Maryland:
Published: Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Founded in 1634 by Lord Baltimore, Maryland is a land that is dominated by three major water attractions namely the Chesapeake Bay, the Potomac River, and the Atlantic Ocean. This has undoubtedly made the "Free State" another good venue for several outdoor opportunities that RV-boarded travelers will want to explore.Maryland and Her Regions
The state that has also been nicknamed "Old Line State" is generally divided into five distinct regions. These are the Southern Region, the Central Region, the Capital Region, the Western Region, and finally, the Eastern Shore Region.
The Southern Region
Southern Maryland boasts of three counties namely Calvert County, Charles County, and St. Mary’s County, all of which belong to the Atlantic Coastal Plain district. The entire area is both a farmland and a seashore village, with farming and fishing as the principal means of livelihood.
RVers nonetheless will find Southern Maryland a worthwhile place to see owing to its many state parks, nature preserves, and historic landmarks. In St. Mary’s County alone, RVers can take note of two cities namely Leonardtown and Piney Point, as prospective camping places. With Piney Point, they can tour the Pineypoint Lighthouse Museum and Historic Park and see its prized possession, the Piney Point Lighthouse of 1836. Afterwards, they can drive off to nearby Camp Merryelande RV and Vacation Cottages for rest both for themselves and their RVs.
The Central Region
Two major cities dominate the Central Region of Maryland namely Annapolis and Baltimore. The former is the state capital while the latter is the biggest Maryland city where various outdoor opportunities abound that RVers can engage in. Topping the list is a 40-mile hike across Northern Central Rail Trail where one takes turns traversing calm countrysides and sparkling streams before reaching the Mason-Dixon border.
A little-known city in the Central Region is College Park, which hosts Cherry Hill Park, an RV camping site situated near the US capital, Washington D.C. It was named "Campground of the Year" in 2006 and getting to visit it will enable RVers to find out why it was awarded such a title. Just a sample is the free shuttle services from the RV park into Washington where one can get to tour its many wonderful and historic landmarks.
The Capital Region
The region can best be described as the museum center of Maryland due to the great number of galleries that it hosts. Of these may museums, the most prominent is the Schifferstadt Architectural Museum, a stone-made manor house that is estimated to be at least 250 years old. It houses numerous antique items that antique lovers have labeled the museum as the "Antiques Capital of Maryland".
RV-boarded travelers who prefer outdoor adventures need not fall into despair, though, thinking that the Capital Region does not feature any outdoor attraction. On the contrary, there are several cities here emphasis is on outdoor adventure. Thurmont City is a perfect example for housing two state parks namely Cunningham Falls State Park and Catoctin Mountain Park. The latter boast of a 25-mile hiking path that practically engulfs the entire mountain park with several areas devoted to camping, picnicking, fishing, and wildlife-viewing activities. The former, meanwhile, has the incredible Cunningham Falls as its prized attraction. Its cascading waters are simply a sight to behold as it drops from a height of 78 feet.
After that exhilarating adventure, RVers can relax but still have a great time by checking in at Ole Mink Farm Recreation Resort. The RV park has the enviable distinction of being set within the vastness of the Catoctin Mountains, specifically at the northern fringes of the Cunningham Falls State Park.
The Western Region
History combined with natural wonders is what Western Maryland is all about. It offers visitors many historic landmarks that stress the vital role that Western Maryland played in the American Civil War but what will actually attract RVers to this region is the endless opportunities that await them in the many regional natural attractions like flowing rivers, pristine lakes, and awesome hiking trails, some of which are linked to several historic areas.
The city to head off to when an RV-boarded tourist is in the Western Region is McHenry owing to its RV park, the Double G RV Park that welcomes hikers, canoe riders, mountain bikers, horseback riders, and even roller-bladers. More significantly, though, the RV park lies only half a mile away from Deep Creek Lake, the largest artificial lake in Maryland where boating and water skiing are popular outdoor activities.
The Eastern Shore Region
Set between two major water systems namely the vast Atlantic Ocean and the historic Chesapeake Bay, the Eastern Shore Region is quite naturally a water attraction for many RV-boarded visitors. Additionally, apart from the two great water forms, there are also rivers, streams, and creeks here, complemented by natural and man-made landmarks that will surely delight most RVers.
For RVers bringing along an entire family for a trip down the Eastern Shore Region, Ocean City has to be the place of choice. This is because the city has several amusement centers designed for family entertainment including Jolly Roger Amusement Park, 65th Street Slide and Ride, and Ocean City Pier – Rides and Amusement. Finding a park to place the RVs in is never a problem here, because Ocean City has two RV campgrounds under its fold. One can choose from either Frontier Town Campground or Ocean City Travel Park.
Maryland and Her Cities
Admittedly, Baltimore is the most popular of all Maryland cities closely followed by the state capital that is Annapolis. However, there are several other cities in the "Free State" that RVers will easily find appealing in terms of attractions, location, and RV-friendliness.
Chestertown
The city is the official county seat of Kent County, the second oldest in Maryland and lies along the Chester River banks. Its most prominent resident is Washington College, the only one that George Washington allowed to make use of his name. Another major attraction here is the Rock Hall Museum where ancient artifacts of early Native American settlers are displayed. Within the museum is a smaller one, the Waterman’s Museum, where the unique crafts of oystering and crabbing are regularly showcased.
