Maryland Travel Guide
I've always lived in Maryland and never wanted to live anywhere else. Delaware is the tiny gem of a state right next door.
In either state it's easy to find fascinating places to visit: from historic sites dating back to the first settlements in the New World to high-tech attractions; good eating, from fresh seafood at local diners to fine dining; great natural beauty and lots of outdoor activity, from the ocean to the bay to the mountains.
The regions covered in this book can make a great day trip, weekend, or full vacation. A tourist at heart, I've spent my whole life visiting places around my state and its next-door neighbor. I found myself awed at the horror of Antietam, delighted by the idiosyncratic home of American Red Cross founder Clara Barton, and invigorated by paddling a canoe down a creek off the Patapsco River.
I can't wait for you to see the places I've always loved: the beautiful, hidden Cunningham Falls; the views from the rolling Appalachian Mountains; the friendly streets of Baltimore; and the bars and restaurants in Annapolis.
Don't be fooled by Delaware's size. Billing itself as the "Small Wonder," its coast is famous for laid-back beach resorts. The state is also a major destination for NASCAR and slots fans. It has an extraordinary number of finely preserved turn-of-the-last-century mansions, and a compact, cultured metropolis in Wilmington.
These two states have been touched by revolution, civil war, and world wars, and the people here don't forget. You can see places where George Washington stood, where brothers died, and where slaves ran for freedom. You can see silent monuments to those who defended the country in 1812, 1917, and 1945.
These states love the water that laps their shores. The Atlantic Ocean, the Chesapeake Bay, the rivers winding through valleys and mountains have given the people places to work, to play, and to stop and take in the beauty.
Bring your sense of wonder and your sense of humor. You'll learn something, maybe. You'll see something beautiful, of course. You'll have fun, definitely.
