WELCOME Welcome to Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and family Dear Friends, I am pleased to bring you the 2018 edition of Destination Maryland —the official planning guide for your next visit to Maryland. This guide highlights an endless array of options to help you plan your perfect Maryland vacation. It also gives a great overview of everything our state has to offer, with information on Maryland’s important role in our nation’s history, vibrant arts and cultural venues, world-famous seafood, and a wealth of natural resources, including our great treasure: the majestic Chesapeake Bay. With this guide in hand, I encourage you to delve deeper into the five regions of Maryland—Western, Capital, Central, Southern, and Eastern Shore—each with its own distinct attributes and flavor. From the peaks of the Allegheny Mountains in the west, to the sights and sounds of the Capital Region, to the bustle of the Central Region, to the timeless tides of Southern Maryland, to the sandy beaches of the Eastern Shore, Maryland boasts unparalleled landscapes, unique attractions and sites, world-class restaurants, and events and activities for people of all ages. We truly do have something for everyone. This guide has been designed to include as many must-see, must-do things as possible to show you what a welcoming destination Maryland truly is. Our legendary culinary delights—including everything from our world-famous steamed blue crabs, to our pit beef barbeque, to our unique Smith Island cake and summertime snowballs— offer visitors the chance to truly savor the flavor of Maryland. Our local wine scene has a longstanding reputation for variety and excellence, and now visitors also can explore a variety of vibrant distilleries and dozens of craft breweries. Maryland offers an endless list of vacation possibilities—and with our “longer summer,” thanks to our post-Labor Day school start, families can enjoy even more time together at their favorite vacation destination. In your travels, be sure to take advantage of our 10 welcome centers around the state. Our knowledgeable and helpful travel counselors can assist in guiding you so you are able to get the most out of your trip. They can direct you to whatever interests you, whether it’s our 18 Scenic Byway drives, our historic Civil War Trails, or our brand-new Crab & Oyster Trail with more than 100 seafood destinations to choose from. I hope that this guide inspires you to plan a trip to see everything our great state has to offer, or to explore a town or spot that you haven’t visited yet. For even more information, follow us on social media at #VisitMaryland and #MDinFocus, and by visiting our official travel website at VisitMaryland.org. We look forward to seeing you soon! Sincerely, Larry Hogan Governor 2 ✥ VISITMARYLAND.ORG | 1-877-333-4455
Maryland Official Visitors Guide 2018 Maryland Official Visitors Guide: Page 2
