Maryland and DC Day Trips

focusing on history and nature

[karenbelton]

The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden is located in Washington, DC, on the National Mall between the National Gallery’s West Building and the National Museum of Natural History. This 6.1-acre contemporary sculpture garden includes works from the Gallery’s growing collection as well as loans for special exhibitions. In addition to the sculptures, visitors will find native American canopy trees, flowering trees, shrubs, ground covers, and perennials. A fountain, which becomes an ice rink in the winter, is at the center of the garden. The garden also includes outdoor seating and walking paths for viewing the sculptures, and the entire garden is enclosed by a decorative metal fence with marble piers and plinths. For those looking for refreshment, the Pavilion Café  with indoor seating is open year-round. This lovely garden is a gift to the nation from The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation.

[karenbelton]

Oregon Ridge Park is located in Cockeysville, Maryland, in Baltimore County. This 1,043-acre park offers hiking trails, a nature center, picnic area and pavilions, and a playground. The park also hosts concerts throughout the summer, and its popular Fourth of July celebration features the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. The park was built on the site of abandoned iron ore and marble quarries dating from the 1800s, and one of the quarries, filled with water, is now a lake. During the area’s mining days, an iron smelting furnace was built along the Oregon Branch stream, and an industrial village housing 250 people was built as well. The labor force was mostly Irish immigrants and emancipated slaves. Today, visitors can take a walking history tour that includes a reconstructed 1850s tenant house, and students can participate in an archaeology program to recover evidence from these earlier industrial times.

[karenbelton]

Smith Island is located in the Chesapeake Bay and is part of Somerset County, Maryland. It is Maryland’s only offshore inhabited island, home to about 200 people, and has been continuously occupied since 1686 by the Tyler and Evans families, who came from southwest England and Wales. Although newcomers have come to the island over the years, the distinct dialect of the early European settlers has been carried down through many generations. The first settlers were farmers, but after the Civil War, locals found better profits from selling the bountiful seafood that their location provided. Seasonal occupation by Native Americans goes back more than 12,000 years. Visitors to Smith Island must catch a ferry from Crisfield, which takes about 45 minutes to travel 12 miles across the Tangier Sound. Today, the island is populated mostly by watermen, who make their living crabbing and oystering. The famous Smith Island Cake is also baked on the island by a few locals, who are happy to sell their creations to visitors, although most of this commercial operation has moved to the mainland. There is also a school on the island for grades K-7, which has 9 students and a teacher who has taught there for 30 years. Older kids take a school boat to Crisfield. This is an authentic watermen’s community, and the locals warmly welcome tourists and share their way of life. Bikes and golf carts are available for rent, and you will spot many birds and other wildlife as you tour the island.

[karenbelton]

The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center is located in Church Creek, Maryland, in Dorchester County. It is part of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and serves as a gateway to the larger Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Scenic Byway. Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in 1822 and escaped to freedom in the North in 1849. Missing her loved ones, she returned 13 times to Maryland’s Eastern Shore to help about 70 family members and others escape to freedom, including her elderly parents. On her third return, she went after her husband, only to find that he had taken another wife, but this did not deter her. During a 10-year period, she escorted over 300 slaves to freedom and never lost a single passenger. Then, during the Civil War, she worked for the Union as a cook, a nurse, and a spy. After the war she settled in Auburn, New York, where she spent the rest of her long life. She died in 1913. The visitor center offers exhibits and a film about Tubman’s life and how she was able to lead so many to freedom. Outside, visitors will find a memorial garden, walking paths, and pavilion. The National Park Service and Maryland Park Service opened the visitor center on March 10, 2017, to commemorate and tell the story of this courageous and inspiring woman. Under the Obama administration, her portrait was chosen to appear on the redesigned $20 bill. However, that decision is now on hold by the current administration.

[karenbelton]

The American Visionary Art Museum is located in Baltimore, Maryland, in the Federal Hill neighborhood. Open since 1995, it is the official national museum for self-taught, intuitive artistry and is housed in three historic buildings. Numerous works are also displayed among the grounds. Visionary artists often grab everyday objects to make their art and may spend decades creating just one work. They may not even think of what they do as “art.” Showing in the main building until September 2017 is Yummm! The History, Fantasy, and Future of Food, in which 34 visionary artists have collaborated with food scientists, farmers, humorists, and others to explore humankind’s complex relationship with food. The exhibition features a variety of food-centric creations, and several are made from edibles. Highlights include heads carved from coconuts, a floor-to-ceiling wall mosaic of preserved breads and burned toast etched by kid artists, a 10-ft motorized food mandala made of paper plates, and seed paintings of Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Ray Charles. On the third floor, visitors can enjoy a meal at Encantada, which features local Chesapeake cooking and supports regional farms. After visiting the museum, be sure to climb to the top of Federal Hill right behind the museum for amazing views of the Inner Harbor and beyond.

