Maryland

Understand

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.

The state is bounded to the south by the Potomac River, which offers opportunities for boating, and bicycling along the disused Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Trail, leading from Washington, D.C. to Cumberland.

The western part of the state is much more mountainous than the eastern lowlands, and offers hiking along the Appalachian Trail, whitewater recreation in the Youghiogheny River, and historical sites such as Antietam Battlefield, where the events of the bloodiest single day in American history unfolded.

The Eastern Shore offers a mix of down-home farmer and waterman culture, remarkably well-preserved colonial history, and remote rural beauty that feels like timeless wilderness, if you can find it (and tolerate the humidity and insect life!). In the "mid-shore" region, Chestertown is home to a charming historic district replete with brick sidewalks and quaint buildings from centuries gone by. Streets close for the bustling Farmers' Market every Saturday morning, and festivals crowd the local calendar, notably the Chestertown Tea Party on Memorial Day weekend (yes, tea and people are thrown into the river), and the Downrigging Festival in late fall. Residents are proud of "George Washington slept here" landmarks, and also of the old hotspots where the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and other musicians once performed en route between bigger gigs in Philadelphia and Baltimore. In Queen Anne's County, the brick courthouse in Centreville is the oldest in continuous use in the state of Maryland.

At the tip of the Lower Shore, Ocean City offers an economy that caters to the huge seasonal influx of beach-goers. It has an odd charm in the winter, with discounted hotels, deserted beaches and empty restaurants.

Geography and climate

The state crosses many different geographical zones, from the low, sandy barrier islands of the Atlantic Coast to the fertile, lowlands of the Chesapeake Basin, which rise into the foothills of the Piedmont, and eventually the rugged terrain of the Appalachian Mountains. Maryland has been called "America in Miniature" because of the great difference of landscape one can experience in such a small area.

The climate of Maryland varies as much as its topography. The lower elevation Atlantic Coastal Plain, which surrounds the Chesapeake Bay and includes the major cities of Baltimore, Annapolis, and Salisbury has a mild subtropical climate, with hot, humid summers and cold winters with little to moderate snowfall, though winter storms do occasionally bring several inches to a foot or more of snow across Central Maryland. As one moves away from the Bay and higher in elevation, the climate becomes more continental, with milder summers and colder winters including the major cities of Hagerstown and Cumberland. In the mountains of the west summers are cool, and winters can be very cold with heavy snows. The mountains protect the eastern half of Maryland from much of the harsh winter weather experienced in the Great Lakes region.

History

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.

Visitor information

• Visit Maryland

Regions

Cities

• Annapolis — the quaint state (and one-time national) capital, with strong maritime, naval, and seafood traditions
• Baltimore — Maryland's largest city, right on the Chesapeake, home to the Inner Harbor, a magnificent Aquarium, Camden Yards, Johns Hopkins University, lots of history, and a vibrant music scene.
• Bethesda — the urban-upscale hotspot in the D.C. inner suburbs, with over 200 restaurants and fine architecture
• College Park — a vibrant college town just outside the D.C. city limits, loaded with cheap eats
• Cumberland — railroad town in the Appalachian Mountains and the C&O Canal terminus
• Frederick — Bustling historic city near Harpers Ferry, famous for its antiques
• Hagerstown — Historic city near Antietam Battlefield at the foot of the Appalachians, famous for its outlets
• Ocean City — very popular seaside resort city on a barrier island, with loads of restaurants and night clubs
• Solomons Island — a small historic town and popular weekend getaway on the Chesapeake at the mouth of the Patuxent River

Other destinations

• Antietam Battlefield — site of the bloodiest single day in American History, at the first battle of the Civil War in the North
• Appalachian Trail — the great Appalachian Trail passes through the Maryland panhandle for a mere 40 miles (60 km), but that includes one excellent and easy hike to the ever popular rock-climbing mecca of Annapolis Rock—it's also just fun to be able to say that you walked across the state of Maryland, which you can do in just a couple of days
• Assateague Island — a beautiful national park of a barrier island, populated by wild ponies
• Catoctin Mountain Park — a big, rugged park centered around Catoctin Mountain, and home to the Presidential retreat of Camp David
• Chesapeake Bay — the Great Shellfish Bay is a whole travel region of its own, offering fishing, crabbing, swimming, boating, sailing, unique island communities, placid bed & breakfasts, and just plain beautiful sunsets
• Deep Creek Lake — Maryland's mountain/lake resort and spa
• Great Falls — the spectacular Great Falls along the Potomac River, plus endless walking/biking trails along the historic Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
• St. Mary's City — Maryland's original colonial capital and one of the very first British settlements in North America
• Patapsco Valley State Park — a big state park with over 32 miles (51 km) of well-marked trails leading to historic and natural sites of interest, all just a half-hours drive away from Baltimore

Get in

By plane

Many 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.

By train

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.

Additionally, several long distance routes serve Baltimore, including the Cardinal (New York-Chicago), Carolinian (New York-Charlotte), Crecent (New York-New Orleans), Palmetto (New York-Savannah), Silver Meteor and Silver Star (New York-Miami) and the Vermonter between Washington, D.C. and St. Albans.

There are also plenty of Washington Metro routes that enter the state.

By car

Maryland is served by several main Interstate highways, and a number of other routes enter the state. Interstates 68 and 70 are the main east-west interstate highways in the state. In addition, US Routes 40 and 50 are major east-west arteries. Interstates 81, 83, 95 and 97 are major north-south routes. In addition, US Routes 219, 220, 29, 11, 15, 1, and 13 are major north-south arteries.

Use of cell phones while driving

Throughout the state, talking on hand-held cell phones (without a hands-free device) while driving is illegal, as is texting while driving.

By foot

• The American Discovery Trail connects Maryland with West Virginia, Washington, D.C., Delaware and both coasts.

Get around

Information on Maryland Transit can be found here.

• Maryland Transit Authority for bus, light rail, subway, and MARC commuter train information.
• Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in the D.C. suburbs are served by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (METRO)

Stay safe

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.

Respect

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. These latter parts of the state are relatively more traditional and historically identified with Appalachia and the South, while the far more populous, urbanized center of the state is very much part of the Northeast (with East Coast attitudes to match). This can create tensions when visitors from the 'Western Shore' encroach upon the Eastern Shore, raising prices and causing congestion.

On the other side of the state, the far western panhandle has long identified itself with West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania, than the rest of the state. It's not unheard of to see pick up trucks with Confederate flags or stickers in remote rural regions and people in these areas may not appreciate being judged by urbanites. However, this is rarely an issue in everyday life and most residents get along fine, despite or rather because of the areas impressive diversity. Indeed many things unite Marylanders, notably a somewhat humorous obsession with the state flag (which goes on everything from socks to underwear), Old Bay seasoning and crab cakes.

Go next

• Delaware — America's second smallest state, Delaware is to the east and north of Maryland along the Chesapeake Bay.
• Pennsylvania — Located to the north of Maryland, the city of Philadelphia makes an easy weekend trip from most destinations in Maryland, and offers a glimpse into America's Revolutionary War era history.
• Virginia — Maryland's southern neighbor is bordered by ocean and mountains and has much to offer travelers interested in history and scenic landscapes.
• Washington, D.C. — The nation's capital is a must-see for most visitors, with a wealth of sites including the Capitol, the White House, the Smithsonian Museum, and a vast array of other monuments and attractions.
• West Virginia — Maryland's western neighbor is the only state in the USA to lie completely within a mountain range (in this case, the Appalachians).