Top Attractions for People By Jackie Duda When Maryland says “You’re welcome,” we mean it. More destinations are opening doors previously closed to visitors with disabilities and putting accessibility at the forefront. Here’s just a snapshot of what’s accessible. PARK PASS PERKS Maryland State Parks make accessibility as natural as, well … nature. Additionally, our national and state parks offer free passes to some people with disabilities. Learn more. TIP : Plan ahead by calling attractions to ask for accessibility updates. Maryland Science Center Baltimore At this hands-on museum, take part in DNA extractions and chemical reactions, or immerse yourself in the magic of the state’s largest IMAX. Keep the fun going as you search for Life Beyond Earth in an exhibit featuring Braille and tactile elements. You can request loaner wheelchairs, Braille guides, closed captioning and captioning equipment for films, American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters and sensory tools like weighted lap covers and earmuffs. Glenstone Potomac Make a reservation to tour Glenstone, a museum that expertly blends modern art and architecture with nature. Visionary pieces include Jeff Koons’ “Split-Rocker”— a 37-foot-tall topiary sculpture featuring tens of thousands of flowering plants — and are showcased amid 300 acres of meadows and woodlands. Galleries and grounds are accessible, main pathways are paved, and wheelchairs and shuttles are available to assist visitors with mobility challenges. ASL interpretation can be requested a week before your visit. Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB) Annapolis Take to the Chesapeake Bay with trained skippers and crew on specially designed adaptive sailboats. These family sails take place on select Thursdays and Sundays each month and are free. CRAB also offers no-charge adaptive fishing trips on a catamaran outfitted for up to five wheelchair users at a time. Check their calendar to watch regattas for recovering warriors and sailors with disabilities. Newtown Players Lexington Park and St. Mary’s City The troupe puts on comedies, dramas and kids’ shows at Lexington Park’s Three Notch Theatre, which is outfitted with accessible seating. Staff is trained to help folks find quiet spaces, and you can request ASL interpretation and listening devices. In St. Mary’s City, Shakespeare in the City events feature ASL interpretations at Nancy R. and Norton T. Dodge Performing Arts Center and on the lawn of the reconstructed State House of 1676. Assateague Island National Seashore Berlin Enjoy the ocean, white beaches and dappled wild ponies at this national seashore, where disability-friendly features include beach wheelchairs, picnic areas and three accessible trails. Watch waves break from Mobi-Mats or the elevated boardwalk and rinse off in roomy shower stalls. Deep Creek Lake State Park near Swanton Experience one of the state’s most loved natural sites via the Sensory Awareness Trail (known locally as “the Braille trail”) and The Discovery Center with elevator and Braille signage. Cast a line from the accessible fishing pier or ask a lifeguard to borrow the beach wheelchair for some fun in the sun. 54 DESTINATION MARYLAND
Maryland Official Visitors Guide 2026 Maryland Official Visitors Guide: Page 54