[karenbelton]

Chapman State Park is located in Indian Head, Maryland, in western Charles County. This 2200-acre natural area includes several hiking trails, two miles of Potomac River shoreline, streams, wetlands, and sunny meadows. Native species include three dozen species of oak, a rare snail, native cacti, and bald eagles. Stretching from the Potomac River to Mattawoman Creek, the area was inhabited by Native Americans for several thousand years until the European settlers arrived. In 1750, the land was acquired by Nathaniel Chapman, a friend and business associate of both George Mason and Augustine Washington, father of George Washington. During the next two centuries, the land supported a tidewater plantation, a shad and herring fishery, a ferry boat business, a post-Civil War farm, and a Hungarian horse farm, before becoming a state park in 1998. Visitors can admire the grand view from the Mount Aventine mansion, the historic home of the Chapman family, which overlooks the Potomac River and the Virginia shoreline. Built in 1840 after a fire damaged the original house near the river, this grand residence was home to the Chapman’s until 1914. Today, it is open every Sunday between April and September for history presentations and children’s activities. Visitors can also view the barns, stables, and riding area installed by Countess Margit Bessenyey, who was an avid equestrian and owner from 1954 to 1984. She was the late wife of the Hungarian ambassador to the United States and used the property as a stud farm for Hungarian thoroughbred horses. Birding and fishing are other popular activities at the park, and hunting is allowed in designated areas.

[karenbelton]

The Maryland side of Great Falls is part of the C&O Canal National Historic Park and is located in Potomac, Maryland, in Montgomery County. Geologists believe the falls were formed during the last Ice Age, when the sea level dropped, forcing the Potomac River to cut its valley. The falls drop 76 feet over a series of major cascades and are a popular destination for expert kayakers. In addition, the Billy Goat Trail along the river can be an adventure for hikers looking for a challenge. For the less adventurous, the area offers hiking, biking, and jogging along the C&O Canal Towpath, as well as bird watching and picnicking. The Great Falls Tavern Visitors Center, which dates to 1831, offers self-guided maps and other information, as well as historical exhibits and interpretive programs. In addition, mule-drawn canal boat rides that demonstrate the lift locks are offered from April through October. Most importantly, don’t miss the two overlooks near the Visitors Center. To the north, the Washington Aqueduct Observation Deck offers a view of the upper falls, and to the south, the Olmsted Island bridges offer several scenic views of the Great Falls. IMPORTANT NOTE: The Olmsted Island bridges and overlook are temporarily closed for repairs to improve visitor safety. The closure is expected to last until late June 2017. Call the Visitor Center for up-to-date info:  301-767-3714.

[karenbelton]

The Union Mills Homestead is located in Carroll County, Maryland, about 17 miles south of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It served as the Shriver family homestead for six generations and is now a museum of American culture, operated by the Union Mills Homestead Foundation. The museum complex includes the main house built in 1797, an award-winning grist mill, Bollman-design bridge, barn, and blacksmith shop. In the home, everything is much the same as when the Shriver family lived there. The large brick mill, also built in 1797, includes a wooden waterwheel, gears, and frame that have been painstakingly recreated. Today, visitors can watch as whole wheat, buckwheat, and cornmeal are ground in the mill, and the products are available for purchase as well. The homestead is also part of Civil War history, having hosted both Union and Confederate forces on their way to face each other at the Battle of Gettysburg. The museums are open from May to September, and the homestead also hosts several community festivals during the year. The Corn Roast in August and the Maryland Microbrewery Festival in September are the most popular. The homestead can also be rented for weddings and other special events.

[karenbelton]

Cedarville State Forest is located in Brandywine, Maryland, in Prince George’s County. This 3510-acre property is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. The region includes 19.5 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails, in addition to areas set aside for picnicking, camping, fishing, and hunting. A four-acre pond is stocked with bluegill, catfish, sunfish, and bass and is open for bank fishing. The headwaters of the Zekiah Swamp are also located in the area. The swamp is famous for serving as a hiding place and escape route for John Wilkes Booth after he assassinated President Lincoln. The swamp extends southward through Charles County for 20 miles and is a habitat for an abundance of wildlife. In pre-Colonial times, the Piscataway Indians used the area as their winter camping ground because of the mild climate and ample game. Later, the area became farmland, and the springs and streams were used to make moonshine. The region was established as a state forest in 1930, when the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Forest, Park and Wildlife Service purchased the land for a forest demonstration area. The Civilian Conservation Corps planted loblolly pines and also developed roads and trails for fire protection and access to the area. Today, visitors can view these lovely pine trees as they travel along the trails and can also look for an Indian burial ground that legend says exists but has not yet been found.

