Unlock Peak Vacation Mode in Maryland: Beaches, Crabs, History & Outdoor Adventures
Maryland's diverse landscapes—western mountains, eastern sandy beaches, and historic cities in between—offer year-round appeal. What truly distinguishes the state are its unique experiences found nowhere else in the U.S.
Bordering Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C., Maryland is easily accessible by car from major Mid-Atlantic cities. Spanning just 110 miles north to south (a roughly 2-hour drive), no destination feels far away.
Discover why Maryland is a must for your summer getaway.
Water, Water Everywhere
The Chesapeake Bay defines Maryland geographically, culturally, and culinarily. As the nation's largest estuary, it separates the Eastern Shore from the mainland, boasts a rich maritime heritage in seaside towns, and features 11,684 miles of shoreline—exceeding the entire U.S. West Coast.
Join the Chesapeake Bay Storytellers, certified guides from the Maryland Office of Tourism and National Park Service, for immersive water tours on skipjacks, charter boats, ferries, or kayaks exploring history, ecology, and lighthouses. For a land-based adventure, follow the Great Chesapeake Bay Loop through charming towns like Annapolis, Solomons Island, and St. Michaels. Chat with locals preserving accents from 300 years ago. Mark your calendar for Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week (June 5-12) with virtual and in-person events.
Beyond the Bay, the Atlantic coast's Ocean City offers over 10 miles of family-friendly beaches ideal for sunbathing and swimming. Grab a tin of Fisher’s Popcorn—a caramel treat since 1937—and stroll the boardwalk to Trimper’s Rides, the world's oldest continuously family-owned amusement park (est. 1890).
Just eight miles south, enter Assateague Island, a 37-mile barrier island shared with Virginia (Maryland holds the northern two-thirds). Renowned for wild horses and pristine beaches, it's perfect for swimming, kayaking, biking, camping, fishing, crabbing, or clamming.
Culinary Delights
No Maryland trip is complete without savoring world-famous blue crabs. Their winter hibernation builds fat reserves (the prized 'mustard'), delivering a buttery texture and flavor.
Indulge in fresh oysters, fish, and more along the Crab & Oyster Trail, spanning five regions. Time your visit for festivals like the Saint Mary’s County Crab Festival (June 12), Potomac Jazz & Seafood Festival (July 9-12), Chesapeake Crab, Wine & Beer Festival (Aug. 7), Maryland Seafood Festival (Sept. 25-26, Annapolis), or U.S. Oyster Festival (Oct. 16-17, St. Mary’s). For hands-on fun, join a watermen heritage tour to haul oyster lines and crab pots with generational experts.
Visit North America's only Guinness brewery (opened 2015, near Baltimore on 62 acres, including a pre-Civil War graveyard). Sample Maryland exclusives: Guinness Baltimore Blonde, Over The Moon Milk Stout, Wide Mouth Wide Ale, and IPA.
Ice cream debuted in America here in 1744 via Governor Thomas Bladen's strawberry recipe. Follow Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail for cow-to-cone freshness at 10 dairy farms. Don't miss Smith Island Cake, the state dessert—thin yellow cake layers with fudge icing, dating to the 1800s.
Outdoor Adventures
Summer shines for Maryland's outdoor pursuits on land and water. The historic Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C&O Canal)—once the 'Grand Old Ditch' hauling coal—now offers a 184.5-mile trail. Ride replica packet boat The Charles F. Mercer, mule-pulled by the National Park Service at Great Falls (spring-fall).
Explore 13 tidal state parks and eight with lakes, like Deep Creek Lake. Hike to Kilgore Falls or climb King and Queen Seat at Rocks State Park overlooking Deer Creek. Mountain bike Tuckahoe State Park. Cyclists: The C&O Canal Towpath links U.S. Bicycle Route 50 (D.C. to Pittsburgh, intersecting Appalachian Trail). Birders love Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (est. 1933) for Atlantic Flyway migrants, fishing, and paddling.
For scenic drives, try Maryland's scenic byways: 143 miles of rural Central Maryland roads, John Wilkes Booth's 66-mile escape route, or the 125-mile Underground Railroad trail on the Eastern Shore.
Historic Heroes
Central to the East Coast, Maryland brims with historic sites. A key Underground Railroad hub, it honors Harriet Tubman at her Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center. Trace Frederick Douglass's path from Eastern Shore through Annapolis and Baltimore.
Relive the Civil War at Antietam National Battlefield, Monocacy National Battlefield, Point Lookout State Park, or National Museum of Civil War Medicine, showcasing innovations amid harsh conditions.
The War of 1812's Fort McHenry bombardment inspired our national anthem. Ferry from Baltimore's Inner Harbor along the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail.
