Maryland has more than its share of worthy vacation destinations for travellers, from the big city attractions of the revitalized downtown and waterfront of Baltimore, to the many Civil War historic sites and museums, to the scenic beauty of the Chesapeake Bay. You will find below some best vacation places to visit in Maryland.
Maryland vacation places
Here’s a sampling of the best places you may want to check out if you’ll be spending some time in Maryland soon:
1. Antietam National Battleground, Sharpsburg
Antietam National Battleground is closed for renovations and will reopen later this fall. During the construction there will be a temporary visitor centre installed. It will have a small exhibit area, visitor information/fee collection area, bookstore, and restrooms.
The first battle of the Civil War that occurred on Union territory took place near Sharpsburg, Maryland, close to where Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia come together. Northerners called it the Battle of Antietam; Southerners called it the Battle of Sharpsburg.
The 1862 encounter was the deadliest single day battle of the war, resulting in over 23,000 deaths. The Union forces had a three to one numerical edge, but the Confederate forces held the positional advantage. Over the course of the bloody day, numerous attacks were launched and resisted, with the result being that little or no ground changed hands; the armies basically fought to a draw.
Today visitors are free to walk the whole area where the battle occurred at the Antietam National Battleground —the fields once filled with corpses, and Burnside Bridge and the other key landmarks one side fiercely fought to hold onto while the other side fiercely fought to take them away. There is a visitor centre on site, with maps, documentaries, Park Rangers to answer questions, and guided tours of the battlefield are available.
2. Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, St. Michaels
Located on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay, St. Michaels is home to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, which tells about the lifestyle of the seafarers and fishermen of the area who made their living from the sea.
Visitors can explore the old fishing and crabbing vessels, a crabber’s shanty, the 1879 Hooper Straight Lighthouse, local artwork with a nautical theme, and the many other maritime exhibits that cover 18 acres and 35 buildings. The museum contains the world’s largest collection of boats that once sailed the Chesapeake Bay. Year round, the museum offers educational seminars and workshops.
3. Lexington Market, Baltimore
Baltimoreans tout downtown’s Lexington Market as the world’s largest continuously running market of its age (opened in 1782). Originally a site for local farmers to sell their produce, Lexington Market today consists of two large buildings on Lexington and Paca Streets, with numerous restaurants and stands selling meat, seafood, fruit, vegetables, baked goods, candy, and more. There is often live music in the afternoon, including jazz bands, rock and roll bands, or performances by groups of children from local schools.
Lexington Market is at least as popular with locals as with tourists. It draws a large lunch crowd of downtown workers, and students from the nearby University of Baltimore, and University of Maryland at Baltimore. Please take not the the Lexington Market is closed on Sundays.
4. Ocean City Boardwalk, Ocean City
The Ocean City Boardwalk, on the Atlantic Ocean in the portion of Maryland directly south of Delaware, is three miles of beachfront with restaurants, arcades, a Ferris wheel and other rides, candy and ice cream and other vendors, souvenir shops, rental bicycles, and more.
“USA Today” and the “Travel Channel” are amongst those who’ve designated the Ocean City Boardwalk one of the top boardwalks in the country. It’s a fine place to sit and look out at the ocean, or just relax and people watch.
5. Maryland vacation destinations
These best vacation places in Maryland also include the 17th century town of St. Mary’s City, St. Clement’s Island State Park in the Chesapeake Bay, the always popular Inner Harbour neighbourhood of Baltimore, or taking in an Oriole game at Camden Yards with the family.
These are just a few of the many things to visit in Maryland! Of course the state also borders the nation’s capital of Washington, D.C., with all its popular tourist sites.
