Mama Mystic's "All the Things" Maryland Tourist Guide
Maryland, dubbed “America in Miniature,” offers a diverse array of experiences for moms, families, friends, groups, organizations, and individuals who love beaches, forests, national parks, museums, outdoor sports, hiking, surfing, fishing, hunting, driving, entertainment, dining, arts, and culture. This guide covers seasonal activities, tourist attractions, ticket rates, shows, children’s activities (including zoos and riverboat rides), holiday events, park activities, sporting events, conferences, major concert events (June 2025–March 2026), airport information, transit options, lodging, traffic patterns, alternate transportation, food scene, renowned personalities, major cities, interstates, backroads, and lake, hiking, and outdoor activities.
Beaches
Maryland’s 3,200-mile coastline, centered around the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean, is renowned for water sports, fishing, and family-friendly shores.
Beach Location Activities Ticket Rates/Notes Ocean City Beach Ocean City Surfing, swimming, boardwalk Free access; parking $5–$10/day Assateague Island Eastern Shore Wildlife viewing, kayaking $25/vehicle (7-day pass) North Beach Calvert County Fishing, strolling Free access; parking $5–$10/day Sandy Point State Park Annapolis Swimming, picnicking $5/vehicle (Memorial Day–Labor Day) Calvert Cliffs State Park Lusby Fossil hunting, hiking $5/vehicle
Surfing: Ocean City’s 10th Street and Assateague offer waves averaging 3–5 feet in fall (Surfline). Lessons start at $50/hour (Ocean City Surf Club).
Fishing: Ocean City Fishing Pier ($8/adult) and Chesapeake Bay are prime spots for flounder and rockfish.
Forests and National Parks
Maryland’s forests and parks offer diverse landscapes for hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing.
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park: Spans 184.5 miles with hiking, biking, and kayaking. Free entry; visitor centers in Cumberland and Georgetown (NPS C&O Canal).
Catoctin Mountain Park: Features hiking trails and scenic views. Free entry (NPS Catoctin).
Patapsco Valley State Park: Offers 200+ miles of trails, camping, and tubing ($5/vehicle, Maryland State Parks).
Swallow Falls State Park: Known for Muddy Creek Falls, Maryland’s highest waterfall ($3/vehicle, Maryland State Parks).
Assateague Island National Seashore: Features wild ponies and beach camping ($25/vehicle, NPS Assateague).
Museums
Maryland’s museums highlight art, history, and science, with many offering free admission.
Museum Location Admission Highlights Walters Art Museum Baltimore Free Greco-Roman, Matisse collection Baltimore Museum of Art Baltimore Free American, African art National Aquarium Baltimore $50/adult, $40/child Coral reef, Amazon exhibits Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum St. Michaels $18/adult, $8/child Maritime history B&O Railroad Museum Baltimore $20/adult, $12/child Historic locomotives
Outdoor Sports and Activities
Maryland is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering hiking, surfing, fishing, and hunting.
Hiking: Top trails include:
Billy Goat Trail (C&O Canal): 4.8-mile challenging loop with river views. Free entry.
Cunningham Falls (Catoctin): 2.8-mile trail to a 78-foot waterfall. Free entry.
Annapolis Rock (Appalachian Trail): 5.5-mile hike with scenic views. Free entry.
Surfing: Ocean City and Assateague are prime spots with consistent waves (Surfline).
Fishing: Deep Creek Lake and Chesapeake Bay offer bass and rockfish. Licenses start at $5/day (Maryland DNR).
Hunting: Seasons include deer (September–January), turkey (April–May), and waterfowl (October–January). Licenses vary ($24.50–$65, Maryland DNR).
Driving and Scenic Routes
Maryland’s roads offer scenic drives through coastal and mountainous regions.
Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway: 85-mile route along the Eastern Shore with waterfront views.
Historic National Road (US-40): 170-mile drive through historic towns like Frederick.
Mountain Maryland Scenic Byway: 193-mile route through the Appalachians.
Entertainment, Arts, and Culture
Maryland’s cultural scene includes theaters, music venues, and festivals.
Theater:
Hippodrome Theatre (Baltimore): Broadway shows (Baltimore Hippodrome).
Olney Theatre Center: Regional performances (Olney Theatre).
Music Venues:
Merriweather Post Pavilion (Columbia): Outdoor concerts (Merriweather).
Rams Head Live (Baltimore): Intimate music venue (Rams Head Live).
Festivals:
Maryland Seafood Festival (Annapolis, September): Crab feasts, music ($15–$25).
Maryland Renaissance Festival (Annapolis, August–October): Medieval reenactments ($26/adult).
Baltimore Book Festival (September): Literary events, free entry.
Seasonal and Holiday Activities
Spring: Cherry blossoms in Baltimore’s Druid Hill Park, Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show (April, $15/adult).
Summer: Ocean City fireworks (July 4th, free), crab feasts at Inner Harbor.
Fall: Darlington Apple Festival (October, free entry), Catoctin Colorfest (October, free).
Winter: Nights of Lights at Northside Park (Ocean City, December, free).
Holiday Events:
Baltimore Christmas Village: German-style market (November–December, free entry).
Annapolis Midnight Madness: Holiday shopping and lights (December, free).
Frederick’s Frosty Friday: Holiday parade (November, free).
Local, State, and National Park Activities
State Parks: 53 parks, including Deep Creek Lake and Sandy Point, offer camping ($15–$40/night), hiking, and fishing (Maryland State Parks).
