Cecil County wraps around the upper end of the Chesapeake Bay. The county is known for its horse farms, historic churches and taverns, as well as an extensive network of waterways. Cecil County wraps around the upper end of the Chesapeake Bay. The county is known for its horse farms, historic churches and taverns, as well as an extensive network of waterways. Named for Cecil Calvert, second Lord Baltimore and founder of Maryland, Cecil County was founded in 1674. The county was an important passageway for travelers, like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, who stopped at Perryville’s Rodgers Tavern on their way to and from Philadelphia.

Later, travelers passing through the C&O Canal, which connected the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware River, rested along the way in Chesapeake City. The C&O Canal Museum is in Chesapeake City, in an old pump house where a huge water wheel maintained the water level in the canal locks. When there, take a walk through the town’s Victorian historic district, enjoy dining at the water’s edge and watch ships as they pass through the canal.

The Fair Hill Nature and Environment Center offers environmental education programs for all ages. It’s based in a former hunting lodge that belonged to Fair Hill founder William du Pont Jr. The Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area has 5,600 acres of scenic wilderness and 80 miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. A variety of equestrian events take place here, including the Fair Hill Races – the only steeplechase races in the nation with pari-mutuel wagering.

Elk Neck State Park is 2,200 acres of waterfront forest with 10 miles of trails, a sandy beach, boat ramps, cabins and camp sites. At Turkey Point Lighthouse, one of the region’s oldest, you’ll get a panoramic view of the Chesapeake Bay. In North East, the Upper Bay Museum has one of the largest collections of hunting and fishing memorabilia in the area.

Stop by the visitor center at the Conowingo Hydroelectric Plant -- one of the nation's largest hydroelectric generating stations. A fish lift at Conowingo Dam, installed in 1991, helps American shad swim up the Susquehanna River for spawning.

Visit Cecil County's web site.