The Ultimate Maryland Travel Guide
Maryland: Museums, beach boardwalks, historic harbor, national monuments, and a lot more to see and do in Maryland. Here is my Maryland travel guide outlining major Maryland attractions!
To make it easy for you to navigate the content, I have organized my Maryland travel guide into two sections. (1) A brief introduction to Maryland, a little history, some geography, commute, and weather. (2) Major Maryland attractions, if you wish, you can skip the introduction and move on to the next section, Maryland Attractions.
History: Maryland joined the union as the 7th state on April 28, 1788. The state was named Maryland, to honor King Charles’ wife Queen Henrietta Maria (Queen Mary). The state’s nickname, the Old Line State, is to honor the Maryland soldiers who fought courageously in the Revolutionary War, the Maryland Line, General George Washington referred to these soldiers as “The Old Line.”
Geography: Pennsylvania borders Maryland on the north and by the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia on the south. On the east, Maryland is bordered by Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean and on the west by West Virginia and Virginia. Maryland is divided into two sections by the Chesapeake Bay. These two sections are known as the East and the West Shore.
Getting There
Flight: Baltimore Washington Intl. Airport (BWI), Hagerstown Regional Airport (HGR) and Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport (SBY) are the main airports in Maryland, BWI being the busiest.
Drive: If you live in any of the neighboring states, you could drive to Maryland.
Train: Amtrak offers a rail service called Northeast Regional connecting – Boston Providence / Springfield Hartford New York Washington, DC Roanoke / Richmond Norfolk / Newport News Virginia Beach, stopping at Aberdeen, MD (ABE), Baltimore, MD – Penn Station (BAL) and Baltimore, MD – BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).
Climate: Summers are hot and humid in Maryland, with high temperatures above 100°F. Winters are severely cold and snowy, with several places below 0°F. Spring and fall are mild with pleasant temperatures. Check current weather conditions in Maryland.
Time zone: Eastern Daylight Time UTC-4
Getting around: It’s better to rent a car; however, there are few other options in Maryland, including Light Rail, MARC Train, MegaBus, and BoltBus services.
Best Places To Visit in Maryland
Inner Harbor
Baltimore’s Inner Harbor is a historic dockyard and a major tourist attraction. It’s an entertainment hub, home to Maryland Science Center, National Aquarium, World Trade Center’s “Top of the World” Observation deck, Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Children’s Museum, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!, the starting point of several bay cruises, several restaurants, and a lot more. Most of Baltimore’s major attractions are around the Inner Harbor.
I would suggest you park your vehicle is one of the paid parking structures and then take your time and explore the Inner Harbor at your own pace. I highly recommend the Bay boat tour. There are several companies offering cruises, and you can check and reserve your cruise upon arrival.
Address:561 Light St, Baltimore, MD 21230
National Aquarium
The National Aquarium, located in the Inner Harbor area of downtown Baltimore, Maryland, the aquarium is huge. It is home to several animals, a Tropical Rain Forest, an open shark tank, Atlantic coral reef, hundreds of jellyfishes, and a 4D theater.
Address: 501 E Pratt St, Baltimore, MD 21202, Entrance Fee: Adults: $39.95, Children (Ages 3-11): $29.95
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
Fort McHenry is a historical fort located in Baltimore. It’s Fort McHenry that saved the Baltimore Harbor from the British Navy’s attack during the war in 1812. The fort is now open to the public, featuring a short film on the Battle of North Point, refurbished officers’ quarters, and scheduled flag changes take place inside the fort every morning and evening.
Address: 2400 E Fort Ave, Baltimore, MD 21230, Entrance Fee: $15
Ocean City Boardwalk
This is one of the best boardwalks I have been to in the US. The classic wooden boardwalk is home to several arcades, rides including a Ferris wheel, a roller coaster, a carousel, many restaurants, and a lot more.
Address: 698 N Atlantic Ave, Ocean City, MD 21842, Entrance Fee: None
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I hope you enjoyed reading the post, The Ultimate Maryland Travel Guide, and hope it will help you plan your trip to Maryland.
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