Sunday, Jan 27, 2008 -
Maryland’s “Bucket List”:
Must See and Do Places in Maryland
BALTIMORE (January 18, 2008) - In the new movie, “The Bucket List,” actors Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson play two characters determined to cross off a list of fantastic things to do before they “kick the bucket”.
Intrigued by the concept, The Maryland Office of Tourism polled travel industry insiders to come up with a “bucket list” specific to venues throughout Maryland. We asked for not-to-be-missed attractions, special events and unique-to-Maryland experiences which have been categorized under a dozen whimsical topics:
We know this list only begins to scratch the surface of the many possibilities for the list, but we hope you’ll find inspiration from the suggestions below, and invite you to identify items for your personal list today!
1)
Light Up Someone’s Life:
• Spend the night in Maryland’s oldest continuously working lighthouse, Cove Point Lighthouse.
www.calvertmarinemuseum.com
• Drive through the Antietam National Battlefield Memorial Illumination in honor of the 23,100 soldiers who fell during the Battle of Antietam.
www.nps.gov/anti
• Jump on board the M/V Sharps Island and climb into the historic Thomas Point Light House; discover eight other light houses on the Chesapeake Bay during the day-long cruise.
www.chesapeakelights.com
• Hike to Turkey Point Lighthouse overlooking a bluff 100' above the waves of the Chesapeake Bay.
www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/central/elkneck.html
• Witness the “rocket’s red glare” at the July Fourth fireworks bursting over Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, the largest Independence Day fireworks display in Maryland.
www.baltimore.org
2)
Fly Like an Eagle (or just watch one):
• Hang glide above Maryland’s Eastern Shore, soaring as high as 10,000 feet.
www.aerosports.net
• View the Chesapeake Bay and the sights of Southern Maryland from an open cockpit, double-winged airplane.
www.biplaneairtours.com
• Go fly a kite at the Annual Kite Festival along the Choptank River
• Pretend to be aviation pioneer Orville Wright at the College Park Airport Museum, located on the site of the world’s oldest continually operating airport.
www.collegeparkaviationmuseum.com
• Spy eagles, ospreys, hawks, plovers, warblers, pelicans, loons, grebes and more at the Delmarva Birding Festival.
www.delmarvalite.org
• Observe the abundant eagle population at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge by car, bike or kayak. Blackwater, established as a bird sanctuary in 1933 along the Atlantic Flyway, is also a great location to view migrating waterfowl in season.
www.friendsofblackwater.org
• Hike to the first Washington Monument at sunset, or at any time, The all-stone monument stands more than 1,500 feet above the Hagerstown Valley's floor and is perfect for observing ospreys, eagles, hawks and other raptor species.
www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/washington.html
• Rent a kayak from the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center and explore the wetlands habitat of the Kent Narrows area before visiting the injured raptors being cared for at the center.
www.cbec-wtna.org
3)
Reflect on Our Blessings:
• Tour the Third Haven Meeting House in Easton, the oldest religious building in continuous use in our nation, and think about the people who came to Maryland in search of religious freedom.
www.thirdhaven.org
• Attend the Blessing of the Combines in Snow Hill, the first Saturday in August and be amazed at the horsepower required to bring bread to your table. 410-632-3838
• Stroll along the peaceful wooded paths at the National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes in Emmittsburg, the oldest known replica of the shrine in France.
www.msmary.edu/grotto
• Wonder at the beauty of Baltimore’s newly restored Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, America’s first cathedral.
www.baltimorebasilica.org
• Board a water taxi to visit St. Clements Island, site of the first landing of settlers to Maryland, and site of the first mass said in America.
http://www.co.saint-marys.md.us/recreate/museums/stclementsisland.asp
or
www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/southern/stclements.html
• Retreat to the Bon Secours Spiritual Center in Marriottsville to sooth your soul.
www.bonsecoursspiritualcenter.org
• Attend a service at the Basilica located at the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmittsburg. St. Seton is the first American-born saint.
