Maryland … Welcome

Seize the opportunity for a complete vacation experience – one filled with hiking, history, kayaking, culture, big-city excitement and Main Street memories.

Enjoy an unforgettable journey through Maryland, from Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Eastern Shore hideaways to our historic state capital of Annapolis and the majestic Allegheny Mountains.

 

Drive along a network of Civil War Trails, explore the Historic National Road, pause in Baltimore at the birthplace of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and indulge in the state’s rich, multicultural heritage. Maryland is also the home of the Preakness and other action-packed spectator sports, as well as four seasons of recreational pursuits like sailing, golfing and skiing.

 

Pack your days with tons of family fun and your nights with a variety of entertainment options. Along the way, the Old Line State invites you to enjoy the legendary taste of great local seafood before relaxing at friendly, convenient accommodations that range from quaint bed-and-breakfasts to luxurious hotels.

Old Line Lore

Capital: Annapolis

Statehood: April 28, 1788 (The Seventh State)

Origin of Name: Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I

Nicknames: “Old Line State” (General Smallwood’s “Maryland Line” stood firm against British troops during the 1776 Battle of Long Island) and “Free State” (Coined during Prohibition by a Baltimore Sun editor who argued against prohibiting the sale of liquor)  

Area: 12,193 miles, ranks 42nd in the nation and includes the Chesapeake Bay, America’s largest estuary (source: Maryland Geological Survey)

Highest Point: Backbone Mountain, 3,360 feet above sea level in the Allegheny Mountains

Time Zone: Eastern, Daylight-Saving Time

Sales Tax: 6% (a 1% to 13% lodging and amusement tax also may be imposed)

Phone Calls: Dial the three-digit area code (240, 301, 410 or 443) plus the seven-digit phone number.

State Symbols

State Flag: Black and gold quarters (the arms of Lord Baltimore’s family, the Calverts) along with red and white quarters (the arms of his mother’s family, the Crosslands)

State Song: “Maryland, My Maryland,” written by teacher James Ryder Randall after a Civil War riot in Baltimore

State Dog: Chesapeake Bay Retriever, a hunting breed with webbed paws and a waterproof coat

State Cat: Calico, with colors resembling the Maryland flag

State Bird: Baltimore Oriole, with black and gold coloring

State Fish: Striped bass, also known as rockfish

State Crustacean: Maryland blue crab

State Boat: Skipjack, the last working boat under sail in North America, used for dredging oysters in the Chesapeake Bay

State Flower: Black-eyed Susan, with black and gold coloring and a blossom of 13 petals

State Tree: White Oak

State Sport: Jousting, which requires horseback riders to spear small, suspended rings State Folk Dance: Square dancing

State Drink: Milk

State Dinosaur: Astrodon johnstoni, “star tooth,” which lived between 95 and 130 million years ago

State Fossil Shell: Ecphora quadricostata, an extinct Chesapeake Bay snail

State Insect: Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly, with orange and white spots on a black base

State Reptile: Diamondback terrapin, also the University of Maryland College Park mascot

Driving Distances to Baltimore
In miles – Toronto ONT (715), Montreal QUE (564), Boston MA (392), Columbus OH (392), Cleveland OH (343), Albany NY (333), Pittsburgh PA (218), New York NY (196), Philadelphia PA (96), Gettysburg PA (75), Washington DC (37), Harpers Ferry WV (80), Richmond VA (143), Williamsburg VA (205), Norfolk VA (243), Raleigh NC (273), Charlotte NC (444)

Travel & Lodging Reservation Services
Want help planning your visit to Maryland? Call toll-free 1-877-333-4455 and speak with a Maryland Travel Specialist.