Maryland Official Visitors Guide - 2017
Sports & Entertainment
Christianna Mccausland 2016-12-08 04:40:33
Fun and Games
Maryland’s regional casinos are a winning combination of gaming and entertainment.
Whether you’re a high stakes card sharp or looking for a low-key, slots-and-a-show experience, Maryland’s casinos are always a sure bet.
A SURE BET
Rocky Gap Casino, Cumberland
Casino at Ocean Downs
Beat the beach heat with a short trip to Ocean Downs in Berlin, with its 800 slot machines and live harness racing.
Hollywood Casino
If you want the excitement of gaming at a top-notch casino with small-town friendliness mixed in, Hollywood Casino, just a quick hop off I-95 in Perryville, is the place. There’s live music every Saturday evening and you often have a chance to play for fabulous, unique giveaways.
Horseshoe Casino Baltimore
A short stroll from where the Ravens and the Orioles play, Horseshoe is a major hub for exciting nightlife in Baltimore. Enjoy the lavish setting of the high-limit Oriole Palace Room, off-track betting, and special events like weekly “Rockstar” karaoke with a live band.
MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill
MGM National Harbor
MGM made a big splash with its 2016 opening. Located at National Harbor on the banks of the beautiful Potomac River, the complex has 12 restaurants, a worldclass casino, and luxurious shopping and accommodations packaged in a bold, contemporary design, all within minutes of Washington, D.C.
Maryland Live!, Hanover
Maryland Live! Casino
Maryland Live! In Hanover prides itself on its one-of-a-kind promotions. Past giveaways include a trip to space and a replica of the DeLorean from “Back to the Future.” Guests can also see headline entertainment at the casino’s 500-seat performance venue.
Rocky Gap Casino Resort
Rocky Gap, near Cumberland, offers slots, blackjack, craps and roulette in a breathtaking mountain setting. Retreat to the pristine shores of Lake Habeeb where you can play a round on the Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course or relax at the spa when you aren’t gaming.
Nightlife Scene
These hot spots get cooler after dark.
BY CHRISTIANNA McCAUSLAND
Maryland’s dynamic nightlife provides ample reason to step into a pair of dancing shoes. Power Plant Live! Is one of Baltimore City’s most popular destinations, with a variety of dance clubs and live music venues. The town of Silver Spring offers amazing international cuisine and venues including The Fillmore, the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center and more—all packed into a walkable Arts and Entertainment District. Frederick’s Weinberg Center for the Arts consistently hosts celebrated stars of the entertainment world, with Arlo Guthrie and Pete Seeger scheduled to appear in 2017. In the mountains, Black Bear Tavern, a restaurant and nightclub that hosts live music, is a go-to destination after a day on Deep Creek Lake. On the Eastern Shore, stroll the streets of Cambridge for its mix of restaurants and a collection of traditional pubs. And while Southern Maryland’s tranquility is part of its charm, nights are anything but quiet at The Rex in Leonardtown. Housed in a repurposed movie theater, the restaurant and bar hosts high-energy Djs and live music.
PHOTOS: ROCKY GAP CASINO; MGM NATIONAL HARBOR; MARYLAND LIVE! CASINO ;RAY STUDIOS
Hitting the Links in the Old Line State
From the tee box to the green, Maryland’s got the grand slam of golf courses.
BY JIM MEYER
A PETE DYE MASTERPIECE
Bulle Rock, Havre de Grace
Golf Where the Champions Play
Congressional Country Club in Bethesda is on every golfer’s bucket list. The preferred course of presidents since 1924, the Blue Course has hosted three U.S. Opens, a PGA Championship and Tiger Woods’ annual Quicken Loans National. Golf Digest ranks the course as one of America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses, but it may be tied for the title of best course in Maryland.
Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, home of the 2017 Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship, is one of the few clubs in the nation dedicated exclusively to golfers, and its state-ofthe- art practice facility is second to none. Bulle Rock in Havre de Grace, a Pete Dye masterpiece, is another Maryland course that never disappoints.
International Inspiration
If you’ve ever dreamed of teeing off from the Royal Lytham & St. Anne’s Golf Club in England, or of hitting the links at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, Renditions Golf Course in Davidsonville has recreated the most famous holes from around the world on one unbelievable course.
Luxe Resort Links
Pit yourself against the mind of a legend at the Jack Nicklaus-designed lakeside course at Rocky Gap Lodge & Golf Resort. After a day on the green, treat yourself to a night at the luxurious Rocky Gap casino. Maryland National Golf Club in Middleton may be architect Arthur Hills’ greatest work yet—this challenging course seems to have sprung naturally from the surrounding terrain with panoramic views of the Catoctin Mountains. For big-hitter bragging rights, the 17th hole at River Marsh Golf Club at the Chesapeake Hyatt in Cambridge challenges you to make the long drive across Shoal Creek.
Public Par
You can’t go wrong with a golf trip to Ocean City. Seventeen spectacular courses, most with ocean views, historic surroundings, and great packages available through Ocean City Golf’s website, make this city a golfer’s dream destination. For optimal tee time without the drive, play Baltimore’s Classic Five. These public courses are budget friendly and have views of the city skyline. When it comes to golf, Maryland hits a hole-in-one.
Spectator Sports
Maryland is a sure score with sports fans.
BY JIM MEYER
Xfinity Center in College Park is home to the high-flying Maryland Terrapins, bringing the Big Ten’s best to this cutting-edge arena. Football fans are spoiled for choice with the Baltimore Ravens, and the Washington Redskins taking to the turf of FedExField in Landover.
FANDAMONIUM
Raven’s game at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore
PHOTO: BRITNEY GARDNER
Autographs at Aberdeen Ironbirds pregame
PHOTO: SCOTT SERIO
Sparks is the new home to the US Lacrosse Museum and Hall of Fame, and Maryland schools have brought home two-dozen NCAA Division I titles, more than any other state. Soccer fans know that the Terps are a perennial powerhouse, and the Baltimore Blast with their fast-paced indoor soccer style, are reigning champs of the MASL.
Maryland is the perfect place for a one-state baseball road trip. Start at Camden Yards in Baltimore to cheer on the hometown Orioles, then catch family-favorite minor league ball with the Aberdeen Ironbirds, Bowie Baysox, Delmarva Shorebirds, Frederick Keys, Hagerstown Suns and Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.
©Maryland. View All Articles.