Wild horses in their natural habitat, a long route through the Appalachians, and the story behind the U.S. national anthem: Maryland offers different ways to shape a trip around your interests. Discoveries range from wildlife watching and trails on foot or by paddle to historic sites and seafood experiences. If you’re looking for a hotel for your Maryland trip, it may help to decide first what you want to focus on during your stay.
Nature, Trails and Different Scales
On Assateague, you can observe wild horses in their natural habitat. Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge encompasses rich tidal marshes, mixed forests of deciduous trees and loblolly pines, managed freshwater wetlands, and farmland. The two nature experiences offer different focuses: on Assateague, the emphasis is on watching the horses, while Blackwater encompasses several habitats.
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge offers more than five miles of hiking trails and 17 miles of paddling routes. The Seawall Trail at Fort McHenry is one mile long and is used for cycling, walking, running or relaxing. This lets you compare two planning questions directly: Which activity interests you, and what route length suits your trip idea?
The Appalachian Trail is on a different scale. This public footpath through the Appalachians is more than 2,190 miles long and also passes through Maryland. The route offers a broader perspective on hiking than the individual trails at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge or Fort McHenry. Maryland also has 18 Scenic Byways, six of which are designated National Scenic Byways or All-American Roads. These road routes offer additional ways to plan a trip around your interests.
Discover Places and Stories
The defense of Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore on September 13 and 14, 1814, inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words that became the national anthem of the United States. The event and the text can be viewed as a connected historical story. The Seawall Trail at the fort also offers a way to combine your visit with exercise or a more leisurely activity.
The Maryland State House is the first state capitol building in the United States built in peacetime and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960. These details highlight two aspects of its historical profile: its role in U.S. history and its later designation as a major historic landmark. Those interested in political institutions will find a different historical perspective here than at a site shaped by a military defense.
The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park preserves the early transportation history of the United States and offers a way to discover historic, natural and recreational attractions. The subject therefore encompasses both transportation history and opportunities to include nature and recreation in your plans. It broadens the perspective beyond individual events and structures.
Seafood: Excursions and Knowledge
Hook-and-cook seafood experiences include fishing charters, crabbing excursions and educational experiences about oysters. The theme combines types of outings with an educational component. If you’re interested in oysters, learning about them offers a different perspective from fishing charters and crabbing excursions. When planning your trip, you can choose the experience that best matches your interests.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Worcester, Prince George's, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Howard, Baltimore, Frederick, Harford, Washington, Wicomico, Cecil, Allegany, Queen Anne's, Talbot, Laclede County, Carroll County, Garrett County, Calvert County, Charles County, Kent County, Saint Mary's County, Caroline County, Somerset.
For the overview of the broader trip: USA.
