Weekend Getaway in Maryland

Located in northern Maryland, Thurmont city appeals to many visitors with its historic downtown, wildlife sanctuaries, and parks. Regarded as "The Gateway to the Mountains", this charming town has a dense network of trails for hiking. Visit the Catoctin Mountain Park, where you can enjoy camping at Camp David. After that, treat your taste buds to locally-produced wine at the Springfield Manor Winery and Distillery.

This small town lies right at the edge of a waterway on the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. With a rich history, Chesapeake presents you with a chance to see its 19th-century structures and houses which today serve as cozy restaurants and inns. The town’s rich green surroundings change color with the seasons, offering a scenic environment for outdoor fun. Schedule a trip for fall or spring to see the great migrations of geese, ducks, and songbirds which come to settle in the swampy shorelines of the Bay.

A Maryland Mainstreet Community, Berlin, named after an old, local tavern called Burleigh Inn, attracts many fishing and hunting enthusiasts. Although you wouldn't find an innate beer culture as Germany's capital, you can still head out to the Burley Oak Brewing Company and try out an assortment of flavorsome beers. Afterward, shop for a souvenir in Main Street's historic shops.

Tour the Hooper Strait Lighthouse and travel back in time to when the keepers used to light up the strait to ensure safe entry and exit of ships from Deal Island. Visitors have the chance to see hands-on exhibits where they can hop aboard the sea hatch or go on lookout. This gives you an insight into the dedicated spirit and solitary lives of the heroic keepers to ensure the safety of the ships.

Visit the National Aquarium in Baltimore and get inspired with its marine conservation efforts. This aquarium has compelling exhibits of beautiful marine animals as well as 200,000 fauna derived from over 800 species. You'll relish coming close to stingrays, or an educative session about dolphin feeding.

Touring the US Naval Academy lets you experience the life of a maritime soldier. Maryland has a history of nurturing line troops, and it is what compelled Governor George Washington to name it The Old Line State. The US Naval Academy in Annapolis carries on the legacy. The academy grounds have a museum which showcases a wide selection of naval antiques and educates on the US maritime history. Inside the Academy’s chapel, you’ll find the crypt of John Paul Jones, the “Father of the US Navy.”

Summers in Maryland get hot and humid with the highest temperatures in July and August. You'll need light outfits such as T-shirts, shorts, sandals, sneakers, a hat, flip flops, and a swimsuit. You may also encounter thunderstorms, which call for an umbrella and jacket. In winter, snow cover may reach 100 inches. You need your water-resistant boots and winter clothing.

Outdoor adventures in the mid-Atlantic state may take you from Elk Neck State Park to Assateague Island National Seashore Camping ground. Thus, bring along your tent, flashlight, inflatable mattress, light cooking utensils, pre-cooked food, among others.

While you’ll require cash to pay for access to different attractions, credit cards will be useful when you’re limited to only one method of payment.