Maryland Official Visitors Guide - 2018 Maryland Official Visitors Guide
Outdoors
2017-11-29 07:20:01
Wonder Naturally
Explore, experience, enjoy.
Drop a fishing line in Maryland’s many waterways, go on a dream cycling trip in the mountains or along the coast, or hike state parks and the Appalachian Trail. Welcome to the great outdoors.
Gone Fishing
Cast your fly in a cascading mountain stream, drop a line in a pristine lake or swift running river, go for game fish out on the open Chesapeake, and hunt for the big billfish in the famed Atlantic canyons. With an unparalleled variety of species and habitats, there’s something for every avid angler in Maryland.
For seasoned fishermen, there’s no prize bigger than marlin, and if you’re looking to bag some billfish, Ocean City, the White Marlin Capital of the World, is where you want to be. Legendary fighters, white marlin are plentiful off shore and over the ocean canyons, but anglers will also find majestic blue marlin weighing half a ton, tuna and other great game fish. Looking for something new? Try salt water fishing for shark, bluefish, bonito and more. Ocean City definitely offers the right charter for you.
Marlin may rule the sea, but when it comes to the bay, the rock are king. Rockfish, also known as striped bass, are prized not only for their tenacious fight, they’re also one of the tastiest fish around. Firm and succulent with a clean flavor, there’s nothing as satisfying or refreshing as a tangy rockfish ceviche and a frosty beer after a day out on the bay. Catch a charter in the upper bay out of Middle River in Baltimore or right out of the Annapolis dock. On the Eastern Shore, head to Kent Island or Rock Hall. For middle and lower bay, try Deale, Solomons, Point Lookout or Crisfield. Chesapeake Beach in Calvert County is home to the state’s largest fleet of charter boats.
If bass is your speed, the Potomac River is home to one of the best largemouth fisheries in the country. Two to five pounders are common, and you can pick up a guided charter right out of National Harbor, Indian Head, Cobb Island, Tall Timbers or Piney Point. Maryland also has fantastic freshwater lake fishing at Deep Creek, the Liberty Reservoir and Loch Raven Reservoir near Baltimore with largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye and lots of pan-fish.
Fly fishing fans shouldn’t miss Maryland’s world-class brown trout runs on the Savage and Gunpowder rivers. Or, fish in Western Maryland’s pristine mountain streams for native brook trout. The water’s so clear, it’s like the “brookies” are swimming through a rippling sky.
If you’re looking for something a little different, try your (preferably gloved) hand at ice fishing on Deep Creek Lake. All winter long, you can pull in pike, bluegill, perch and crappie. Or, for the true adventurer, take a shot at bow fishing. One of the fastest growing outdoors sports, bow fishing is perfect for catching snakehead and massive, 40-plus pound blue catfish. Crabbers can drop their nets from April through November all around the Chesapeake Bay and its many tributaries, creeks and rivers.
Two Wheels Up For Fun
Whether your brand of pedaled pleasure is a quiet journey along a leafy bike path, an ambitious cross-country road trek, or a pulse-pounding plunge down a muddy mountain trail, Maryland has you covered. With hundreds of miles of mixed-use cycling trails, including numerous rails-to-trails conversions, you are never too far from biking bliss.
The bucolic, 21-mile Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail follows the historic Northern Central Railway from suburban Baltimore to the Pennsylvania border. At nearly 185 miles long, the spectacular C&O Canal Towpath connects Washington, D.C., to Cumberland along the Potomac River. Enjoy gorgeous riverside vistas and admire the historic lockhouses as you wheel along in leafy splendor.
The BWI Bike Trail loops for 11 pleasant miles around the airport, providing great spots to watch the planes land, before intersecting with the Baltimore Annapolis Trail and continuing on to the state capital. The Indian Head Rail Trail, meanwhile, cuts a 13-mile swath across some of the loveliest land in Charles County.
For those looking to hit the road, Maryland’s varied terrain—from flat to mountainous—offers something for bikers of all abilities. The Viewtrail 100 connects numerous small towns on the easy-pedaling Eastern Shore, while Biking Carroll County has 10 different loops through rural, rolling hills. For a thigh-burning, gear-changing outing, take on the Catoctin Mountain Challenge from Gambrills State Park. And for fat tire fans, Patapsco Valley State Park near Baltimore, Rosaryville State Park in Upper Marlboro, and Rocky Gap State Park in Allegany County are just some of the places offering stump-jumping, mud-splashing mountain bike thrills.
