John Houser III 2023-11-22 08:09:27
We don’t like to brag, but we will: Maryland is a multiverse with a flavor all its own. One day, you could be leisurely paddling past herons through grassy waterways. The next you could be cheering on Thoroughbreds or a giant amphibious poodle. Take a look at just a handful of the attractions that make us so cool. Preakness Stakes & Steeplechase Races Maryland’s love for horses is so hardcore that our state sport is jousting (minus the clunky armor). Get in on our horseplay as these sleek athletes pound the dirt at Baltimore’s Preakness Stakes (middle jewel of the Triple Crown) or leap the timbers at My Lady’s Manor Steeplechase in Monkton and the Grand National Steeplechase in Butler. More horsing around Wild Horses at Assateague Island National Seashore, Berlin: Discover the enchantment of watching wild ponies play in the ocean. Maryland Horse Discovery Centers, Statewide: Get your trot on at more than 40 stables where you can learn about horses and saddle up for riding lessons. Fairwinds Farm & Stables Bed & Breakfast, North East: Make equine dreams come true with riding lessons, carriage rides and trail rides at this fully working farm, stable and inn. Racing at Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore; Laurel Park, Laurel; Ocean Downs Casino, Berlin; Rosecroft Raceway, Oxon Hill; Fair Hill Races and the Maryland 5 Star, Elkton; and the Elkridge-Harford Point-to-Point, Monkton Valley Meadow Farms Farmhouse Stay, Hancock The Oregon Grille, Hunt Valley Farmacy Brewing, Reisterstown Giddyup to more equestrian experiences. Havre de Grace Decoy Museum Decoys are carved wooden ducks hunters use to attract real ducks and make them think it’s safe to hang out. (Little do they know.) But the ornately crafted, realistic sculptures are also prized by folk-art collectors. At this museum in Havre de Grace — aka the “Decoy Capital of the World” — explore the history of these wooden waterfowl and duck hunting and even see a carver’s workshop. Other places to spread your wings Waterfowl Festival, Easton: Crowds flock to this event for diving dock dogs, duck-calling contests, demos, art and music. Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge, Rock Hall: Gaze at 240- plus bird species, like osprey, tundra swans and eagles, as they soar above glassy water arteries cutting through wetlands. Ward Brothers Workshop, Crisfield: On select weekends, learn about these famous artisans, called “Waterfowl Counterfeiters,” for their realistic decoys. Riverside Lodge on Hoopers Island, Fishing Creek: Join lodge guides for fishing, crabbing, jet skiing, kayaking, waterfowl hunting and water tours before catching a gorgeous Eastern Shore sunset at this family resort. Schrader’s Bridgetown Manor House, Henderson Duck Duck Goose, Bethesda and Baltimore Betterton Heritage Museum Havre de Grace Decoy & Wildlife Art Festival Susquehanna Flats, Perry Point Set your sights on Maryland’s top hunting and fishing spots. Mallows Bay Ghost Fleet In Nanjemoy, paddle through this watery boat graveyard of nearly 200 sunken ships — the Western Hemisphere’s largest shipwrecked fleet — to view WWI steamships from above. A national marine sanctuary for numerous species of birds and critters, Mallows Bay is also the traditional homeland of the Piscataway Conoy Tribe. Learn about their lives and culture, as well as the sanctuary’s fascinating ecosystem, during special programming or stroll the shore to admire the area’s quiet beauty. Additional aquatic adventures Water Trails, Statewide: Everyone’s got hiking trails. Our Trail System Second-to-None connects miles and miles of water trails that are perfect for paddling and rafting. Find more on p. 67. Sultana Downrigging Festival, Chestertown: Pull on your party breeches and climb aboard tall ships for deck tours and even sailing excursions. U.S. Naval Academy Museum, Annapolis: Interactive exhibits and cool models explain the history of sea power and the story of the United States Navy. Brictoria Cottage Bed & Breakfast, Charlotte Hall Lighthouse Tours Find more on p. 36. Chesapeake Bay Storytellers Tours Find more on p. 41. Harris Cove