Destination overview

Maryland offers a wide variety of attractions and things to do with its landscape extending from the seashore - Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean - to the Appalachian Mountains and urban areas of Baltimore and the DC suburbs. In one day you can enjoy wonderful scenery and outdoor activities as well as visit museums, historic sites and cultural events.

Often described as ‘America in Miniature’, this small state has the best bits of the country from the Appalachian Mountains in the west to the sandy white beaches in the east.

Situated in Garrett County on the western side of Maryland, the Deep Creek Lake area offers the appeal of mountains, forests, rivers and Maryland’s largest freshwater lake. It’s a fantastic destination for those who like activity holidays or who simply like the opportunity to get away from the frantic pace of city life.

If you’re looking for sights that will delight and thrill, then it’s not just the mountains to the west of Maryland that you should check out. Assateague Island on the east coast is famous for its feral horses and it’s a magic sight to see them galloping along the sands. The island is 37 miles long and can be accessed by bridge, meaning you can travel right to Assateague Island’s fabulous beaches by car. However, once there, make sure you ditch the car and explore the island and its coastline by foot, canoe or kayak.

A good base for exploring Maryland’s eastern reaches is the charming little town of Berlin. Located within close distance of Assateague Island, it is brimming with its own history and attractions.

Maryland consists of 12,193 miles and includes the Chesapeake Bay, America’s largest estuary at 185 miles long, 30 miles at its widest, 174 feet at its deepest and holds 18 trillion gallons of water. It also has 400 lakes that are all man-made. The highest point is Backbone Mountain at 3,360 feet above sea level in the Allegheny Mountains.

Maryland has five regions – Western Maryland, Capital Region, Central Maryland, Southern Maryland and Eastern Shore Maryland.

Western Maryland

Western Maryland is a great place for outdoor adventures. You can climb Maryland's highest mountain, swim in numerous lakes, hike the Appalachian Trail, brave white water rapids or enjoy all kinds of winter sports from skiing to ice fishing. The three counties of Western Maryland, where autumn foliage arrives first and winter usually stays the longest, were Maryland's last frontier.

This part of the state is in the Appalachian Mountain region, where apples, peaches, maple syrup, honey and lumber are abundant. Antique shops, a microbrewery and winery are not too far away.

Capital Region

The Capital Region's history spans three centuries of Maryland and American life, from the earliest colonists to the pioneers in space flight. Here you'll find peaceful farmland as well as bustling cities and suburbs. In 1791, Maryland donated land from Montgomery and Prince George's counties to be used for the nation's new capital city, Washington DC. Once an important farming area, the Capital Region is known today for its many high-tech industries and research centres in the fields of telecommunications, electronics, computers, health and medicine.

Frederick was the first city in the State of Maryland to receive the national honour of ‘Great American Main Street’. Today, more than 200 specialty shops, art galleries, cultural venues and restaurants can be found in bustling Downtown Frederick. As well as being one of the region’s premier arts and entertainment districts, Downtown Frederick is unquestionably the region’s most significant restaurant district for local, signature eateries.

Maryland’s second-largest city has also figured prominently in three centuries of American history. Guided walking tours and candlelight ghost tours around Frederick’s beautifully revitalised, 50-block downtown area show off intriguing architecture and historical sites.

Central Maryland

Central Maryland will amaze you with all there is to see and do. The attractions vary from the state's historic capital, Annapolis, to its largest city, Baltimore, from waterfront villages and mill towns to the gently rolling hills of horse country and the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. This is where some of the most important events in state and national history took place.

Southern Maryland

Calvert, Charles and St Mary's counties are located in the Atlantic Coastal Plain and are easy places to reach by water. Many of the people who live here still farm tobacco, corn, wheat and soybeans and harvest fish and shellfish from the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac and Patuxent rivers. There also are many historic sites and environmental treasures such as woods, fields, ponds, swamps and beaches that are preserved for the public to enjoy.

Nestled on the Chesapeake, Solomons Island is a waterfront village at the southern tip of Calvert County where you’ll find sumptuous Bay dining amid antiques and gift shops.

Eastern Shore Maryland

Discover this region's many historic and natural landmarks by bicycling or driving on the quiet country roads, or explore the rivers, creeks, inlets and bays by boat. The fresh fish, crabs and oysters found here give both residents and visitors something to look forward to all year.

Approximately eight million visitors annually visit Ocean City, a year-round resort on Maryland’s Eastern Shore that boasts a 10-mile beachfront, three-mile boardwalk and an endless number of eateries and shops – some dating back to the 1920s.

Ocean City is an appealing destination for families with young children. Water slides, amusement parks, haunted houses and dozens of miniature golf courses entice returning visitors. A Wild West theme park that features a rodeo and ceremonial Indian dances is another family attraction. For others, Ocean City is a place for parasailing, kayaking, fishing, surfing and golf – 15 courses are within a short-distance drive.

Annapolis

Annapolis, the capital of Maryland, has some of the best sailing in the country, while the Annapolis countryside offers hundreds of miles of Chesapeake Bay shoreline and a wide array of American history.

With more surviving 18th Century buildings than any other city in the United States, visiting Annapolis is like stepping back in time to the days when the city was a colonial seaport. The city is located on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and is a paradise for water lovers, famous for its crab cakes, lighthouses and 500 miles of gorgeous shoreline. Tour the campus of the US Naval Academy and the Maryland State House, the oldest state capitol still in use.

Baltimore

There's no better place to get acquainted with America, its historic past and exciting future, than in Baltimore. Called ‘The Greatest City in America’, Baltimore offers a world of unique attractions, entertainment, fine dining, and one-of-a-kind experiences.

A stroll around Baltimore's world-famous Inner Harbor or a visit to one of the city's assortment of ethnic neighbourhoods will immediately show you why Baltimore, the city by the bay, is known as Charm City.

While here you may want to explore a few of the famous art, cultural and historic museums; the Maryland Science Center; or The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History.

Ride a water taxi from the National Aquarium in Baltimore to the hip, historic streets of Canton and Fells Point and marvel at the American Visionary Art Museum and explore the city's amazing maritime heritage of tall ships and work boats as you stroll through the Inner Harbor. Every step of your way, Baltimore will give you memories to last a lifetime.