Crab cakes and football—that’s not all that Maryland does. Though Bradley Cooper’s iconic line in the 2005 film Wedding Crashers was partially correct in identifying the state’s abiding culinary devotion to the mid-Atlantic crustacean—Maryland is to crab what Maine is to lobster—there’s much more to Maryland than meets the eye. The state is a not-so-hidden gem along the East Coast and its central positioning between North and South results in gorgeous landscapes and fascinating history.
Travelers can revisit the lives of legendary figures such as Harriet Tubman while visiting one of the state’s 86 Network to Freedom sites. For the ninth smallest state, Maryland certainly contains a wide array of travel possibilities. But don’t fret if you can’t pack in all our recommendations during your visit—after one trip to Maryland, you will be sure to return. Wild horses couldn’t drag you away. Not even the ones on Assateague Island. So giddy up and read on for our top selections.
1. Sail a Skipjack on the Chesapeake Bay
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Sail on a real skipjack (skipjacks are queens of the Chesapeake oyster fleet and the official Maryland state boat), such as the H.M. Krentz. First built in 1955, the H.M. Krentz is currently at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (a certified Chesapeake Bay Storyteller) in St. Michaels.
2. Go on a Culinary Journey on the Crab & Oyster Trail
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Walk along the Crab & Oyster Trail for fresh oysters and Maryland’s famed steamed crabs and soft-shell crabs. The trail highlights the restaurants, seafood markets, tours, and seafood events (e.g., the U.S. Oyster Festival) that exemplify the state’s culinary (and nautical) heritage.
3. Visit the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park
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Explore Maryland’s 86 (and counting) Network to Freedom sites, which include the C&O Canal Towpath for hiking, biking, and birdwatching), the Josiah Henson Museum and Park (whom Tom’s Cabin book was thought to be about), the Reginald F Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture, and the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center and State Park—the latter of which is our highest-recommended.
4. Go Island Hopping with the Wild Horses of Assateague
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Wild horses could probably drag you away if you pay a visit to the Assateague Island National Seashore. Check out the thoroughbreds racing at Pimlico, gathering with friends, and riding trails through Maryland’s picturesque horse country.
5. Follow the Great Chesapeake Bay Loop
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Travel the Great Chesapeake Bay Loop, a journey that highlights the quintessential Bay towns along the Chesapeake Bay, including Crisfield, the "Crab Capital of the World," and Annapolis, the "Sailing Capital of the World." Take a boat from Crisfield to Smith Island for the state's official state dessert, Smith Island Cake.
6. Visit a Woodland Indian Village at Jefferson Patterson Park
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Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum, located in St. Leonard, offers visitors a chance to see a replica of a Woodland Indian Village. Explore the longhouses where the Piscataway lived, and see artifacts inside the museum.
7. Paddle through the National Marine Sanctuary of Mallows Bay
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Paddle through Mallows Bay, home to the WWI Ghost Fleet, considered the Western Hemisphere's largest ship graveyard. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) designated Mallows Bay as a national marine sanctuary. Located along the Potomac River in Charles County, the sanctuary entrance is in Nanjemoy.
8. Museum Hopping in the Capital Region
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Visit the Capital Region of Maryland, located right outside Washington D.C. Explore The Capital Wheel and Gaylord National Harbor while appreciating the surrounding boutique shops and fine dining. Meanwhile, Glenstone Museum, located in Potomac, is a contemporary art museum containing worldwide works from post-WW2 artists. The museum combines art, architecture, and nature.
9. Spend the Night in a Lighthouse
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Explore the iconic lighthouses of Maryland. All are open to the public from Drum Point Lighthouse, Choptank River Lighthouse, Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse (the only screw-pile lighthouse in the Bay which stands at its original site), and stay overnight in a lighthouse at Cove Point Lighthouse.
10. Attend a Chesapeake Bay Storyteller Tour
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Head out on the water (the Chesapeake Bay, of course) to attend a Chesapeake Bay Storyteller Tour. Listen as a waterman (or woman) tells the Bay’s history, nature, and ecology as the largest estuary in the country. There is also the opportunity for a Hook N Cook experience, in which guests can join a fishing charter and reel in your catch to clean and grill shoreside. It’s the ultimate dock-to-table experience and the best way to appreciate the culinary scene of Chesapeake Bay, and its rich fishing history.