Cottages Bed ’N Boat, St. Michaels Find succulent local shellfish along the Maryland Crab & Oyster Trail. Calvert Cliffs State Park Imagine airplane-sized prehistoric animals roaming in the shadows of the massive cliffs for which the park is named. Formed more than 10 to 20 million years ago, and immortalizing 600-plus species, Calvert Cliffs State Park in Lusby is home to beaches that are perfect for both swimming and fossil hunting. If you have an inner archaeologist screaming to break free, this is the place to let them loose. Places you’ll also dig Maryland Science Center, Baltimore: Play paleontologist as you explore dig pits, field labs and excavation sites under the watchful eyes of a dozen massive dinosaur replicas. Crystal Grottoes Caverns, Boonsboro: These ethereal chambers evoke wonder with an abundance of twinkling rock formations — more per square foot than in any cavern known, in fact. Breezy Point Beach, Chesapeake Beach: Hunt for sharks’ teeth, sea glass and seashells before taking a dip in the water. Beach to Bay Seafood Company, Princess Anne: Head to this market for a different type of excavation: Your treasure comes in the form of takeout crab cakes, fried flounder and grouper sandwiches. Ruddy Duck Brewery & Grill, Dowell Calvert Marine Museum and Drum Point Lighthouse, Solomons Rod ‘N’ Reel Resort, Chesapeake Beach Cedar Beach Lodge, Lusby Explore state and national parks aplenty. American Visionary Art Museum Immerse yourself in a wonderland created by self-taught artists. Here, you’ll find exhibits like giant mirrored eggs, robots made from the remnants of household items and Fifi — a fluffy, 15-foot-tall pink poodle who competes annually in the Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race when teams drive amphibious sculptures through downtown and into the Inner Harbor. Additional palette pleasers Artscape, Baltimore: America’s largest free art festival spans city blocks and features living sculptures, interactive pieces, live music and eclectic vibes. Mountain City Traditional Arts, Frostburg: Explore Maryland’s Appalachian art scene through workshops and classes, admire local artwork and shop for heritage pieces to take back home. Vanadu Art House, Hyattsville: We bet you’ll take a shine to this house that looks like it was designed by the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz, not to mention its steampunk-inspired art cars. Toby’s Dinner Theatre, Columbia: Sing for your supper during musical-theater performances (think Grease and Escape to Margaritaville) backed by a live orchestra. Bruce Snake Gabrielson’s Surf Art Gallery and Museum, Chesapeake Beach Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center, Solomons Catoctin Colorfest, Thurmont Blue Moon Rising, McHenry Dip your brush into more art festivals. DelFest This four-day Cumberland festival celebrates bluegrass legend Del McCoury and promises a toe-tapping good time. Along with world-class musicians, expect late-night jam sessions, yoga, kid zones, food and local arts. If you’ve been known to make a fiddle wail or a banjo sing, check out the DelFest Academy for instruction from The Travelin’ McCourys and other greats. Also worth standing ovations Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation, Hyattsville: Revel in weekly shows starring top area musicians, workshops and Saturday blues jams at this historical community gathering spot. Rob’s Bluegrass Barn, Westminster: BYOB and drop a donation for the singers and strummers at this restored dairy barn. The Rolling Rib Part II, Upper Marlboro: Named Food & Wine’s Best Maryland Barbecue in 2022, this joint offers a symphony of soul-food flavors via ribs, brisket, greens and okra. The Treehouse Camp at Maple Tree Campground, Rohrersville: Let birdsong be your alarm clock when you snooze in these fairy and hobbit homes, as well as treehouses. Hank Dietle’s Tavern, Rockville Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival Annapolis Songwriters Festival Capital Jazz Festival, Columbia Oceans Calling Festival, Ocean City Rock out at live music venues across the state.
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