ROW YOUR OWN BOAT The massive Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge is a great paddling spot. Home to more than 500 tundra swans, beautiful Colonial buildings and a butterfly garden, it’s a jewel on the banks of the Eastern Shore. Also on the shore, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge features nearly 25 miles of water trails, and with its central location on the Great Atlantic Flyway, it’s home to some of the best paddle-powered birding in the overnight boating adventure, head to Janes Island State Park in Somerset County. There, you can rent a canoe or kayak and reserve your space on one of the backcountry camping platforms. These paddle-in sites each provide ample solitude and a killer view of the park’s 2,900 acres of salt marsh. At night, you’ll sleep under a canopy of stars. Camping not your thing? Book one of Janes Island’s full-service cabins for a soft place to land after a hard day of paddling. At the Indian Village at Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum in Calvert County, visitors can travel even further back in time. Built to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Captain John Smith’s exploration of the Chesapeake, the village replicates the Native settlements Smith would have found lining the banks of the Patuxent River. Working in tandem with local high school students, the park has developed an audio tour to guide visitors through the wood huts, working gardens and racks for smoking fish and meat that characterize the culture of Piscataway Indians. For the prehistory lover in your group, drive 10 miles south to Calvert Cliffs State Park to forage for fossils along the rocky shoreline. More than 600 species of fossils have been found in the area, including remnants of rhinos, whales and mastodons. Most visitors manage to snag a shark tooth or two. Whether it’s history, scenery or adventure you’re after, Maryland’s got it all. See you at the trailhead! ✥ Pictured Left to Right: Frederick County; Potomac River, Piscataway Park world. Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary in Charles County offers a unique opportunity to paddle along an 18-square mile stretch of Potomac River coast that’s home to archaeological artifacts dating back nearly 12,000 years, fascinating Civil War sites and the famous Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay, a collection of more than 100 abandoned steamships dating back to World War I. Baltimore County’s Hammerman Beach in Gunpowder State Park offers great swimming, kayaking and even sailing lessons on the park’s fleet of Hobbie Cats. A favorite for locals looking to beat the summer heat, Hammerman also offers great bay fishing as well as short, well-marked hiking trails. And for an TAKE THE TIME MACHINE Relive the drama and the intrigue of the War of 1812 on the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, which encompasses almost all of Southern Maryland. A perfect place to start is Baltimore’s Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, the site of a fierce British bombardment and the inspiration for Francis Scott Key’s famous recitation. From there, follow the trail as it blooms in all directions—via land and water—on its way through preserved battlefields, historic towns and more museums and monuments than you can see on one march. Historic houses and salt-stained lighthouses are another frequent highlight of the trail. Tour Talbot County by Bike Talbot County is a quintessential Eastern Shore destination. Quaint bayside towns and pristine shorelines make it popular with day-trippers and long-weekenders alike. Visitors can take in everything Talbot County has to offer on two wheels with its six themed bike trails . Choose between Chesapeake Views (self-explanatory), Joust Maryland (to learn more about the state’s official sport) or alternative routes that lead you through farmland, small towns and cemeteries. Bicycle shops and bed and breakfasts will keep your journey safe and comfortable. DESTINATION MARYLAND ✥ 39
Maryland Official Visitors Guide 2020 Maryland Official Visitors Guide: Page 39
