SOUTHERN MARYLAND Wander Whimsical Woods & Galleries Seek Tranquil Nature Scenes Combining art and nature, the Smithsonian affiliate Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center features 30 acres of forests, fields and meadows and paved walking and bike paths adorned with a vast collection of outdoor sculptures as well as gallery Look Out exhibits. Historic St. Mary’s City drag racing events held on the tracks of Mechanicsville from March to November. Walk Along Secluded Shores A great place for history buffs and nature lovers alike, Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum in St. Leonard is home to a small, secluded shore and 65 archaeological sites (as well as an “FAQ Archaeology” interactive experience in the visitors center). Visitors find plenty to explore at a nearby reconstructed Native American village and coastal trails. See the Patterson Estate built in Colonial Revival style. The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs play 70 home games from late April through September at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf. Dozens of aspiring major leaguers and major league alumni once honed their skills in the Atlantic League with eight teams located along the mid-Atlantic seaboard. to research, preservation and an interpretation of early American plantation life. UNESCO has designated the plantation as one of 31 Middle Passage arrivals locations in the U.S. The Dr. Samuel Mudd House & Museum in Waldorf and The Surratt House Museum in Clinton are stops on one of five Civil War Trails. They offer a fascinating look into the conspiracy to kill President Abraham Lincoln, the assassin John Wilkes Booth and the largest manhunt in American history. Follow the Trail of the Assassin John Wilkes Booth Look Out for the Lighthouses For those seeking solitude in a natural setting, Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary offers a nature center viewing room where kids can get up close to small indigenous animals, as well as short trails on the boardwalks through swamps and meadows. See an albino snapping turtle, a red-tailed hawk, a barred owl and butterflies floating about this tranquil setting. Take a Southern Maryland lighthouse tour from Cove Point to Drum Point to Piney Point and Point Lookout. Plan ahead and book a night at Cove Point Lighthouse for a true nautical memory. SPOTLIGHT Heritage with a View Big League Dreams Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum, St. Leonard Uncover Plantation Living A Tidewater plantation, historic Sotterley Plantation dates back to 1699. The former tobacco plantation is now a 95-acre National Historic Landmark dedicated Secluded shores and stunning sunsets over the Patuxent River call from Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum. Public archaeological digs at this 17th-century tobacco farm as well as a Native American village museum with reconstructed dwellings blend a mix of history that stretches from the indigenous people all the way to Colonial, early American and 20th-century life. The open and lush, green natural space presents a picturesque setting for public and private events throughout the year with scenic trails for wandering, old cabins and ruins. Quiet beaches provide a calm place to retreat, while fi shing spots and kayaking lend leisure time along the shore. Check the calendar of events for children’s activities and yearly traditions, such as the Halloween Festival and haunted barn in October, along with the acclaimed Southern Maryland Celtic Festival and Highland Games competition in April. DESTINATION MARYLAND ✥ 93
Maryland Official Visitors Guide 2020 Maryland Official Visitors Guide: Page 93
