CENTRAL MARYLAND features objects from around the globe dating back 7,000 years, like ancient Medieval armor, Grecian sculptures and Egyptian mummies. The American Visionary Art Museum offers one-of-a-kind exhibits, for a small fee, that would make John Waters proud. The Central Region features many a historic landmark from the State House in Annapolis, where the Continental Congress signed the Treaty of Paris in 1783, officially ending the Revolutionary War, to Fort McHenry in Baltimore, which protected the city from the British bombardment in the War of 1812 and inspired Francis Scott Key to pen “The Star-Spangled Banner.” For a small fee, you can take self-guided tours of these historic landmarks that made American history. See the Historic Sites Schooner Woodwind See & Do: Seven Authentic Maryland Experiences Set Sail on the Chesapeake and Degas, and more than 1,000 works by Matisse (the largest holding of his work in the world!) in the esteemed Cone Collection. The Walters Art Museum Whatever the time of year, Maryland sports fans show up to support their ball-playing birds in and around Baltimore. In the fall and winter, the M&T Bank Stadium parking lot packs with tailgate parties for Ravens games, while in the spring and summer, Camden Yards fills with friends and families for a quintessential evening with hot dogs, peanuts and cold beers as the Orioles rule the roost. Also, just outside the city, Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen hosts the Ironbirds. The stadium offers family-friendly experiences. Throughout the summer, kids can run the bases, play catch on the field, watch fireworks displays and even meet members of each team—some of whom might one day become Os. Catch a Ballgame With the Chesapeake Bay watershed spanning some 64,000 square miles, it’s no surprise that sailing is somewhat of a state sport. In fact, Annapolis just so happens to be the “Sailing Capital of the U.S.” Take to the seas yourself aboard the Schooner Woodwind for two-hour cruises past the Naval Academy and along the historic seaport. On land, learn more about maritime history at the Annapolis Maritime Museum or the U.S. Naval Academy Museum. Then take a drive to Baltimore and visit the Living Classrooms Foundation’s on-water fun, paddling a Chessie Dragon boat or scooting around in an electric pirate ship! Baltimore is home to some of the finest art collections on the East Coast, and best of all, many museums offer free admission. The Baltimore Museum of Art, for instance, houses an exceptional array of classic and contemporary work, including pieces by Picasso SPOTLIGHT Central Region’s Waterfront Culture Hammerman Area Beach at Gunpowder Falls State Park, Middle River View Acclaimed Art The Central Region may be home to the state’s bustling city centers, but with its prime location running along some 80 miles of the Chesapeake Bay, there is ample maritime culture to soak up during your stay. The waterfront way of life extends beyond the remote, rural region of the Eastern Shore. Quaint watermen’s communities are still alive and well from Harford to Anne Arundel counties. For that, seafood eateries abound in both small, scenic towns, like Havre de Grace, Essex and Edgewater, and big cities, like Annapolis and Baltimore, with dockside crab houses hawking the state’s trifecta of fresh-caught crabs, oysters and rockfish throughout PHOTO: BALTIMORE COUNTY TOURISM the year. Try to catch these treasures yourself on charter fishing trips, or for more leisurely outings, take to the seas with tours aboard classic sailing vessels or explore on your own with canoe, kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals throughout the region. A host of breathtaking beaches also offer family fun on land all summer long. Spots like Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis and Hammerman Area Beach at Gunpowder Falls State Park in Middle River are great for swimming with sandy shorelines and sweeping views of the Chesapeake, with picnic tables, playgrounds and park programs to boot. DESTINATION MARYLAND ✥ 81
Maryland Official Visitors Guide 2020 Maryland Official Visitors Guide: Page 81