[karenbelton]

Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park is located in Sandy Spring, Maryland, in Montgomery County. The park’s grounds feature a Federal-era manor house, a unique stone barn, five original outbuildings, and several champion trees, including an Osage Orange with an 11-foot trunk circumference. The manor house was constructed in the early 1800s, and in 1832, master stonemason Isaac Holland built an exceptional three-story stone bank barn on the property. The large bank barn (“bank” means it was built into a hillside) is unique in Montgomery County and was the Cadillac of barns at the time. Today, the stone barn, which was recently restored, displays exhibits that recount the manor’s past as a bustling farm and also examine the area’s ties to the Underground Railroad. Many Quakers had settled in Sandy Spring prior to the Civil War and were instrumental in helping slaves escape to freedom through the Underground Railroad. To learn about this aspect of the area’s history, visitors can hike along the two-mile Underground Railroad Experience Trail to discover how escaping slaves used bramble patches, hollow trees, and other natural features to guide them to freedom. Guided hikes of the trail are offered April through November, and self-guided hikes can be taken year-round. The barn exhibits are open April through November, Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

[karenbelton]

The Belair Stable Museum is located in Bowie, Maryland, in Prince George’s County, near the Belair Mansion. Built in 1907 by William Woodward, the stable was one of the country’s premier stables from the 1920s through the 1950s. Notably, it was home to Gallant Fox (1930) and Omaha (1935) – the only father/son horses to be Triple Crown champions. Other Belair champions include Johnstown, Fighting Fox, and Vagrancy. The Thoroughbred history of Belair began in the late 1740s, when Governor Samuel Ogle and his brother-in-law, Colonel Benjamin Tasker, imported a number of Thoroughbred horses, including the incredible Selima, to Belair, seeking to introduce English stock to the colonies in hopes of strengthening the local racing stock. They succeeded, and Selima still lives in the bloodlines of many of today’s famous racehorses. Today, visitors to the museum can learn of the accomplishments of Belair’s bloodstock over a 200-year racing legacy and can view a short video. The grounds also include a restored 1923 stable master’s living quarters.

[karenbelton]

Belair Mansion is located in Bowie, Maryland, in Prince George’s County. The mansion was built around 1745 for Provincial Governor Samuel Ogle and his wife, Anne Tasker Ogle, and later became the home of William Woodward, noted American horseman of the 20th century. Under Woodward’s ownership, the estate significantly influenced the development of thoroughbred horse racing in the United States and raised two Triple Crown champions. In 1957, the Levitt Company bought 2,000 acres of the Belair Estate, including the mansion, and built almost 9,000 houses during the 1960s and 1970s. Two rows of giant tulip poplars, planted two centuries earlier, became part of the development. In 1964, Levitt donated the mansion to the City of Bowie, and today the city operates both the mansion and nearby stables as museums. The mansion interprets the lives of residents from 1747 to 1950 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The impressive museum collection includes paintings of “The Seasons,” given to Governor Ogle by Maryland’s Proprietor, Lord Baltimore, and a table made by Annapolis craftsman John Shaw, who furnished much of the Maryland State House when it was built. Outdoors, visitors may notice the remains of an outdoor bowling alley just over the current property line, and in the far corner of the property is the Ogle family cemetery.

[karenbelton]

National Colonial Farm is located in Accokeek, Maryland, in Prince George’s County. This living heritage farm, located within Piscataway Park and operated by the Accokeek Foundation, depicts the life of a tobacco planter’s family in the 1770s. The grounds include a reconstructed tobacco barn and farmhouse, outdoor kitchen and garden, and smokehouse. Visitors will be interested to observe the heritage breed animals on the farm, which no longer meet the needs of modern agriculture but are being preserved for genetic diversity. The breeds include Hog Island sheep, Milking Devon cattle, Ossabaw hogs, and many varieties of chicken and turkey. The garden highlights centuries-old growing techniques used in the area by Native Americans, African Americans, and early European settlers. Orinoco tobacco, Virginia Gourdseed corn, and Red May wheat are grown seasonally and produce heirloom seed stock. On certain days, costumed interpreters demonstrate Colonial-era sewing, cooking, spinning, candlemaking, and other crafts. Visitors can also walk to the nearby eight-acre ecosystem farm, which is certified organic and solar powered. Also, be sure to walk along the river and enjoy the nice view of Mt. Vernon directly across from the park.

