Things to See and Do in Southern Maryland

Way back in 1633, colonists set sail on the Ark and Dove from the Isle of Wight before landing at Old Point Comfort and establishing the colony that would later become Maryland’s first capital. Learn all about the early days in Historic St. Mary’s City and the Historic Village of Port Tobacco, formerly the state’s second-largest seaport. 

A significant stop along the trail of fugitive assassin John Wilkes Booth, the Dr. Samuel Mudd House & Museum in Waldorf is dedicated to the time and events surrounding President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Surratt House Museum in Clinton was once the home of Booth’s notorious accomplice, Mary Surratt.

The Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons explains and interprets the physical history of Southern Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay with a hands-on, interactive experience and popular river otter exhibit. The museum’s annual Sharkfest takes place on the second Saturday in July, and riverboat cruises depart daily from the museum’s own dock.

Travel this trail to tour the vineyards of Southern Maryland. The wineries along the Patuxent Trail offer beautiful water vistas and—thanks to a climate and soil composition often compared to the Tuscany region—truly spectacular wines. 

As a member of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs play 70 home games from late April to September at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf. Dozens of Major League alumni once honed their skills here with the Atlantic League.

A Tidewater plantation, historic Sotterley Plantation dates back to 1699 and is a testament to the region’s Colonial history. The former tobacco plantation is now a 95-acre National Historic Landmark dedicated to research, preservation and an interpretation of early American plantation life.

Come spend a day where the Potomac meets the Bay. Home to one of the Union’s most infamous prisoner-of-war camps, Point Lookout has been called the most haunted place in America. The park is also home to the beautiful Point Lookout Lighthouse and great fishing!

Secluded shores and stunning sunsets over the Patuxent River call from Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum. Public archeological digs at this 17th-century tobacco farm as well as a Native American village museum with reconstructed dwellings blend a mix of history that stretches from the indigenous people all the way to colonial, early American and 20th-century life.

Thrill at the sights and sounds of the world’s fastest sport at the Maryland International Raceway. You’ll want to bring your earplugs for the various motor sports drag racing events held on the tracks of Mechanicsville from March to November.

Stop in at the St. Clement’s Island Museum (located on the mainland) and learn about the history of the early colonists through to the watermen of today, then board the ferry to explore the 40-acre island where Maryland’s first European settlers landed. The Blessing of the Fleet in October is a great time to visit.

Learn ongoing naval aviation history and how the U.S. Navy established its flight test center at Patuxent River Naval Air Station Museum in Lexington Park. Artifacts, photographs, film and memorabilia tell the story. View two dozen naval aircraft on display and test an F-14 Tomcat flight simulator.

Combining art and nature, the Smithsonian affiliate Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center features 30 acres of forests, fields and meadows and paved walking and bike paths adorned with a vast collection of outdoor sculpture as well as gallery Look Out exhibits. 

Take a Southern Maryland lighthouse crawl from Cove Point and Drum Point to Piney Point and Point Lookout, which is reputedly haunted. Cove Point offers overnight accommodations, and the iconic lighthouse at Drum Point is located on the site of the Calvert Marine Museum and remains one of three surviving screw-pile lighthouses on the Chesapeake Bay.  

For those seeking solitude in a natural setting, Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary offers short trails on the boardwalks through swamps and meadows. See an albino snapping turtle, a redtailed hawk, barred owl and butterflies floating about this tranquil sanctuary.

The Rod N' Reel Resort is Chesapeake Beach’s premier luxury property offering 72 nautically appointed rooms with balconies overlooking the bay. Recent renovations include a second-story addition to the Rod ‘N’ Reel restaurant, two floors of suites, retail shopping and an arcade as well as a boardwalk promenade, additional dining options, a rooftop pool and bar and expanded gaming areas.

The Guest Quarters at the Westlawn Inn is a five-unit 1930s boutique-style hotel. This family-owned and operated hotel features two self-contained, condo-style apartments available for short or long-term stays as well as a whole list of amenities, from casually upscale dining to live entertainment.

Leonardtown, Southern Maryland’s premier Arts & Entertainment District, is home to the St. Mary’s Arts Council, dozens of galleries and studios, distinct artsy and craftsy retail shopping and dining. By the banks of the Potomac River, Newtowne Neck State Park presents a paddleboarder’s paradise on Breton Bay and ample opportunities for hiking, biking, bird-watching and hunting. Leonardtown’s Wharf Park provides the perfect vista for taking in the region’s signature sunsets on the Bay. 

Where the mouth of the Patuxent River meets the Chesapeake Bay, Solomons Island has evolved from early 17th century settlements into one of the state’s top tourism destinations—the town’s maritime history has been woven into the fabric of its allure. Climb the lighthouse tower at the Calvert Marine Museum, take a cruise on the harbor or charter a fishing boat. The craft beer craze has also found its way to the Island at the Ruddy Duck microbrewery located in the neighboring Dowell Township.

Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary holds 100 or more remnants of 100 World War I-era wooden steamships – known as the “Ghost Fleet."   And there are many dozens more vessels from other time periods as well.  Visiting the Fleet from Mallows Bay Park promises a unique experience. 

Walk along the shore or park trail, and enjoy birds and other wildlife. Go fishing (with a license). Or paddle over to see the Fleet and its newest inhabitants up close.  Ships can be approached at low tide, so check the website for conditions or visit with an experienced tour guide. 

Osprey, bald eagles and herons, are among the animals that have turned the ghostly vessels into unique habitats.   Park amenities include: boat ramp, soft launch, parking, walking trail and interpretive signs.

The Museum features historical artifacts.   Exhibits rotate regularly.  The museum is approximately 8 miles south of La Plata and 5 miles north of the Maryland Visitors Center. This site overlooks one of the most scenic natural views in the county, Allens Fresh.  Free admission (donations appreciated).   Free parking.

Settled in 1634, Port Tobacco was once Maryland's second largest seaport.  But it  has an even longer history that includes the Native American inhabitants of Potopaco.  Missionaries, colonists, revolutionaries, assassins, spies, slaves, merchants, farmers, an arsonist and Native Americans shaped Port Tobacco. 

Historic Port Tobacco Village is also home to one of Maryland's oldest ghost stories, "The Legend of the Blue Dog." 

Explore on your own, or tour with an expert.  Visit the Port Tobacco Courthouse, Stagg Hall, and Burch House and enjoy views of lovely Port Tobacco River.

It is a brisk walk from the parking area at Smallwood State Park and over the wooden bridge to the Mattawoman Creek Art Center.  Exhibits and programs are ongoing and celebrate Southern Maryland's fine art.