March in Maryland 2010

Revive your spirit. Spring is just around the corner. It's a time for renewal of mind, body, spirit and friendship – the ideal time for girls' getaways. In Maryland, select the kind of getaway you want and match it to the type of destination you prefer: skiing at a mountain resort; browsing through art galleries and antiques shops along water’s edge; relaxing at a luxurious spa near a cozy inn; or horseback riding through historic countryside. Getting away from it all doesn’t mean you have to travel hours and hours. Maryland is great for girls who just want to have fun.
Large top image courtesy of Rocky Gap Lodge & Golf Resort

Girls Getaway – On the slopes, at a B&B
New adventures are in your future. Head to Wisp Resort in Western Maryland for Ladies' Snowboard Camp, March 2-4. Daily snowboard classes and time on the slopes are part of a special package offered by this four-season resort in the mountains. In Baltimore County, Gramercy Mansion Bed and Breakfast presents Whisks, Wine and Women, March 18. Plan a "Ladies' Night Inn" (at a discount) when you join several culinary classes. Spa packages available at both destinations.

Culinary Corner – More Restaurant Weeks
Expand your dining horizons. Restaurant Weeks across Maryland feature prix-fixe meals. Enjoy culinary innovation at special prices in: Annapolis, Feb. 15-21; National Harbor (Prince George’s County), Feb. 15-28; Frederick, March 8-14; and Talbot County, March 21-28. This is the first year that Frederick and Talbot County – two destinations known for their selection of eateries – have had a Restaurant Week.

Family Fun – Walk through wildlife habitats
Get an up-close look at Maryland’s wild side. On March 13: 10th annual Eagle Festival at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge near Cambridge on the Eastern Shore and the Refuge System Birthday Celebration at Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel. Known as “Everglades of the North,” Blackwater has one of the nation’s largest populations of breeding bald eagles.

Day of the Irish – Everyone loves a parade
Get a jump on St. Patrick’s Day celebrations by going to a holiday parade on March 13. Two parades take place: in Gaithersburg and Chesapeake City. The Harp & Shamrock Society stages the 10th annual Gaithersburg Parade, starting at 10 a.m. It has bagpipers, Celtic dancers, marching bands and equestrian units. Chesapeake City’s parade, which includes antique cars, starts at noon. The town is where a canal – finished in 1829 – was built to connect the upper Chesapeake Bay with the Delaware River.

Arts & Crafts – Back in bloom
As the weather turns, art shows spring up. In Hagerstown, the Spring Thyme at Sycamore Heights Farmhouse Craft Show – handmade crafts and folk art -- returns on two weekends, March 20-21, 26-28. Also March 20-21: Calvert Artists’ Guild Spring Art Show and Sale at Annmarie Garden in Solomons. Annmarie is a 30-acre sculpture park and art center in a Southern Maryland waterfront town. More handmade items, folk art will be at the Country Crafts Guild Spring Arts & Crafts Show, March 27, in Rock Hall – a Chesapeake Bay town known for marinas and fishing.

Maryland Day – Where it all started
Visit the St. Clement’s Island Museum in St. Mary’s County for a Maryland Day program, March 25. That’s where the Ark and the Dove – two English ships – landed in 1634 with between 99 and 140 adventurers who established the colony of Maryland. Historic St. Mary’s City, the first settlement, hosts a day of festive activities on Sunday, March 28.

FREE Funkadelic Getaway!
Win two VIP tickets to George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic at Rams Head Live! Plus - stay at the Holiday Inn Express and recieve a $100 gift certificate for dinner at the Hard Rock Café. All within walking distance of Rams Head Live!

Martin O'Malley, Governor Anthony G. Brown, Lt. Governor