History Meets Nature in the Old Line State

A locale where a street-smart meets down-home charm and anglers coexist in harmony with office types, Maryland — “America in Miniature” — is chock-full of fascinating, National Park Service-managed sites, seashore, trails, battlefields and parks.

Assateague Island

Declared a National Seashore, Assateague Island’s coastal bays, sandy beaches, salt marshes and maritime forests are one thing, the extraordinary, two main herds of wild horses — one on the Virginia side, one on the Maryland side — are another thing entirely.

Forte Foote

Located in Oxen Hills and built atop Rozier’s Bluff in 1863 in an effort to strengthen the ring of fortifications around Washington, D.C., Forte Foote offers a chance to view two 15-inch Rodman Cannons mounted to protect from an unwelcome river approach.

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal

The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal was pivotal to America’s early transportation history, operating for nearly 100 years as a passage for lumber, coal and agricultural products for communities along the Potomac River; today, it offers a wealth of natural, historic and recreational treasures.

Antietam National Battlefield

For a dose of war history, head to Antietam National Battlefield. Here, 23,000 soldiers were wounded, went missing or died after the brutal Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862, ending the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia’s first invasion into the North and leading Abraham Lincoln to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.

Antietam National Battlefield

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Deep Creek Lake

Austin Kirk

Camping on Assaeague Island

Dylan Sauerwein