Things to Do in Maryland: Beaches, Mountains, Historic Towns and Weekend Road Trips (2026)

• Downtown Annapolis: the state capital's brick streets, City Dock and the Maryland State House, the oldest state capitol still in legislative use.
• U.S. Naval Academy: public visits resumed in May 2026 after a pause earlier in the year. Walk in through Gate 1 (Visitor Control Center) or Gate 8 with a REAL ID, U.S. passport or passport card, or enhanced driver's license. Public visits are open to U.S. citizens and nationals only; foreign passports are not accepted. Visitors under 18 without ID must be with an adult who has one. Visitor cars cannot drive onto the grounds. Rules change often, so check the Academy's base access page the day before.
• Chesapeake Bay: sailing, kayaking, crab houses and small bay towns such as St. Michaels and Chesapeake Beach. Sandy Point State Park near the Bay Bridge has a swimming beach (day-use fee).

• Ocean City: about ten miles of Atlantic beach and a boardwalk of roughly two and a quarter miles from the Inlet to 27th Street, with rides, arcades and the famous fries. Busiest from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
• Assateague Island National Seashore: undeveloped beach, marsh and bay just south of Ocean City, known for its wild horses. By law you must stay at least 40 feet (about a bus length) from the horses, and never feed or pet them; they bite and kick. Do not stop on the causeway to view them. Entrance fee applies.
• Assateague State Park: Maryland's oceanfront state park on the same island, with a guarded swimming beach in summer and camping.

• Deep Creek Lake: Maryland's largest freshwater lake, in Garrett County, with boating and swimming in summer and skiing at Wisp Resort in winter. Deep Creek Lake State Park has a beach and trails.
• Catoctin Mountain Park: a National Park Service site near Thurmont with hikes to overlooks like Chimney Rock and Wolf Rock. No entrance fee.
• Cunningham Falls State Park: next to Catoctin, with a 78-foot cascading waterfall and a lake beach. Day-use fee. The lake, beach and falls area can close when full on warm weekends; check the Maryland Park Service status page.
• Great Falls (C&O Canal National Historical Park, Maryland side): the Potomac crashing through Mather Gorge, seen from the Olmsted Island boardwalk near Great Falls Tavern in Potomac. Entrance fee for the Great Falls Tavern area, card only. The rest of the canal towpath is free.
• Harpers Ferry, West Virginia: just over the Maryland line where the Potomac and Shenandoah meet. A national historical park with an entrance fee; the Appalachian Trail and C&O Canal towpath pass through. It is in West Virginia, not Maryland.

• Downtown Frederick: restaurants, shops and breweries along Market Street and Carroll Creek Linear Park.
• Ellicott City historic district: a mill town on the Patapsco River with antique shops, cafes and the B&O Ellicott City Station museum.
• Annapolis, St. Michaels and Chestertown: colonial and maritime towns on the Bay.

• Merriweather Post Pavilion: an outdoor amphitheater in Columbia hosting major concerts from spring to fall. Ticketed.
• Maryland Renaissance Festival: a seasonal fair in Crownsville, near Annapolis, held on weekends from late August through October. Ticketed; check the festival site for next season's dates.
• Wineries and breweries: clusters in Frederick County, Carroll County, Baltimore County and the Eastern Shore. Many host live music on weekends.

Times are approximate from the Baltimore and DC area and depend on traffic, especially on summer Fridays at the Bay Bridge.

Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor in Bowie closed permanently after the 2025 season; the last day was November 2, 2025. For family days closer to home, the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, the National Zoo in DC and the state parks above are good alternatives.

Some buyers want to be near the Bay, others near mountain trails or a walkable downtown like Frederick or Annapolis. Our team can help you compare Maryland neighborhoods and counties by home type, price, commute and closing costs.