiking, or swimming, Deep Creek Lake is the place to visit!
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/deepcreeklake.html

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad - Are you crazy about trains? The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad has lots of different railroad trips- even Murder Mystery Dinners.
http://www.wmsr.com/

Appalachian Trail - The Appalachian Trail runs from Maine to Georgia, and many people attempt to hike the entire trail all at once. If you don't have 5 or 6 months to spare, a day hike on the Maryland section will give you the flavor of the trail and some great views.
http://www.outdoors.org/

C & O Canal - The C & O Canal runs from Georgetown, in Washington, D.C. to Cumberland, Maryland. In the 18th and 19th centuries, boats traveled along the C & O Canal to deliver goods. Today, you and your family can hike along the C & O Canal, and learn more about Maryland's history.
www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/williamsportvisitorcenter.htm

Antietam National Battlefield - Antietam National Battlefield is the site of the bloodiest single-day battle in American history. The battlefield offers a movie, exhibits, and museum store at the Visitor Center in addition to ranger programs and a self-guided 8 ½ mile driving tour.  
www.nps.gov/anti

Fort Frederick State Park - Explore this original stone fort built in 1756 to protect the frontier settlers during the French and Indian War. Interpretive programs and special events offered seasonally. Fee charged to visit fort.
www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/fortfrederick.html

Washington County Museum of Fine Arts - The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts provides residents and visitors with access to an outstanding permanent collection and an active schedule of exhibitions, musical concerts, lectures, films, art classes and special events for children and adults throughout the year.  The accredited fine arts museum has what has been called the finest collection of American Impressionism of any museum in the United States.
www.wcmfa.org

South Mountain State Battlefield - The Battle of South Mountain, fought September 14, 1862, was the first major battle of the Civil War to be waged in Maryland. The battlefield stretches for seven miles along the back of South Mountain between Washington Monument and Gathland State Parks. Self-guided driving tour available.   
www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/southmountain.html

The Maryland Theatre - Home to the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, this historic venue provides comfortable seating for 1300 at performances of country artists, comedians, orchestra concerts, children's shows, musicians, recitals, stage shows, and others.  
www.mdtheatre.org

C&O; Canal National Historical Park / Cushwa Basin - Nearly 80 miles of the C&O; Canal runs through Washington County. Hikers and bikers enjoy the shadiness of the towpath. Lock 44 and the Conococheague Aqueduct are all within a short walk. One of the only Bollman Iron Truss Bridges still in existence today crosses the canal at Williamsport. (Also visit the restored Lockhouse 49 at Four Locks, and spend the night in history - going back in time to the early 1800's! 
www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/williamsportvisitorcenter.htm

Hagerstown City Park - Fifty acres of trees, flowers, and open spaces surround three manmade lakes. Park includes picnic areas, playgrounds, tennis courts, talking trails, a band shell, the Jonathan Hager House, the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, and the Mansion House Art Gallery, and the Hagerstown Railroad Museum.
www.hagerstownmd.org

Western Maryland Rail Trail - Enjoy hiking, biking, jogging, inline skating, or cross country skiing on over 21 miles of paved trail through the beautiful, scenic Maryland countryside.
www.westernmarylandrailtrail.org/WMRT/

Visit the Bridges of Washington County - Washington County is known for more than 20 historic stone arch bridges that span the Antietam and Conococheague Creeks and their tributaries. Nowhere else can one find so many early- to mid- 19th-century limestone arch bridges, along with several stone arch aqueducts along the C&O; Canal. bridges.marylandmemories.org

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DC Metro Area:

The White House - Tour the official home and principal workplace of the President of the United States, made up of six stories—the Ground Floor, State Floor, Second Floor, and Third Floor, as well as a two-story basement.
www.nps.gov/whho/

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) - The FBI is the primary investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice, serving as both a federal criminal investigative body and a domestic intelligence agency.
www.fbi.gov

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum - This museum is dedicated to documenting, studying, and interpreting the history of the Holocaust.  It also serves as the United States' official memorial to the millions of European Jews and others killed during the Holocaust.
www.ushmm.org

National Air and Space Museum - Check out icons of flight history and space exploration, like the Wright Flyer and the Apollo 11 lunar module, join hundreds of historic aircraft, rockets, spacecraft, engines and pieces of flight equipment on display.
www.nasm.si.edu