[karenbelton]

Piscataway Park is located in Accokeek, Maryland, in Prince George’s County. The park stretches for six miles along the Potomac River from Piscataway Creek to Marshall Hall and lies directly across the river from Mt. Vernon. This 5000-acre national park is cared for by the Accokeek Foundation in partnership with the National Park Service. The Accokeek Foundation was established in 1957 to preserve the shoreline and maintain the historic view from George Washington’s estate. Before the European settlers arrived, the Piscataway people inhabited this area for thousands of years, and names such as “Potomac” and “Accokeek” come from them. The main area of the park includes the National Colonial Farm with its heritage breed livestock, the certified organic Ecosystem Farm, nature trails, gardens, fishing pier, and kayak launching sites. The other area of the park, known as Marshall Hall Park, includes a concrete ramp for boat launching and the ruins of the colonial home of the Marshall family, which burned in 1981. Marshall Hall was also home to a popular amusement park from 1966 to 1980, which was torn down in keeping with the efforts to preserve the shoreline and view. Within the park boundary, much of the land is privately owned, but most of the back roads are public roads ideal for scenic drives or bike riding. The area is also ideal for bird watching, as it includes a large marshy area with a boardwalk, and bald eagles can often be spotted.

[karenbelton]

Kinder Farm Park is located in Millersville, Maryland, in Anne Arundel County. This 288-acre park offers a variety of activities, including hiking, biking, bird watching, fishing, and picnicking.  In addition, the park has two large outdoor pavilions available for rental and a large playground. The park is named for the German-born Kinder family, who acquired the land beginning in 1898 and developed it into a large-scale agricultural operation. During the 1950s and 1960s, parts of the farm were sold for school and residential development, and in 1979, the Kinder brothers sold 288 acres to Anne Arundel County to preserve open space and farm history. The park now showcases the agricultural heritage of Anne Arundel County and includes farm animals cared for by the Kinder Farm Park 4-H Livestock Club. The Visitor Center displays a tobacco press and other farming artifacts from the 1930s, and the Tobacco Barn Museum offers additional exhibits. Both are open daily, except Tuesdays, when the park is closed. In addition, the family farmhouse has been restored to how it looked in 1925 when it was built, and it is open to the public on the second Saturday of each month. The park also offers a 2.8-mile paved perimeter trail, several miles of natural trails, and a disc golf course. Free parking is available at the adjacent sports field complex.

[karenbelton]

Elk Neck State Park is located on a peninsula south of North East, Maryland, in Cecil County. Bounded by the Chesapeake Bay on the west and the Elk River on the east, this 2200-acre park includes marshlands, heavily wooded areas, white clay cliffs, and beaches. Since opening to the public in the early 1940s, the park has provided camping, swimming, fishing, boating, and hiking for visitors of all ages. In addition, the park features five hunting areas. The most scenic part of the park is the Turkey Point Lighthouse, located at the southern tip of the peninsula, with its sweeping views of the Chesapeake Bay and raptor viewing field. The only downside is that parking is very limited in this area, and you may be turned away on busy weekends, which can be very disappointing after driving 12 miles down the peninsula road. At the North East Beach Area and Picnic Shelters, visitors can enjoy a swimming beach, canoe/kayak launch, tire playground, and picnic area. At the Rogues Harbor Boat Launch Facility, visitors will find public boating access to the Elk River and fishing piers. Those wishing to stay overnight can access the Elk River Camping Area, which offers over 250 campsites, 15 cabins, a youth group camping area, park store, playground, and nature center. Whether visiting for a day or staying overnight, hikers can explore 12 scenic miles of trails, including the easy 1.5-mile round trip hike to the Turkey Point Lighthouse or the challenging 3-mile trip to the white clay cliffs overlooking the Chesapeake Bay. Trail maps can be downloaded from the park’s website by clicking here.

[karenbelton]

Fort Frederick State Park is located in Big Pool, Maryland, in Washington County. Situated in the Cumberland Valley, this National Historic Landmark features a unique stone fort built in 1756 to protect Maryland’s frontier settlers during the French and Indian War. Governor Horatio Sharpe requested the appropriation from the Maryland Legislature to build the fort, and it is named after Frederick Calvert, 6th Lord Baltimore of the Maryland colony. During the American Revolution, the fort served as a prison for British soldiers, and during the Civil War, Union troops were stationed near the fort to guard the C&O Canal and B&O Railroad. In the 1930s, after years of neglect, the Civilian Conservation Corps restored the fort walls and barracks, and the surrounding area was developed into a 585-acre state park. Today, visitors can tour the fort and barracks, which are open seven days a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day and on the weekends in the spring and fall. Visitors can also canoe, hike, fish, and camp along the Potomac River, which borders the park. The Visitors Center provides a short film about the fort and also displays exhibits about the park’s history. In addition, the 23-mile Western Maryland Rail Trail begins just outside the park.