ATTRACTIONS & RECREATION Southern Maryland Huntingtown Kings Landing Park HISTORY & HERITAGE Old Jail Museum and Tourist Information Center 41625 Courthouse Dr, Leonardtown, 301-475-2467 www.visitstmarysmd.com/activities-attractions/detail/ old-jail-museum Historic jail museum (c. 1850-1940) with tours, a 17th-century cannon and early Maryland artifacts relating to the local area through the years. Wed-Fri, 10am-2pm; closed Dec-Feb. OUTDOOR RECREATION Smallwood State Park 2750 Sweden Point Rd, Marbury, 301-743-7613 www.dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/southern/ smallwood.aspx Site of Smallwood’s Retreat, estate of General William Smallwood, Revolutionary officer and 4th governor of Maryland with marina, camping and tours. Apr-Oct: 5am-sunset; Nov-Mar: 7am-sunset. d $ OUTDOOR RECREATION 3255 Kings Landing Rd, Huntingtown, 410-535-2661 www.co.cal.md.us/kingslandingpark A 260-acre park for environmental education with picnic shelters, kayak rentals and launch, a wetland boardwalk, fishing pier and swimming pool. Call for schedule. $ Indian Head ATTRACTIONS Black Box Theatre/Indian Head Center for the Arts 4185 Indian Head Hwy, Indian Head, 301-743-3040 www.indianheadblackbox.org Center and production group for the grassroots development of artistic expression in and around Indian Head housed within a performing arts theater. St. Francis Xavier Church 21370 Newtowne Neck Rd, Leonardtown, 301-475-9885 www.stfrancisxavierchurch.org The oldest continually used Catholic church (1731) in the original 13 colonies on over 700 acres and an example of a self-contained Jesuit community. Mechanicsville OUTDOOR RECREATION Fishamajig Guide Service 40344 Morgan Brothers Rd, Mechanicsville, 240-538-1260 www.fishamajigguideservice.com Light tackle fishing guide on the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River specializing in striped bass fishing and accommodating 1 to 4 anglers. Call for schedule. Tudor Hall/St. Mary’s County Historical Society OUTDOOR RECREATION Chapman State Park 3452 Ferry Pl, Indian Head, 301-743-7613, 1-888-432-2267 www.dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/southern/ chapman.aspx Park featuring mature forests, rare plants and bald eagles in the dramatic woodlands stretching from the Potomac River to Mattawoman Creek. Sunrise-sunset. 41680 Tudor Pl, Leonardtown, 301-475-2467 www.stmaryshistory.org A Georgian-style house (c. 1744), once the home of Francis Scott Key’s uncle, overlooking Breton Bay with genealogical and historical research center. Wed-Fri, 9am-4pm; Research Center: Thur-Fri, 11am-4pm; 2nd & 4th Sat, 10am-4pm. d Nanjemoy OUTDOOR RECREATION Mallows Bay Park 1440 Wilson Landing Rd, Nanjemoy, 301-932-3470 www.charlescountyparks.com/parks/mallows-bay-park Park on a bay of the Potomac offering excellent outdoor recreation opportunities with wildlife viewing, hiking, small boating access and fishing. Year-round: 5:30am-sunset. Lexington Park ATTRACTIONS Patuxent River Naval Air Museum and Visitor Center 22156 Three Notch Rd, Lexington Park, 301-863-1900 www.paxmuseum.com Museum dedicated to the scientific and technological story of U.S. Naval Aviation research and development with more than 25 aircraft on display. Tues-Sat, 10am-5pm; Sun, 12N-5pm. Closed major holidays. d $ Purse State Park Rt 224, Riverside Rd, Indian Head, 301-743-7613 www.stateparks.com/purse.html Area for hunting, bird-watching and fishing on the Potomac River at Wades Bay with fossilized shark teeth, bones and shells found along water’s edge. Sunrise-sunset. Newburg HISTORY & HERITAGE Maryland Veterans Museum at Patriot Park 11000 Crain Hwy, Newburg, 301-932-1900 www.mdvets.cc Museum with personalized exhibits dedicated to honoring the lives of those who contributed to America’s freedom and veterans throughout history. 