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Visitor Center - The hub of all NASA tracking activities, Goddard is also responsible for the development of unmanned sounding rockets, and research in space and earth sciences including NASA's Mission to Planet Earth. Through interactive educational exhibits, visitors explore Goddard Space Flight Center with a focus on 1958 to present. Collections include space flight artifacts and photographs.
www.gsfc.nasa.gov

Andrews Air Force Base - This 4,220-acre base is home to many individual units of the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, including the 28th Military Airlift Wing. The Airlift Wing provides air transportation for the President, Vice President, cabinet members and other high-ranking US officials, as well as foreign dignitaries.
http://www.andrews.af.mil/library/andrewsairforcebasetourprogram/index.asp

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Central Maryland:

Torsk Submarine at the Baltimore Maritime Museum - The Torsk Submarine was built in 1944 and was used during World War II to patrol the Pacific Ocean. Today the Torsk is part of the Baltimore Maritime Museum. The museum has three historic ships and one lighthouse that you can tour.
http://www.usstorsk.org/
http://www.baltomaritimemuseum.org/

Port Discovery - The Kid-powered museum! See Meet and Greet Street, where you can watch live performances and explore special exhibits. At Kidworks, you can climb through the three story urban tree house. You can build creations at the R & D Dream Lab, and do tons of other exciting and fun things!
http://www.portdiscovery.org/

The Maryland Science Center - At the Maryland Science Center, science comes to life! Learn more about the creatures of the Chesapeake Bay, watch an Imax movie, attend a live demonstration, and much more. There are a lot of hands-on exhibits that show you just how fun science can be.
http://www.mdsci.org/

The Walters Art Gallery - At the Walters Art Gallery, you can learn more about art from 3000 B.C. through the 20th century. You will see an Egyptian statue of a high official, a bracelet from Olbia, an ancient Persian town, a vase once owned by Peter Paul Rubens, a famous painter, a ceremonial cup from Poland, and lots of other beautiful art.
http://www.thewalters.org/

The Baltimore Orioles - It's easy to get to Camden Yards by Light Rail and cheer the Orioles on to victory. Baseball is the American past time, and today's Orioles have been a part of Baltimore since 1954.
http://www.theorioles.com

The Baltimore Ravens - The Ravens came to Baltimore in 1998, and have quickly made their way into the hearts of Baltimoreans. See our Superbowl champions play at PSI Net stadium in downtown Baltimore.
http://www.baltimoreravens.com/

B and O Railroad Museum - Learn about the history of railroading in Maryland and the United States, and walk around the rail yard, where you can see real trains up close!
http://www.borail.org/



Eastern Shore:

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge - The Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is one of the largest natural areas in Maryland and is home to bald eagles, geese, reptiles, and Delmarva fox squirrels.
http://www.fws.gov/blackwater/

Assateague State Park - You're probably familiar with Marguerite Henry's Misty of Chincoteague, but did you know that the same wild horses can be found on both Chincoteague and Assateague Islands? Aside from watching the wild horses, there is plenty of camping, birdwatching, and hiking.
http://www.gorp.com/gorp/resource/us_ns/md_assat.htm

Waterman's Museum - At the Waterman's museum, you can learn about the life of the watermen of the Chesapeake Bay. There are exhibits on fishing, crabbing, and oystering as well as a reproduction of a shanty house and plenty of boats.
http://www.havenharbour.com/hhwatmus.htm

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum - Did you know that the Bay was formed by melting glaciers? At the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, you can learn about the history of the bay, the origin of the name "Chesapeake", and learn more about the boats that have sailed on the Bay.
http://www.cbmm.org

Ocean City - Ocean City is always fun in the summer- playing on the beach, strolling along the Boardwalk, or just enjoying the sights.
http://www.ocmaryland.com/index.asp



Southern Maryland:

Point Lookout State Park - You can camp, fish, swim, and boat at this park. At the park, you can find the remains of Fort Lincoln, a Federal prison camp that help Confederate soldiers during the Civil War.
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/southern/pointlookout.html

Calvert Cliffs - Explore Calvert Cliffs and discover prehistoric sharks teeth and other fossils. You can even keep the fossils that you find!
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/southern/calvertcliffs.html

Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum - At this environmental preserve you can see over 70 archaeological sites which help tell the history of Maryland.
http://www.jefpat.org/

Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Home - Learn more about the infamous doctor who, in 1865, treated the leg of John Wilkes Booth, the man who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln.
http://www.somd.lib.md.us/MUSEUMS/Mudd.htm