Maryland

Maryland's Lower Shore is a community of farmers and boaters living between Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. This historic area offers beautiful 18th and 19th century homes on brick lined streets that visitors can observe on a walking tour of Cambridge. The town can also be viewed from aboard a skipjack boat on the bay. There are many museums, a free zoo with North American animals, several islands, including the Assateague Island State Park where wild ponies still roam free.

The state capital, Annapolis sits on the shores of Chesapeake Bay. This 300 year old city offers beautiful architecture, including America's largest wooden dome built without any nails. There are mansions and gardens, the City Dock area that has been in use for hundreds of years. There are two major educational institutions here; The United States Naval Academy and St. John's College which is the third oldest in the nation and was where Francis Scott Key attended classes.

The states largest archaeological dig is located at London Town overlooking the South River. This early settlement looks much as it did when it was originally built and visitors can take a self-guided tour through the 8 acres of gardens, woods and home. Afterward you may want to spend the afternoon on the bay on one of the many tour boats.

From Baltimore visitors can follow the first national highway west along Frederick Road (route 144). This was the road that Washington took to link the port of Baltimore to the interior of the country. From the bustling inner city of Baltimore to historic towns like Ellicott City visitors can enjoy museums, shops and eateries in centuries old buildings. Continuing west to Frederick you will find the law office of Francis Scott Key, antique shops and the second oldest Catholic Church in America, St. John the Evangelist, where the diary of a Civil War soldier was written on part of the wall. From there the road will take you through the Appalachian Mountains where the views are wonderful and the state parks offer time to relax and enjoy the peaceful beauty of the area.

Among other interesting spots is the museum in Hancock that follows the effort that went into creating the 184 mile long waterway that was constructed to meet the nation's commerce needs in the early years of settlement. Farther west is Cumberland where Washington commanded troops during the French and Indian War. Here there are more historic sites, shops and museums to enjoy before moving on to Grantsville where the Casselman River Bridge provided long ago travelers another landmark on their way west.

The D.C. Beltway around Maryland's Capital region offers visitors a more modern look at the nation's on-going history making process. The NASA/Goddard Museum offers a look at space flight, the communications center and model rocket launches. The National Air & Space Museum houses historic and unique aircraft. Nearby is College Park Airport established by the Wright Brothers in 1909. The National Wildlife Visitor Center provides a tram ride through 13,000 acres of forest, wetlands and meadowlands that make up the only national wildlife refuge created to study man's impact on nature.

Maryland Real Estate Maryland Realtor Associations Maryland Association of Realtors Anna Arundel County Association of Realtors Bay Area Association of Realtors Cecil County Board of Realtors Coastal Association of Realtors Fredrick County Association of Realtors Garrett County Board of Realtors Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors Harford County Association of Realtors Historic Highlands Association of Realtors Howard County Association of Realtors Pen-Mar Regional Association of Realtors Prince George's County Association of Realtors Southern Maryland Association of Realtors