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If you’re new to birding or to exploring Maryland’s wildlife watching hotspots, our birding community welcomes you to join us and make new friends. Many of our local bird clubs, nature centers and conservation partners lead regular bird hikes all across the state, and most are no or low cost. Check out the event calendars of the Maryland Ornithological Society bird clubs, Nature Forward, and the Maryland chapters and centers of the National Audubon Society[...]

Beach Break at the Eastern Shore If you’re not going to let summer slip into fall without kicking and screaming, then you need to beeline to the beach communities. Since it’s about to be sweater weather, go ahead and indulge in the crab-filled delights and oysters that define the region at an authentic Maryland crab house—paired with a crisp local brew, of course. Be sure to dig your toes in the sand, stroll the iconic[...]

Maryland Crab Soup Bold and spicy with a heady scent that fills a room with the flavor of the Chesapeake, Maryland Crab Soup accompanies our best-known seafood star with the bounty of Maryland’s farms. As far as which is the best soup in the world, Maryland Crab or Cream of Crab, the obvious answer is both! Total time: 1 hour and 20 minutes Serves: 6 Ingredients: ☐ 3 large carrots, peeled and chopped ☐ 1[...]

Chicken Maryland Escoffier’s Chicken Maryland is a breaded, pan-fried chicken garnished with bananas. According to Francis Beirne’s 1951 classic “The Amiable Baltimoreans,” bananas were one of the Port of Baltimore’s 10 leading imports, and they made their way into all sorts of dishes. Total time: One Hour Serves: 4 Chicken ☐ 1 chicken, quartered ☐ 1 cup flour ☐ 1 egg ☐ 2 tablespoons water ☐ 1 cup breadcrumbs ☐ ½ tablespoon celery seed ☐[...]

Catch a Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Game at Regency Furniture Stadium Settling sweetly into the Southern Maryland countryside, Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf borrows design cues from the historic tobacco barns that dot the nearby countryside; and the hand-operated scoreboard gives this new park serious old-time charm. The picnic pavilion makes for great family outings. And with the team founded in part by The Human Vacuum Cleaner himself, Brooks Robinson, you can stroll “Brooksy’s Boardwalk”[...]

Maryland Fried Oysters You used to have to wait for months with an “R” in them to enjoy this Chesapeake staple, but with more and more Maryland oyster farmers working the bay, this is a dish best served year round! Total time: 20 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: ☐ 1 pint shucked Maryland oysters ☐ 1 cup unbleached white flour ☐ 2 tbsp corn starch ☐ 1 tbsp Old Bay Seasoning or J.O. Crab Seasoning ☐[...]

Learn of Maryland's history, nature, culture and more while enjoying one of these biking trips. Imagine riding through a picturesque town on main streets lined with shops, or pedaling on a trail beneath a canopy of towering maple and oak trees. No matter your interest or skill level, Maryland has a bike route for you. Bike Tours for History Buffs Head to Washington County for a hilly 21-mile ride on the Antietam Battlefield tour. Begin[...]

Blue Crab: The Beautiful Swimmer Easily the icon most often associated with Maryland, the blue crab, whose scientific name Callinectes Sapidus means “savory beautiful swimmer,” is both a staple for locals and a symbol for the rest of the nation. From its most basic preparation to its most refined—using only the choicest jumbo lump meat for crab cakes—blue crab is prized for its delicate, moist texture and sweet flavor. In Maryland, crabs are seasoned and[...]