Page 4 - Destination Maryland The Official Guide to Maryland Travel

WELCOME TO MARYLAND
Welcome to Maryland
Governor Larry Hogan and family
Dear Friends,
It is an honor to serve as Maryland’s
62nd Governor, and to travel this
great state, from the sandy shores
of the Atlantic Coast to the
Appalachian Mountains in the west.
I’d like to invite you to do the same.
Let Destination Maryland be your
guide to Maryland’s natural beauty,
thriving arts and culture, great food, the world’s best seafood. Believe
and welcoming people.
Start with our list of “Ten Classic
Things to Do in Maryland.” You’ll find Maryland originals too. Travel down
inspiration for the perfect visit any
time of the year in the “A State for
All Seasons” section. For a great
family vacation, make sure to take
a look at the “Family Fun” listings.
We have beaches, children’s
museums, theme parks, and more.
If you’re a cyclist, hiker, or road-
tripper, “Road Trips and Trails” will
get you ready to explore on four
wheels or two, or on your own two
feet. Maryland’s 18 scenic byways
lead to stunning vistas, centuries of
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American history, and inspiring stories
like those along the Harriet Tubman
Underground Railroad Byway. Follow
one of our six nationally renowned
wine trails and experience the bounty
and variety of our distinctive growing
climates. And for a real Maryland treat, Baltimore’s Artscape, the largest
pack up the family and make sweet
memories on our Ice Cream Trail.
We don’t have to tell food lovers
that Maryland is home to some of
me, it doesn’t get better than
Chesapeake Bay blue crabs. But
I encourage you to try some other
to Southern Maryland and try the
stuffed ham, or plan a visit to the
Baltimore region for a pit-beef
sandwich and a snowball. Sample
some fresh-from-the-tree maple
syrup in Western Maryland. Or make
your way to the Eastern Shore and
indulge your sweet tooth with a
Smith Island Cake, our one-of-a-
kind official state dessert.
Maryland’s growing arts scene
and cultural diversity are especially
important to my wife, Yumi, and
me. Only in Maryland can you
experience unique celebrations such
as the DelFest Bluegrass Festival and
free arts festival in the nation. Come
and see the works of old masters
and contemporary geniuses at
world-class museums like the
Washington County Museum of Fine
Arts, the Walters Art Museum, and the
Baltimore Museum of Art. Also, don’t
forget the exquisite work of artists
and artisans at the Ward Museum
of Wildfowl Art, and the American
Visionary Arts Museum, the official
national museum for self-taught
artistry. This spring, Baltimore will host
Light City, the first festival of light and
ideas in America. In the fall, Maryland
Fleet Week and Air Show Baltimore
2016 celebrates Maryland’s rich naval
tradition as tall ships and modern
naval vessels welcome visitors for
tours in the Inner Harbor, while the
Blue Angels perform an exciting air
show over Fort McHenry.
With our big cities, small towns,
mountain adventures, ocean
getaways, and, of course, the
unique American treasure that is
the Chesapeake Bay, there is
always something for everyone
on a Maryland vacation. For even
more ideas, visit our website
visitmaryland.org. Follow us on Twitter
and Facebook at @TravelMD and on
Instagram at @visitmaryland. We can’t
wait to welcome you to Maryland!
Sincerely,
Larry Hogan
Governor