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Overview
In a state with so much coastline, it is inevitable that
Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean will be central to a visit to
Maryland. A large part of the state's appeal is related to the sea,
with fishing boats and 'watermen' who pull fresh seafood from
Chesapeake Bay, historic waterfront towns and vibrant harbours,
pleasure sailing, bustling ports and important shipyards, beaches
and speciality crab cakes.
The maritime heritage of the Chesapeake Bay region is evident in
the major attractions of Baltimore's Inner Harbor, the sailing
capital of Annapolis and the sleepy boating communities on the
Eastern Shore, with old towns like St Michaels and Crisfield
preserving traditions from hundreds of years ago. The sprawling
resort of Ocean City on the Atlantic Coast sees the most action,
especially during summer when the miles of white beaches and the
action-packed boardwalk are crowded with vacationers from around
the state.
The inland regions have their own kind of charm with lakes,
waterfalls, mountains and valleys, rivers and savage rapids that
are a delight for kayakers and white-water rafters. Western
Maryland has endless opportunities for the outdoor enthusiast as
well as beautiful scenery, from hiking and fishing, to skiing in
winter.
As a result of Maryland's role in the history of the US,
visitors can retrace the colonial past and movements of the
Revolution and resistance to British rule, the War of 1812 and the
Civil War. The country's national anthem was penned after the
unsuccessful attack on the key shipbuilding centre of Baltimore, as
a desperate last effort by the British to keep America from
Independence, which left the city intact and the flag flying that
inspired the words for the 'Star-Spangled Banner'. The fields
stretching out towards the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains
were the site of the Civil War's bloodiest battle at Antietam, and
the mixture of both Northerners and Southerners in Baltimore,
straddling the line separating the North and South, was the cause
for divided loyalties and violent friction.