www.setonshrine.org
4)
Dig into Maryland’s Past:
• Hunt for fossils on the shores of Calvert Cliffs (purported to contain more than 600 species of fossils) and at Flag Ponds Nature Park, named one of the “Top 10 Beaches for Shells” by Coastal Living and CNN.
www.calvertparks.org
or
www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/southern/calvertcliffs.html
• Take a tour of the last remaining station house of the Chesapeake Beach Railway Company and Amusement Park.
www.cbrm.org
• Buy a bag of fresh-ground corn at the Union Mills Homestead and (operating) Grist Mill
www.unionmills.org
• Two-hundred and twenty years ago, bog ore was discovered along Nassawango Creek near Snow Hill. Today, the lives of the people who ran the iron furnace are interpreted at the Furnace Town Living Heritage Museum.
www.furnacetown.org
• Pull the devil's tail at (the new Print House) or get your hands dirty during the Tidewater Archeology Weekend (the only time the digs are open to the public) at Historic St. Mary's City.
www.stmaryscity.org
• Follow in the footsteps of Harriet Tubman (icon of the Underground Railroad) from her birthplace near Cambridge.
www.tourdorchester.org
• Work alongside archeologists digging for clues to Colonial history at Historic London Town and Gardens in Edgewater.
www.historiclondontown.com
• Stroll through the formal garden at the 50-acre Brookside Gardens in Wheaton.
www.brooksidegardens.org
• Spend May Day (May 1) drinking in the beauty of the May Baskets adorning the doors of homes and businesses throughout Annapolis’s Historic District.
www.annapolis.gov/info.asp?page=8807
5)
Float into the Sunset:
• Take in a waterfront sunrise and sunset, all in one day. Be an early-riser and hit the beach as the sun slowly rises over the Atlantic Ocean; later hit the bayside of this barrier island and catch a spectacular sunset over Ocean City's western horizon.
www.ococean.com
• Drive aboard the Oxford Bellevue Ferry along the picturesque Tred Avon River – the oldest privately owned ferry in the country.
www.oxfordferry.com
• Welcome aboard the Wm. B. Tennison, the only Coast Guard-licensed log-hulled vessel in America.
www.calvertmarinemuseum.com
• Explore the clear waters of 300-acre Piney Run Lake via a pontoon boat ride.
www.carrollcountytourism.org/thingstodo/parks.aspx
• Ahoy, maties! Learn to sail in Annapolis, America’s Sailing Capital.
www.visitannapolis.org/index.asp?action=getonwater_learn
• Hoist a sail aboard an authentic skipjack – one of our nation’s treasures. Experience the power of sail and summon the strength required to pull a dredge basket filled with oysters over the side of the boat.
www.visitmaryland.org/pressroom/evergreenreleases/AnchorsAweighinMaryland.html
• Canoe, kayak or take a pontoon boat out for lovely sunset evenings or spend high-speed afternoons on waterskis or personal watercraft on Deep Creek Lake, the state’s largest man-made lake.
www.visitdeepcreeklake.com
• Party-up at the Governor's Cup Yacht Race finish line at St. Mary's College of Maryland.
www.smcm.edu
• Come sail away on a sunset cruise aboard the Schooner Woodwind, departing out of Annapolis Harbor for the open waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Be sure to schedule during the Wednesday Night Sailing Races.
www.schoonerwoodwind.com
• Retreat to an “Island Out of Time”. Depart Crisfield by ferry and enjoy lunch served family-style on Smith Island, Maryland’s only island accessible only by boat.
www.smithisland.org
6)
Eat to Your Heart’s Content:
• Feast on an award-winning, softball-sized Maryland crab cake from Stoney’s in Solomons.
www.solomonspier.com
• Eat a chili dog smothered with onions at Harry's Grille on Main Street, Westminster.
www.harrysgrille.com
• Choose between Thai, French, Asian, American, Italian, Chinese, Spanish, and more at Bethesda Row’s 21 different restaurants.