Want some company in the saddle? All are welcome to Baltimore’s monthly Bike Party, a spirited mass ride where the main goal is to have fun. All manner of annually organized cycling outings, races, rallies and fundraisers can be found throughout the year and across the state. Consider the Sea Gull Century and Soft Shell Metric Century (both in Salisbury) or Southern Maryland’s St. Mary’s Century. The Ice Cream Century in Frederick and Washington counties has a number of lengths—and all bikers get free ice cream. Tour de Frederick offers various mileages and fundraising opportunities, and Baltimore’s Tour Dem Parks, Hon! has riders rolling between the city’s loveliest parks. After a day pedalling Baltimore’s many cycle trails, dismount and unwind at the quirky HandleBar Cafe in Baltimore’s Fells Point, which offers pizza, beer and bike repairs all under one roof. Swap the saddle for a bar stool in this unique bike-friendly venue.
For those on four wheels, gear up and head to the St. John’s Rock Road Trail, the new, modern, off-road vehicle trail in Garrett County’s Savage River State Forest.
Majestic Hikes
In Maryland, you’ll find a vast variety of scenery while hiking beautiful state parks and local paths.
Take a leisurely walk along the Calvert Cliffs State Park Red Trail through forested wetland—perfect for all ages. Here you’ll find access to a strip of beach on the Chesapeake Bay that offers views of the park’s namesake cliffs, as well as an abundance of ancient sharks’ teeth and other marine fossils that will make a collector out of anyone.
Maryland’s portion of the Appalachian Trail extends for nearly 40 miles along the South Mountain ridge through Washington and Frederick counties. The fairly challenging ascent rewards hikers with multiple vistas, including Civil War battle sites and a stunning panoramic overlook of the Potomac River.
Take the Swallow Falls State Park Loop, a 1.5-mile hike, in summer months to enjoy the river and pools surrounding the beautiful falls, which are the highest in Maryland.
A highlight of the Rocks State Park’s White Trail is The King and Queen Seat, a 190-foot rock outcropping, once revered by local Native Americans, which affords hikers a challenging trek, in addition to a sprawling view of forested countryside.
Built in 1833, the Turkey Point Lighthouse is an easy two miles out and back from the 100-foot-tall bluff on which it stands, overlooking the confluence of the Susquehanna and Elk rivers at the head of the Chesapeake Bay. The lighthouse is open to visitors on weekends from late spring to early fall.
With miles of trails crisscrossing the 262-acre Pemberton Historical Park along the Wicomico River in Salisbury, hikers can explore marshes, ponds and historical landmarks. The Osprey Trail offers stunning wildlife views too, including osprey nesting sites.
Maryland Charter Boat Association
Fish & Hunt Maryland
Bike Maryland
Hike or Bike the Old Line State
We’ve all had our human-powered, cross country dreams, but who’s got time for a 4,000 mile stroll? Why not hike across Maryland (AKA, “America in Miniature”) instead? The Appalachian Trail runs 40 miles from the Potomac River to the Pennsylvania border. Thru-hikers love the Maryland portion of the Appalachian Trail for its relatively easy-to-hike topography and best-on-the-trail shelters (seriously, you’ve got to see the funky log A-frame Edward B. Garvey Memorial Shelter to believe it!) that make it accessible for some differently abled hikers.
Following the stunning South Mountain Ridge, the A.T. meanders through Civil War battle sites, climbs to the soaring heights of Annapolis Rock, and rises to the old stone tower at Washington Monument State Park with its expansive 360-degree vista.
Or, if you’re a cyclist, experience the gorgeous Great Allegheny Passage, a nearly flat 150-mile bicycle and walking trail starting at Cumberland and connecting to Pittsburgh. It runs next to winding rivers, over soaring viaducts, and through historic railroad tunnels. No wonder it’s first in the National Rail-Trail Hall of Fame! The trail traces America’s westward expansion through a chain of cyclist-friendly trail towns, each with easy access to trailheads, restaurants, lodging, camping and bike shops.
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Outdoors
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