Opposite page: Wellington Beach on the Potomac River; Clockwise: Ocean City; Sailing in Annapolis; Adventure Sports Center International’s white-water course, McHenry Maryland’s Beautiful Beaches From the ocean to the mountains, Maryland’s got a sandy beach for every taste. Is it really summer without a trip to Ocean City? A stroll on the boardwalk with a bucket of legendary Thrasher’s French fries, a handful of quarters at Marty’s Playland seaside arcade, and a spin on the classic carousel at Trimper’s Rides are the stuff memories are made of. And that’s before you get to the white sandy beach and a dip in the crisp, clean waters of the Atlantic. Or pitch a surfside tent just a few minutes away at Assateague Island State Park—an idyllic beach retreat crisscrossed by wildlife trails and home to the famous wild horses that roam the shore. It’s no wonder National Geographic Traveler named it one of the 10 best U.S. state parks. At the landing foot of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge on the Eastern Shore’s Kent Island, Matapeake Beach provides beautiful views, trails and a public beach (including a separate dog beach). Nearby, Hawk Cove and Pleasure Island at Hart-Miller Island State Park, accessible by boat, offer beach camping for those who want to go a little off-the-beaten path. Sandy Point State Park offers stunning bay views, as well as swimming, fishing and hiking. Sandy Point’s location on the Atlantic Flyway makes it a perfect spot for bird watchers and wildlife seekers, just minutes from downtown Annapolis. Another perfect getaway is Breezy Point Beach, a half-mile of sandy beach with a netted swimming area, and a 200-foot pier for crabbing and fishing. Families will love to stay at the attached campground and search the beach for prehistoric sharks’ teeth. The twin beaches of North Beach and Chesapeake Beach are connected by a summer shuttle, and they’re just an hour away from Washington, D.C. There’s plenty to do, and the Chesapeake Beach Resort & Spa offers upscale accommodations if you’re looking to get away from it all. At Calvert Cliffs State Park, you’ll find a grand, natural bay beach for swimming, hiking and just being in the great outdoors. The big draw, though, is fossil collecting along the sandy quarter-mile stretch of beach—more than 600 species of fossils have been found along the shore. In the Western Region, Rocky Gap State Park offers a full experience, with a public beach, biking and hiking trails, championship golfing, fishing and boating. For indoor fun, Rocky Gap also has a resort and casino on the lake. Deep Creek Lake’s 69 miles of shoreline make it the state’s largest man-made lake, with a swimming beach and boat rentals plus a host of events and nearby restaurants. For a dose of exhilaration, check out Adventure Sports Center International’s white-water courses designed for Olympic-caliber athletes (and those who want to be). PHOTOS: VISIT ANNAPOLIS; GARRETT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Get on Board: Watersports Set on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, crisscrossed by rivers and streams, and centered on the mighty Chesapeake Bay, watersport adventures abound in Maryland. Annapolis, Edgewater and Deale all have charter outfits that offer boat rentals with or without a captain. Tilghman Island Marina on the Eastern Shore has a fleet of pontoon and sailboats at hand, along with personal watercraft. Out west, area businesses on Deep Creek Lake rent pontoon and ski boats, and in Southern Maryland, Solomon’s Boat Rental can set you up with a powerboat. DESTINATION MARYLAND ✥ 27
Maryland Official Visitors Guide 2018 Maryland Official Visitors Guide: Page 27
