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A Star-Spangled State Maryland
by
Alice Gregory
The distance between Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. is
less than 150 miles, and it is perhaps tempting to hop on I-95 and rush from
one to the other but that would mean passing up the numerous treasures that are
found in the state of Maryland.
Three centuries of history and
landmarks that represent the Revolution, Civil War, the War of 1812, and the
birthplace of our national anthem are all found in this compact state.
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Maryland incorporates an area of just 10,000 square miles
and extends from the Atlantic Ocean to the Appalachian Mountains. With the
magnificent Chesapeake Bay at its heart and the Atlantic Ocean its eastern
boundary, Maryland is all about water. Baltimore is a major port, Annapolis is
home to the U.S. Naval Academy and the Chesapeake (which comes from a Native
American word meaning great shellfish bay) provides the ingredients for
Marylands world-famous crab cakes.
A stop in Baltimore is a must. The area is filled with
history and there are great sights throughout the city, but its Inner Harbor is
the best place to begin any visit to Maryland's largest city. Once a collection
of ramshackle warehouses and abandoned factories symbolic of urban decay,
Baltimore's Inner Harbor is now a showplace of urban renewal.
The Inner
Harbor hosts many great attractions, restaurants and shops. A highlight for
visitors is the Showcase of Nations, which offers colorful ethnic festivals
each weekend from June to October. A favorite stop is the National Aquarium, a
five-story structure which houses an Atlantic coral reef in a 335,000-gallon
tank, a South American rain forest in a glass pyramid, the Open Ocean where
visitors can get an up-close look at several species of sharks, and a
1.2-million-gallon dolphin habit.
At Pier 1 is the USS Constellation,
the last Civil War vessel still afloat and the last all-sail warship built by
the Navy. Many artifacts are displayed and visitors can try their hand at
turning the capstan and setting the sails.
For a personal look at the
people who have made Baltimore their home, groups can take a walking tour
through the charming neighborhoods of Little Italy, Union Square, or Federal
Hill, where 4,000 residents gathered to celebrate the ratification of the
Constitution in 1788.
From the Inner Harbor you can reach Fort McHenry,
which guards the entry to Baltimore's harbor, by boat (or by motorcoach). This
is where Francis Scott Key wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner" during the War of
1812.
A flag of a different color flies at Pimlico Race Course on race
days. Home of the Preakness, this is the second jewel in horse racing's Triple
Crown. Pimlico is the second oldest race course in the United
States.
Another 19th-century event has evolved into the Baltimore &
Ohio Railway Museum. Started as a tradeshow exhibit for a major Baltimore
railroad, the museum has evolved into the best collection in the world of
American railroad rolling stock and railway memorabilia. Now a National
Historic Landmark and an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, visitors
gain a sense of both the importance of the railway in Americas expansion and
also the elegance of railway travel in its heyday.
In Columbia, groups
are in for a treat at Tobys Dinner Theatre. Now in its 27th season, this
award-winning regional theatre offers groups Broadway-style entertainment in an
intimate setting.
This article is sponsored by:
www.grouptravelblog.com
About the Author: We are in
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