EXPLORE OUTDOORS Central Maryland also provides a feast for the eyes in the form of the Ladew Topiary Gardens in Monkton. This immaculate and lush getaway is hailed as one of the best topiary gardens in the country. Spend an afternoon walking its short loops and trails or get a good look at the historical grounds, especially through the Manor House, which was built in stages over the course of a century. Visit the Gunpowder State Park Hammerman Area in Baltimore County to rent a kayak or sailboat and spend a day on the water. At the Carroll County Farm Museum, you’ll get a beautiful look at the region’s piedmont farming culture, and it serves as a great starting point to explore the Carroll County Barn Quilt Trail. If you like your outdoor adventures served with a side of science, the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) is an active research center and a certified Chesapeake Bay Storytellers tour provider (for more on Chesapeake Bay Storytellers, see page 44). Dive in deep with a fascinating lecture, see the science and beauty for yourself on a self-guided walking trail, or join SERC’s storytellers for a canoe tour through the living laboratory that is this beautiful Chesapeake marshland. Fun Facts The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum is the country’s only wax museum of African-American history. The city of Havre de Grace was just 1 vote away from being named the capital of the United States of America. Catoctin @dennisonhikingclub Find more things to do in Central Maryland online at: visitmaryland.org/regions-cities/central-maryland Photo: Ladew Topiary Gardens (Ladew Topiary Gardens) Patapsco Valley State Park @beentheredonethatwithkids 90 / VISITMARYLAND.ORG
Maryland Official Visitors Guide 2021 Maryland Official Visitors Guide: Page 90