National Parks: C&O Canal and Assateague provide kayaking and ranger-led programs.
Activities: Birdwatching, kayaking, and fossil hunting at Calvert Cliffs.
Sporting Events and Conferences
Sports:
Baltimore Orioles (MLB): Games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards ($20–$80, MLB Orioles).
Baltimore Ravens (NFL): Games at M&T Bank Stadium ($50–$200, NFL Ravens).
Preakness Stakes (Pimlico Race Course, May 2026): Horse racing ($40–$150, Preakness).
Conferences:
Baltimore Comic-Con (September 2025): Pop culture event ($30–$60).
Maryland Auto Show (Baltimore, February 2026): Automotive displays ($12/adult).
Major Concert Events (June 2025–March 2026)
Event Date Location Tickets Foo Fighters June 20, 2025 Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia $60–$150 Green Day July 18, 2025 Oriole Park, Baltimore $50–$120 Zac Brown Band August 15, 2025 Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia $40–$100 Billie Eilish October 10, 2025 CFG Bank Arena, Baltimore $80–$150
Check Ticketmaster or Songkick for updates.
Airport and Transit Information
Airports:
Baltimore/Washington International (BWI): 10 miles from Baltimore (BWI Airport).
Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA): 40 miles from Baltimore (Fly Reagan).
Washington Dulles International (IAD): 60 miles from Baltimore (Fly Dulles).
Transit Options:
Buses: MTA in Baltimore, Charm City Circulator (MTA Maryland, Charm City Circulator).
Trains: Amtrak Northeast Corridor, MARC Train (Amtrak, MARC Train).
Taxis/Rideshares: Uber, Lyft, Water Taxi in Baltimore.
Bikes: Baltimore Bike Share, Annapolis Bike Share ($2–$5/ride).
Trolleys: Ocean City Trolley ($3/day, seasonal).
Lodging
Hotel Location Type Rates Four Seasons Baltimore Baltimore Luxury $300–$600/night Inn at Perry Cabin St. Michaels Luxury $250–$500/night Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Cambridge Luxury $200–$400/night Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor Baltimore Business $150–$300/night
Traffic Patterns
Peak Hours: 7–9 AM and 4–6 PM in Baltimore and Annapolis.
Strategies: Use MTA or bike share for city travel. Plan drives outside peak hours (MDOT).
Evaluation: Monitor travel times and adjust schedules.
Food Scene
Local Specialties: Blue crabs, crab cakes, Old Bay-seasoned dishes.
Notable Restaurants:
Faidley’s Seafood (Baltimore): Iconic crab cakes, $15–$30/entree.
Charleston (Baltimore): Lowcountry fine dining, $30–$50/entree.
The Local Oyster (Baltimore): Fresh seafood, $20–$40/entree.
Iron Rooster (Annapolis): Comfort food, $15–$30/entree.
Renowned Personalities
Historical Figures: Francis Scott Key, Harriet Tubman.
Modern Celebrities: Michael Phelps (swimmer, Baltimore), Cal Ripken Jr. (baseball, Havre de Grace).
Major Cities and Attractions
Baltimore: Inner Harbor, National Aquarium, Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Annapolis: U.S. Naval Academy, Maryland State House, City Dock.
Frederick: Historic Downtown, National Museum of Civil War Medicine.
Ocean City: Boardwalk, Jolly Roger Amusement Park, Northside Park.
Interstates
I-95: North-south through Baltimore.
I-70: East-west to Frederick.
I-68: West to Cumberland.
Backroads
Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway: Coastal views.
Historic National Road (US-40): Historic towns.
Mason-Dixon Scenic Byway: Rural landscapes.
Lake, Hiking, and Outdoor Activities
Lakes:
Deep Creek Lake: Boating, fishing ($5/vehicle, Deep Creek Lake).
Lake Habeeb (Rocky Gap): Kayaking, hiking ($5/vehicle).
Prettyboy Reservoir: Fishing, hiking (free entry).
Hiking Trails:
Billy Goat Trail: Rugged river views.
Cunningham Falls: Waterfall hike.
Annapolis Rock: Scenic overlook.
Outdoor Activities: Kayaking on the Chesapeake Bay, mountain biking in Patapsco Valley, rock climbing in Carderock.
Children’s Activities
Maryland Zoo (Baltimore): Features 1,500+ animals, tram rides, and a petting zoo ($25/adult, $20/child, Maryland Zoo).
Riverboat Rides: Potomac River cruises in National Harbor ($20/adult, Capital Riverboats).
Port Discovery Children’s Museum (Baltimore): Interactive exhibits ($20/adult, Port Discovery).
Jolly Roger Amusement Park (Ocean City): Rides, mini-golf ($15–$40, Jolly Roger).
Potential Barriers and Strategies
Barrier: Crowded beaches in summer.
Strategy: Opt for North Beach or Assateague for fewer crowds. Visit in spring or fall.
Evaluation: Check crowd reports on Tripadvisor and adjust plans.
Barrier: Traffic congestion on major interstates.
Strategy: Use Amtrak or local buses for city travel. Plan drives outside peak hours.
Evaluation: Monitor travel times via MDOT and adjust schedules.
Barrier: Limited event ticket availability.
Strategy: Book early through Ticketmaster or Songkick. Set alerts for new events.
Evaluation: Track ticket purchase success and event satisfaction via reviews.
Conclusion
Maryland offers a vibrant mix of coastal adventures, historic exploration, and cultural immersion. Plan ahead to navigate crowds, traffic, and ticket availability for a memorable visit.