www.bethesdarow.com
• Taste muskrat at the National Outdoor Show in Golden Hill or tuck into other Eastern Shore delicacies such as crab cakes, oyster stew or crab soup.
www.nationaloutdoorshow.com/index.html
• Indulge in a large slice of sinfully-sweet Smith Island cake – 10 or more layers of alternating cake and frosting.
www.marylandtraditions.org/smith.htm
• Rub shoulders with locals and legends during breakfast at Jimmy's in Fells Point.
www.fellspoint.us/barseateries.html
• Decide between eating Maryland’s famous blue crabs caked, soft, steamed, deviled, or fluffed at the Maryland Seafood Festival at Sandy Point State Park.
www.mdseafoodfestival.com
• Chicken-neck for blue crabs off of a Chesapeake Bay tributary pier, then steam up your own bushel of crabs for dinner.
www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/recreational/crabhtspts.htm
• Get stuffed at one of nearly a dozen traditional Southern Maryland stuffed ham and fried oyster church dinners held annually in St. Mary's County
http://tour.co.saint-marys.md.us
• Lick your way through over 60 flavors of hand dipped ice cream served fresh from the Kilby Family’s Rising Sun dairy farm, including Udderly Chocolate and Minty Moo.
www.kilbycream.net
• Compete against America’s best shuckers in the National Oyster Shucking Contest at the St. Mary's County Oyster Festival.
www.usoysterfest.com
• Hit the Boardwalk, Ocean City's most popular attraction second only to its beach, for Thrasher’s fries, Dolle’s saltwater taffy and other delicious beach treats.
www.ococean.com
• Eat breakfast at Chick and Ruth’s Deli in Annapolis and don’t forget to rise for the Pledge of Allegiance at 8:30 am weekdays and 9:30 am on weekends.
www.chickandruths.com
• Consume “steak on a stick” or turkey drumsticks in Revel Grove at the Maryland Renaissance Festival.
www.rennfest.com
7)
Gallop into the Winners Circle:
• Be part of the 142nd Calvert County Jousting Tournament at Christ Church in Port Republic August 30th; the oldest tournament of Maryland’s official state sport.
www.christchurchcalvert.org/Jousting_Tournament.htm
• Feed and pet a Clydesdale horse (they are as friendly as a big dog) – take a carriage ride too! Hidden Acres Farm, Denton 410-482-6058
• Adopt a wild horse that you spied while camping at the Assateague Island National Seashore.
www.nps.gov/asis
or
www.assateaguewildhorses.org
• Sip a Black-Eyed Susan at the Preakness Stakes, the Second Jewel in the Triple Crown.
www.preakness.com
• Place a bet for your favorite to win the Fair Hill Races, the only steeple chase race in the USA with pari-mutuel betting.
www.fairhillraces.org
• Watch the ponies round the straightaway at Timonium Racetrack during the Maryland State Fair.
www.bcpl.net/~mdstfair
• Witness the ultimate test of horse and rider at Maryland’s only 3-star equestrian event (dressage, endurance and stadium jumping) at the Fair Hill NRMA.
www.fairhillinternational.com
• Jump at the opportunity to attend the Columbia Classic Grand Prix equestrian event in September.
www.howardcc.edu/donors/specialevents/grandprix/index.html
• Trot on down to Prince George’s County to see live harness racing.
www.rosecroft.com
8)
Drink a Toast to the Good Life:
• Sip a glass (or two) of Maryland-grown wine at the Maryland Wine Festival while tapping your toes to lively entertainment.
www.marylandwine.com/mdwinefest
• Experience winemaking at the St Michaels Winery, the largest winery on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
www.st-michaels-winery.com
• Attend an intimate tasting in an historic 19-th century fieldstone barn at Maryland’s oldest winery, located in Hydes, MD.
www.boordy.com
• Toast the huge ships from around the globe slip through the C&D Canal and beneath the majestic bridge while dining on the waterfront.
www.chesapeakecity.com
• Experience world-class wining and dining at Antrim 1844 and spend the night at the inn named as one of the “1,000 Places in the US and Canada to See Before You Die.”
www.antrim1844.com/index.html
• Indulge yourself with “the botanical art of wellness” at the luxurious Linden Spa (named after the Linden trees found on the fabulous Tidewater estate) at the Inn at Perry Cabin.
www.perrycabin.com
• Greet the morning from the porch of a private log cabin tucked under towering spruce trees while sipping a cold glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice.
www.savageriverlodge.com
• Tip toe among the tulips and extraordinary topiaries at Ladew Gardens. Sip a champagne toast at one of their outdoor summer concerts.
www.ladewgardens.com
.
