Maryland Official Visitors Guide - 2019 Maryland Official Visitors Guide
Capital Region
2018-12-12 07:01:28
Experience the Heart of a Nation
Savor signature dishes, harbor sunsets, immersive arts and thrills at the casinos and parks—all in Maryland’s Capital Region.
When world-renowned chef Bryan Voltaggio returned to his hometown of Frederick to open his own restaurants, he sparked a renaissance for food and drink in Maryland’s Capital Region. The building of MGM National Harbor, a game-changing casino and music hub that rivals the best of Las Vegas, elevated the local area as a premier dining and entertainment destination.
Eat & Drink
- Taste Legendary Cuisine at Volt
Bryan Voltaggio’s original restaurant, set in an elegant, late-19th-century brick mansion in downtown Frederick, is now a decade old—and has only grown better with age. The former Top Chef contestant continues crafting memorable menus relying on seasonal, local ingredients. The menu is ever-evolving, but foie gras, beef short rib and a variety of seafood is usually available.
- Get Carnivorous at Urban Butcher
Can a restaurant that brags about its salami really be one of the best in the nation? Absolutely! This nose-to-tail butchery serves some of the most delectable steaks anywhere, but also offers pâté and pastrami. At Urban Butcher, meat is art.
- Share Ethiopian Favorites at Shagga
This authentic Ethiopian restaurant in Hyattsville is well known to the locals. Go ahead and bring a large group and try dishes from sambusas and lamb stew to vegetarian—all served on a communal plate and eaten with bread and your own two hands (no utensils), as is the custom for the region’s large Ethiopian population.
See & Do
- Fly Like a Superhero at Six Flags America
At Six Flags America, waltz down Main Street 1776, a recreation of Colonial America, tangle with the Joker in Gotham City or relax with a float down Wahoo River. Hurricane Harbor hosts a bodacious wave pool that’s the largest in the nation. You’ll also find 10 brain-melting roller coasters and Wonder Woman’s Lasso of Truth ride that opened in 2018 and swings you 40 miles per hour at 24 stories above the ground.
- Grab a Seat at Top Entertainment Venues
The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda is one of the most striking venues you’ll ever see and the perfect spot for a night at the symphony. The Fillmore, in the heart of downtown Silver Spring, offers big names (Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Incubus in 2018) , while the nearby AFI Silver presents both modern independent films and classics.
- Dream Big at MGM National Harbor
This gleaming facility on the Potomac has it all—table games and slots, a 3,000-seat theater (Cher made it her East Coast stage in 2017 and 2018), restaurants from José Andrés and the Voltaggio brothers, Brian and Michael, as well as a luxurious hotel to unwind in after all the fun.
- Be a Rocket Scientist for the Day
Learn about the intricacies of space missions at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Visitors can see model exhibits of the Hubble Telescope and experience the thrill of space through interactive displays and events, such as live science experiments and model rocket launches for the kids.
- Traverse Trails along the Towpath
Built to carry coal from the Allegheny Mountains to the nation’s capital, the C&O Canal Towpath is now a popular walking and biking destination through some of the most scenic parts of the state. Locks, support buildings and aqueducts dot the route as do visitors centers offering information about the canal. You can even stay overnight in a lock house.
- Watch Live Shows in a Historic Theater
Formerly opened as the Tivoli in 1926, this glamorous theater in Frederick retains much of its original (and since refurbished) charm, including a Wurlitzer organ. Now, the Weinberg Center for the Arts schedule entails both live music and shows for all ages (Daniel the Tiger in 2017) along with movies and speakers from Dr. Temple Grandin and Ted Koppel to Mitch Albom in 2018.
- Roam with Animals on a Safari
Featuring a safari ride through 25 acres filled with animals moseying up to be petted, Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo in Thurmont is an ideal day trip. Kids love feeding the animals, camel and safari rides when in season and other wildlife encounters.
- Catch a Keys Game Where Pros Played
Major League stars Manny Machado and Dylan Bundy once played for the Keys, a Class-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles in Frederick. This cozy, family-friendly stadium offers fans an affordable way to watch professional baseball.
- Tee Off Where the Grass is Greener
Carved out of rolling hills in Middletown by renowned course designer Arthur Hills, Maryland National Golf Club offers a spectacular green, views of the Catoctin Mountains and one of the most challenging, though fulfilling, golf experiences in the region.
Places to Stay
- Savor Sunsets on National Harbor
Gaylord National Resort is a Marriott property that places you right on the water in the National Harbor, not far from the famed Capital Wheel and plenty of shopping and nightlife options. It’s a quick ride over to the casino if a game of poker is more your speed.