11am-4pm; or by appointment. La Plata Lusby HISTORY & HERITAGE African-American Heritage House 7485 Crain Hwy, La Plata, 301-609-9099 www.charlescountymd.gov Depicts the life, history and contributions of famous African Americans from Charles County with artifacts from the William D. Diggs collection. Tours by appointment only. d ATTRACTIONS Cove Point Lighthouse 3500 Lighthouse Blvd, Lusby, 410-326-2042 www.calvertmarinemuseum.com One of the oldest continuously working lighthouses in Maryland (1828) with keeper’s home and tours provided by Calvert Marine Museum; NRHP. May-Sept & Holidays: Sat-Sun, 1-4pm. North Beach HISTORY & HERITAGE Bayside History Museum 4025 4th St, North Beach, 410-495-8386 www.baysidehistorymuseum.org Museum with local artifacts and photographs of North Beach, illustrious information on the Twin Beaches and fossils from John Smith’s expedition. Wed-Sun, 1-4pm. La Plata Train Station Cove Point Winery/Cove Point Vineyard 101 Kent Ave, La Plata, 301-934-2564 www.greatamericanstations.com/stations/la-plata-mo-lap Historic building recalling railroad’s impact on Charles County during the 1800s growth boom with two-room “La Plata Station” and old red caboose. Apr-May & Sept-Oct: Sat, 12N-4pm; Jun-Aug: Sat, 12N-4pm; or by appointment. d 755 Cove Point Rd, Lusby, 410-326-0949 www.covepointwinery.com A family-owned micro winery producing a number of unique wines with a small tasting room and a selection for all tastes from dry to sweet dessert wines. Wed-Sun, 11:30am-5:30pm. Owings ATTRACTIONS Fridays Creek Winery 3485 Chaneyville Rd, Owings, 410-286-9463 www.fridayscreek.com Stately old barn where tobacco once hung and now home to a winery offering rustic ambiance, tastings and art displays just 25 minutes from D.C. Thur-Mon, 11am-5pm. d OUTDOOR RECREATION Calvert Cliffs State Park 10540 H.G. Trueman Rd, Lusby, 301-743-7613 www.dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/southern/ calvertcliffs.aspx Park with renowned cliffs stretching across 30 miles of Chesapeake shoreline for scenic trails and a treasure trove of 600 known species of fossils. Sunrise-sunset. d $ Mt. Carmel Monastery 5678 Mount Carmel Rd, La Plata www.carmelofporttobacco.com/index.html First Carmelite Monastery (1790) in the U.S. est. by Mother Bernardina Matthews, her nieces and Sisters Mary Aloysia, Mary Eleanora and Clare Joseph. Piney Point OUTDOOR RECREATION Reel Bass Adventures Guide Service 406 Butternut Ct, La Plata, 301-932-1509 www.reelbassadventuresguideservice.com Guided fishing on the Tidal Potomac River at one of the top-rated places to bass fish by Bassmaster magazine; half-day/full-day tours available. Call for schedule. Flag Ponds Nature Park HISTORY & HERITAGE U-1105 Black Panther Historic Shipwreck Preserve 44720 Lighthouse Rd, Piney Point, 301-994-1471 mht.maryland.gov/archeology_U1105.shtml Shipwreck in the Potomac offering diving privileges at a U-boat by pre-arrangement, while the explanation is offered in Piney Point Lighthouse Museum. Apr-Sept: Daily, 10am-5pm; Oct-Jan: Thur-Mon, 12N-4pm. d $ 1525 Flag Ponds Pkwy, Lusby, 410-586-1477 www.co.cal.md.us/flagponds A 545-acre park with forested uplands, wetlands and beaches on three miles of trails, including observation platforms, a boardwalk and fishing pier. Call for schedule. $ Leonardtown ATTRACTIONS Port of Leonardtown Winery 23190 Newtowne Neck Rd, Leonardtown, 301-690-2192 www.polwinery.com Agricultural cooperative consisting of 15 vineyards and dedicated to producing the best wines from the best Southern Maryland growers. Mon-Sun, 12N-6pm; 1st Fri monthly, 12N-9pm. c Marbury ARTS & CULTURE Mattawoman Creek Art Center 5565 Upham Pl, c/o Smallwood State Park, Marbury, 301-743-5159 www.mattawomanart.org Monthly art exhibits at the scenic waterfront featuring a wide variety of visual arts, illustrated talks, lectures, a gift shop and studio rentals. Mid-Jan-mid-Dec: Fri-Sun, 11am-4pm. d c DESTINATION MARYLAND ✥ 137
Maryland Official Visitors Guide 2019 Maryland Official Visitors Guide: Page 137
