Maryland Travel Guide

A hop, skip and a jump from the US capital, Maryland charms visitors with its gorgeous beaches, bustling cities and bountiful opportunities for outdoor adventures. Washington DC actually spills over the state line into Maryland: Bethesda, with its enticing delis, bakeries and galleries, and Silver Spring, home to the American Film Institute’s art deco Silver Theatre, are both on DC’s metro red line.

But who needs DC when you have Baltimore? Officially the largest independent city in the US, its landmark attraction is Inner Harbor, where fantastic museums, excellent seafood and stunning views abound. Grab a water taxi to the trendy Canton neighbourhood, with its historic houses and hip hangouts, or join football-crazy locals and cheer on the Ravens.

Nestling on Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the US, Annapolis is Maryland’s stunning state capital. The busiest sailing destination on the Eastern Seaboard, it boasts a stunning colonial old town, charming museums and is the gateway to wildlife-rich wetlands.

Further along the coast, beachcombers and bathers mingle on golden sands for old-fashioned seaside fun. You can chow down on fresh crab, take a whirl on the rides at Ocean City, or snap Assateague Island’s iconic wild ponies.

Out west, anglers and boaters hole up in rustic cabins to enjoy the simple pleasures of Deep Creek Lake. Hiking and biking trails crisscross the surrounding forest, which also harbours an Olympic-standard white-water rafting course and a winter snow-tubing park. And then there’s Cumberland, the terminus for the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, which takes passengers through the Appalachian Mountains and back to the bygone era of steam travel.

Suffice to say, Maryland has much to offer. Little wonder they call it ‘America in Miniature’.