“MARYLAND’S GREAT CHESAPEAKE BAY LOOP GETAWAY GUIDE” RELEASED

Baltimore, MD (July 24, 2024) — The Maryland Department of Commerce’s Office of Tourism Development has released Maryland’s Great Chesapeake Bay Loop Getaway Guide, a 33-page inspirational travel guide. It includes features on quintessential Bay towns, history and maritime museums, Chesapeake Bay lighthouses and beaches, and Chesapeake Bay seafood among other family-friendly activities.

“Running through the heart of Maryland, the majestic waterways of the Chesapeake Bay bring life to our cities and towns,” said Commerce Secretary Kevin Anderson. “We welcome visitors to discover the many treasures of the Bay and join us in making lasting Chesapeake Bay memories.”

The Great Chesapeake Bay Loop, marketed in partnership with the National Park Service’s Chesapeake Gateways Network, also includes a training program for Chesapeake Bay Storytellers. To date, 39 certified storytellers have graduated from the program, representing 12 Maryland counties and Baltimore City. The Storytellers offer both land- and water-based tours including lighthouse sailing tours, fossil-hunting, charter fishing excursions, and “hook & cook” experiences. 

“Skilled Chesapeake Bay ambassadors – known as Storytellers – share engaging tales of the Bay’s people, places, ecology and heritage,” said Wendy O’Sullivan, Superintendent of the National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways. “Join us in preserving and sharing the Chesapeake’s uniqueness through unforgettable experiences.”

In addition to the printed guide, the Maryland Office of Tourism can help visitors plan multi-night stays along the Great Chesapeake Bay Loop via robust online content found at www.VisitMaryland.org. Information on attractions, lodging, parks and suggested itineraries are available 24 hours per day and are linked to maps of the region.

“Research released in 2023 identified primary reasons why people visit the Chesapeake Bay region,” said Liz Fitzsimmons, Managing Director of the Maryland Office of Tourism. “These ‘travel personas' – such as ‘cultural explorers', ‘outdoor enthusiasts’ and ‘family first’ – helped us to deliver content designed to appeal to specific interests, thus making it more likely that they book a multi-night stay in Maryland.”

Maryland’s Great Chesapeake Bay Loop Getaway Guide may be downloaded, picked up from any of our Maryland Welcome Centers or ordered online or by calling 1-800-719-5900 to be mailed to your home at no cost. The eight centers are conveniently located along major highways throughout each region of the state and offer a wide array of additional printed brochures and guides produced by the state, county and city tourism offices, and local tourism business. Knowledgeable travel counselors are available at each location to provide personalized assistance.

###

About Maryland Department of Commerce Office of Tourism
The Maryland Office of Tourism is an agency within the Maryland Department of Commerce. Visitors to the state spent $19.4 billion on travel-related expenses in 2022. The Maryland tourism industry also generated $2.3 billion in state and local taxes, essentially saving each Maryland household $1,000 in annual taxes, and directly supported Marylanders with 124,000 jobs. For more information, go to www.visitmaryland.org or connect with us on our social media channels | Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube

National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways Network
Established by Congress in 1998, Chesapeake Gateways is a network of places and their partners, providing opportunities to enjoy, learn about and help conserve the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed managed by the National Park Service. Included in the network are assorted natural, cultural, historical and recreational sites, trails, museums, parks, refuges and interpretive and orientation facilities. For more information, go to https://www.nps.gov/chba/planyourvisit/chesapeake-gateways.htm