- Sleep Under the Stars in Frederick
Cunningham Falls State Park’s namesake falls, reaching 78 feet, are a wonder to behold. There’s plenty of hiking, swimming and canoeing available to fill your time, so claim a camping spot or rent one of the cabins available from April to October.
- A College Park Classic
Whether you’re returning to campus as an alumnus or visiting for the first time, The Hotel at the University of Maryland is classy and contemporary with multiple restaurants and an Elizabeth Arden spa. Take a leisurely stroll or board the free shuttle to explore the surrounding area.
Shop
- Go Antiquing in Historic Buildings
Cannon Hill Place Antiques, located in a converted grain mill in Frederick, brings together multiple vendors and consigners offering an astonishing array of goods in every style. Just down the street in a stately brick warehouse dating to 1912, Emporium Antiques offers 55,000 square feet filled with furnishings and other “home embellishments.”
- Hunt for Your Favorite Brands
Browse brands from retailers Brooks Brothers to Coach at the Clarksburg Premium Outlets. This outdoor shopping paradise hosts an inviting atmosphere and a range of name-brand stores. The Tanger Outlets also provide a relaxing place to view the National Harbor scenes with a long list of brands, like Calvin Klein and H&M, upscale dining and best of all—free parking.
- Pick Up Local Art Downtown
Designated an Arts & Entertainment District, the streets at the core of Bethesda bustle with activity and are home to art galleries selling unique wares. Theaters and restaurants are interspersed between the work of local artisans, and the downtown hosts events, such as a literary festival, summer concert series and weekly farmers’ markets.
Events
- Walk in a Winter Wonderland
You’ll be given a parka to partake in Gaylord National’s ICE!, as sculptures composed of more than 2 million pounds of ice and carved by 35 artisans from China create a glorious winter wonderworld. Don’t miss the ice slides just in time to celebrate the holidays at National Harbor.
- Local Brews All Around at the Beer Fest
Frederick has become the state’s beer mecca, and each May it hosts Maryland Craft Beer Festival—a party in celebration of the explosive growth of locally brewed artisan ales. In 2018, more than 40 Maryland breweries poured over 180 different types of beer as live music played and revelers enjoyed the lively downtown scene.
Cities & Towns
- Make National Harbor Your Oasis
Situated across the Potomac River from Alexandria and easily accessible from D.C., National Harbor is an oasis for those looking to relax. Try stand-up paddleboarding, take in films or games on the outdoor jumbotron or catch a boat upriver to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom every spring.
- Toast to the Finer Things in Frederick
Few places in the country can combine warmth and first-rate amenities like Frederick. The downtown area, with shopping and fine dining, is eminently walkable. The beer scene is unrivaled: Stalwarts Flying Dog and Monocacy continue to churn out classics, while newcomers, such as Attaboy and Olde Mother, craft unique and creative brews.
- See Sports in Motion at College Park
Catch the Terps as they take on Big Ten foes on the hardcourt at state-of-the-art Xfinity Center. Or visit Capital One Field—home to the football team each fall and a lacrosse powerhouse each spring. Cornerstone Grill & Loft also makes a great place for a cold one and shooting pool after the game.
#MDinFocus
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YELP TOP DINING DESTINATIONS IN THE CAPTIAL REGION
Analia’s Café in Frederick
Greek salads with yummy feta, fresh lamb gyros and savory, sweet baklava.
Tortacos in Germantown
Cali-inspired street burritos or naked tacos with perfectly paired topping bar.
Sardi’s Pollo A La Brasa in Beltsville
Authentic Peruvian chicken, charbroiled specialties and memorable meals.
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Get Info on Top Attractions Throughout National Harbor
Dine with celebrity chefs, shop ‘til you drop, stroll the boardwalk along the Potomac and take vacations to new heights on the spectacular Capital Wheel.
Spotlight
Civil War Sites for History Buffs
Any trip to Maryland’s Civil War battlefields should start at Monocacy, where Union troops thwarted the Confederacy’s bold plan to seize D.C. and disrupt the election of 1864. Download the audio tour available on the National Park Service website to learn more.
Trace an important Union victory just west of Frederick. Visitors interested in the history of the fight for South Mountain can start at Washington Monument State Park, where guides help you navigate the scattered battle sites.
Located on the Gettysburg Campaign Trail, Frederick’s National Museum of Civil War Medicine makes for a fascinating side trip, as immersive exhibits detail the valiant work done by caregivers tasked with healing.
The reconstructed Barbara Fritchie House can be seen a few blocks over at the site of one of the war’s most unique heroine’s homes: Fritchie, then age 95, was said to have waved a Union flag defiantly at departing Confederate troops in 1862.
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