9)
Take a Walk on the Wild Side:
• Troll for a record rockfish (Maryland’s State Fish) on the Chesapeake Bay with one of our licensed charter captains.
www.marylandcharterboats.com
• Race to the finish line at Budd’s Creek Motocross and Maryland International Raceway
www.buddscreek.com
and
www.mirdrag.com
• Shoot sporting clays on a 24-station course at Schraders Hunting in Bridgetown.
www.schradershunting.com
• Bike across Kent Island to enjoy a beautiful sunset along the Chesapeake Bay at Terrapin Park.
www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/crossisland.html
• Scuba dive through the underwater trail at Rocky Gap’s 243-acre Lake Habeeb.
www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/rockygap.html
• Make like a duck and paddle the shallow bays and marshes around Janes Island.
www.dnr.state.md.us/outdooradventures/watertrail.html
• Search for ice age plants at the Cranesville Subarctic Swamp or trees with knees at the Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary (northernmost naturally occurring strand of bald cypress trees in America).
www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/maryland/preserves/art135.html
and
www.dnr.state.md.us/baylinks/13.html
• Hike the scenic trails of Swallow Falls State Park to see virgin forests and three striking waterfalls including Maryland’s highest, Muddy Creek.
www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/swallowfalls.html
• Shoot the rapids at Adventure Sports Center International Recirculating Whitewater Course, located atop Wisp Mountain.
www.adventuresportscenter.com
• Release your inner Captain Ahab while deep-sea fishing the Atlantic Ocean. Sail out of Ocean City, known as the White Marlin Open Capital of the World.
www.ococean.com/fishing.html
• Schuss down a black diamond trail at Wisp Resort, the state’s only ski resort, slide down Bear Claw Tubing Park or take a wild ride on the Mountain Coaster.
www.wispresort.com
• Make fish faces at the sharks swimming the Coral Reef at the National Aquarium in Baltimore.
www.aqua.org
• Head “downey ocean hon!” for surf, sun and sand. Try a new watersport, surf the waves, ride a boogie board, go parasailing, jet ski or kayak.
www.ococean.com
• Mush your way through more than 800 acres of mountain forests and pastures with Husky Power Dog Sledding Tours in Accident.
www.huskypowerdogsledding.com
10
)
Find a National Treasure in Maryland’s Backyard:
• Take home a sack of flour from the same mill that ground wheat for George Washington’s troops at the Wye Grist Mill.
www.oldwyemill.org
• Follow the escape route used by John Wilkes Booth after he assassinated President Abraham Lincoln and visit the actual buildings he stopped at during his flight. Sites include the Dr. Samuel Mudd House and the Surratt House Tavern.
www.visitmaryland.org/resources/brochures/John_Wilkes_Booth_Guide_2004.pdf
• Introduce yourself to people whose raw courage, talent and determination shaped our nation’s history at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture.
www.africanamericanculture.org
• Tour the homes of the Maryland signers of the Declaration of Independence (Thomas Stone, William Paca, Charles Carroll of Carrolton and Samuel Chase.). www.nps.gov/thst,
www.annapolis.org/index.asp
,
http://charlescarrollhouse.com
, Chase Lloyd House
• View the original manuscript of Francis Scott Key’s “Star-Spangled Banner” at the Maryland Historical Society in Baltimore.
www.mdhs.org
• Walk the ramparts of America’s first homeland defense post, Fort Frederick State Park. The remarkably preserved French and Indian War era stone fort, built in 1756, has served our country during four wars.