Touring the above-mentioned landmarks should ably encourage interest among RV-boarded travelers. Still, these may not be enough for those who seek outdoor pleasures. For this, there is the Remington Farms Refuge to go to. A wildlife center encompassing 3,000 acres, the refuge features an exciting boat ride that will take riders across 31 marinas situated within Kent County. Afterwards, the next thing to do is get a nice RV place where one can set the RV securely and at the same time, get a restful sleep, things that can be availed of at Duck Neck Campground where two bath houses await the weary traveler and 352 sites lie waiting for the RVs.
Hagerstown
This little-known town in the Washington County of Maryland started out as a wilderness area in the middle portion of the 18th century. Originally, it was called Elizabeth Town, after the name of the wife of Jonathan Hager, among the early settlers here. However, succeeding settlers refer to the city as Hager’s Town, a name that became official sometime in 1813.
These days, Hagerstown is no longer a wilderness area as it has welcomed progress with open arms. One sign of early progress was the C & O Canal, which served as a major transportation path to Georgetown where coal was hauled between the years 1828-1924. The route used to involve traversing the historic Potomac River in Washington D.C. down to Cumberland City in Maryland. However, present-day visitors, including RVers will find the area a great place for biking and hiking as the area has been transformed into a national park.
Hagerstown is host to Hagerstown/Snug Harbor KOA, an RV campground near major Hagerstown landmarks including two malls namely Valley Mall and Garland Groh Mall, both situated approximately eight miles away from Hagerstown/Snug Harbor KOA. Its resident general store sells major RV parts, among other things, so RV owners need not worry about possible RV problems.
Gwynns Falls Trails
Set in the urban city of Baltimore, the Gwynns Falls Trails covers approximately 2,000 acres of public land that has a 14-mile long hiking path that is generally paved and has attracted a lot of hikers and bikers. The trail starts at Leakin Park and invariably ends at Patapsco River.
Near the trail are several other attractions offering a diverse variety of features ranging from railroad museums to promenade centers. For RVers, though, Waterview Wildlife Observation Boardwalk and the Federal Hill Park ought to be exciting places to see. Additionally, they can try visiting the Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park, the biggest wilderness park in Eastern America where picnicking is a major activity.
Maryland State Scenic Byway
Opposite the western corner of historic Chesapeake Bay shores is this byway of Anne Arundel County in Maryland that connects Annapolis City to several significant areas including fishing villages, ancient farmlands, and the little-known city of London. RV riders will find the byway simply fantastic as it will afford them to see the famed Maryland waters that once made the "Free State" a major maritime district sometime in its glorious past. More importantly, the byway is a gateway to the simple life that has characterized much of this countryside region of Maryland.
Among the other attractions that RVers will most likely encounter while cruising across the scenic byway are Tulip Hill, the West River Quaker Burying Ground, and several colonial mansions. Of particular interest should be St. James Church, a 1665 structure that houses a graveyard that houses the oldest known Maryland tombstones.
A Time To See Maryland
Maryland is typically American in terms of climate, experiencing all four known North American seasons. Spring and autumn, however, tend to be the more ideal seasons, especially for RV camping as humidity is generally low complemented by mild temperatures. Maryland parks are mostly open during these times, beginning in April and lasting until October, with boating and fishing as the more popular water-based outdoor activities.
Maryland has a rich boating culture apart from an exciting baseball season, making summer visits difficult as the state gets crowded with tourists. Autumn is generally preferred, while still generally sunny, and is no longer prone to extreme humidity.
Additionally Maryland summer tends to produce haze, with the afternoons prone to thunderstorms due in part to the generally humid surroundings. RV-boarded travelers, thus, should take the needed precautions when planning to visit Maryland during this particular season.
Morris Meadows Recreation Farm
Set in the city of Freeland north of Baltimore County, Morris Meadows Recreation Farm is strategically placed near several major Maryland cities, including Baltimore and Annapolis, enabling many RV-boarded tourists to have quick and easy access to the many attractions that the two cities offer its visitors.
Additionally, the RV park sits quite near Washington D.C., and this affords RVers to easily jump over to the country capital and explore its various tourist destinations. Other prominent US cities where the RV park has easy access to are Gettysburg and Lancaster.
Operating since 1970, Morris Meadows Recreation Farm stands on a vast 374 acres where rare birds are common visitors. Natural springs provide excellent backdrops to hiking trails that stretch to about two miles set along Little Falls Valley.
Holiday Park Campground
Its most prized attraction has to be a swimming pool that is at least 2,450 square feet and that is just the indoor part. Outside, the 200-acre wide park has several areas devoted to sports fields and trail paths, but its most prominent outdoor feature has to be Choptank River where RVers can engage in such water-based sports activities as canoeing, boating, and fishing.
Located atop Delmarva Peninsula, Holiday Park Family Campground is near several important Maryland cities, with Baltimore accessible in 90 minutes of driving time. Annapolis, meanwhile, can be reached within an hour, but Chestertown, a generally underrated Maryland city, involves a much shorter travel time, a mere 45 minutes. Additionally, Washington D.C., easily among the more famous of US cities, can be visited as well as driving time from the RV park up to the country capital should involve only 90 minutes.
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