www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/fortfrederick.html
• Hold back tears as the curtains slowly open to reveal the flag still flying over Fort McHenry while the US Naval Academy choir signs the National Anthem.
www.nps.gov/fomc
• Walk across the train trestle at Monocacy National Battlefield to the breastworks and wonder at the courage of those first Medal of Honor winners who fought in “The Battle That Saved Washington”.
www.nps.gov/mono
• Watch the noon formation of midshipmen at the US Naval Academy.
www.usna.edu/visit.htm
• Rent a classic car and drive the length of Maryland’s portion of the Historic National Road, the “Road the Built the Nation”.
www.visitmaryland.org/resources/brochures/Historical_National_Road_Map_&_Guide.pdf
11)
Create a Masterpiece (or simply witness another’s talents):
• Attend a stunning performance of music or dance in the new state-of-the-art 2,000 seat Music Center at Strathmore.
www.strathmore.org
• Sign up for an art or craft class at the Dorchester Arts Center and create your very own model boat, woven basket or landscape oil painting.
www.dorchesterartscenter.org
• Listen to the Maryland Symphony Orchestra's Salute to Independence at Antietam National Battlefield. This annual concert and fireworks features the thundering cannons of the Maryland National Guard, and is known as "Maryland's Most Patriotic Event”.
www.nps.gov/anti
• Get a factory tour at Paul Reed Smith Guitars and see how high quality specialty guitars are manufactured in their state of the art facility in Stevensville.
www.prsguitars.com
• Catch the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra on the road at the Todd Performing Arts Center at Chesapeake College.
www.chesapeake.edu/generalinfo/Pac/default.asp
or
www.bsomusic.org
• Take home a warm and cozy handmade quilt from the Quilt Auction in Mechanicsville or the Tri-State Relief Sale in McHenry. www.summerseat.org or
www.tristatesale.org
• Virtually walk through the art-filled apartments of Claribel and Etta Cone, Baltimore-born sisters who amassed an incredible collection of works by Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso.
http://artbma.org/collection/overview/cone.html
• Find the perfect duck print or heron sculpture for your home at Easton’s Waterfowl Festival.
www.waterfowlfestival.org
• Bask in the rarified atmosphere of 15-days of indoor and outdoor concerts, dance recitals, and fine arts exhibits (a combination of ticketed and free events) at the Columbia Festival of the Arts.
www.columbiafestival.org
• From Old Masters to Early American, browse the permanent collection of nearly 7,000 pieces of art, sculpture and decorative items at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts located at the beautiful Hagerstown City Park.
www.washcomuseum.org
• Explode your idea of “art” as a stuffy medium. View intricate pieces made by self-taught artists at the American Visionary Arts Museum.
www.avam.org
• Carve and paint a whimbrel or a flicker at the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art in Salisbury or purchase a special decoy at the Decoy & Wildlife Art Festival hosted by the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum. www.wardmuseum.org and
www.decoymuseum.com
12)
Nurture Your Inner Child:
• Bike a dirt road in Caroline County (we have a hundred miles, so take your pick!)
www.tourcaroline.com
• Steam your way around the horseshoe curve aboard the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad from Cumberland to Frostburg.
www.wmsr.com
• Go eye to eye with the river otters, Bubbles and Squeak, at the Calvert Marine Museum
www.calvertmarinemuseum.com
• Munch on funnel cakes while watching the demolition derby at the Montgomery County Fair.
www.mcagfair.com
• Bundle up for the Christmas lighted boat parade and unbundle in the spring at the Annual Burning of the Socks in Annapolis/Eastport.
www.eastportyc.org
• Skip pebbles across an aqueduct or ride a mule-drawn barge as you bike the 184.5 mile length of the C&O Canal.
www.nps.gov/choh
• Be free as a seagull: free beach concerts, free Sundaes in the Park, free bonfires on the beach, free concerts at Sunset Park, and free programs at the OC Life-Saving Station Museum.
www.ococean.com
