We’ve had the great fortune of living for three years in the state of Maryland when I worked for Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore. We lived in the eclectic part of town called Highlandtown, which is north of Canton and close to Patterson Park. While we lived there, we were able to welcome Kiraly to make our family of four! There is so much to do, see, and explore in Baltimore. You can walk through Fells Point and Canton to shop, eat good food, or just explore the amazing architecture that makes up the row houses of the individual neighborhoods. While we were living in the city we had many fantastic means at Johnny Rads and Ekiben, just to name a few. Baltimore celebrates Restaurant Week and if you want to expand your experience you should plan your trip around the many times they plan this event! With major sports teams such as the Orioles (baseball) and the Ravens (football), it seems like there is always something going on in the city.

While Baltimore was a great experience, but there is so much more to the state of Maryland than just Baltimore! We enjoy visiting Towson, specifically to tour the Hampton Mansion at Hampton National Historical Site as well as the surrounding quaint town. Maryland is home to many National and State Parks because of the states long history as part of the original thirteen colonies during the American Revolution and the creation of the United States. The War of 1812 is heavily influenced by the Battle of Baltimore, with the history and historic Star Fort preserved at Fort McHenry to the Battle of North Point, which is a state park. Beyond early colonial history, the state of Maryland preserves a ton of beautiful natural landscapes across the state with parks like Catoctin Mountain Park and Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP that stretches across the western part of the state along the Potomac River. These serene sanctuaries are places to hike, explore nature, and find quiet in an otherwise very busy and populated area!

One of the best times of the year to visit Maryland is in late March / early April – timing for the cherry blossoms that you can see bloom at both Fort McHenry and around the TIdal Basin in Washington D.C. While we are discussing Maryland, it makes sense with the shared history and geography to include the DC area as well! Of course, you can make a request through your Member of Congress for tickets to tour the White Hours, Senate, FBI Building, and Engraving Office. Make sure you follow the directions COMPLETELY. They are not kidding about ID checks – we had to show ours at least four times just in line getting into the White House. Once inside, you roam at your leisure through the individual rooms. Secret Service are usually very nice but remember that they are working. Don’t make sudden rushing movements, don’t be an asshole and ask stupid questions (no they don’t have the dress), and don’t assume they have any idea if the residents of the White House are home or not. DO take lots of pictures, ask fun questions (they usually can have customized ties, so comment on that) and make sure to see it all!

While I recommend visiting Maryland in April to see the Cherry Blossoms, you can also see them in DC. The other great time to come see DC is later in fall! Summer can be brutal and hot, humid, and uncomfortable. Standing in line to see the Declaration of Independence seems less stressful when it isn’t 100 degrees outside with a heat index of 90. One of the best ways to get through the city without walking (for the record, DC is a very walkable city) is to use the metro. If you plan to stop over multiple places over a day or two, the best bet is the day pass. If you are just going from one point to another once or twice, it will be cheaper to buy it one at a time. Avoid rush hour (M-F 6a-9a & 3p-6p) if you can because they usually charge a higher rate and it is much busier, so you might not get a seat. We’ve been on all of the different lines and have had on problems! The Smithsonian’s are in one part of the city while some of the monuments, such as Thomas Jefferson, are on the other side. You should definitely spend some time in at least one of the Smithsonian museums. It will take you HOURS to get through them – they are very large with tons of information! Wear reliable walking shoes with good socks and pack lots of water. If you need to use a locker to hold your bulky bags, they are available in the museums.

The National Park Service considers the many monuments and memorials surrounding the White House to be part of ‘the Mall‘ but that doesn’t do justice to the over 40 statues and plaques that there for you to visit! From FDR to MLK Jr, historical figures that helped shape our nation’s history are portrayed around the main part of the Mall. Check out Recreation.gov for tickets to places such as the Washington Monument (you can go to the top!) and Ford’s Theater. Just outside the Mall is the D.C. Zoo, which is free of charge and currently has PANDAS! The National Zoo is free of charge, but I recommend getting tickets before you arrive so that all you have to do is scan a QR code and use the metro! It is a quick walk to the Zoo from the Cleveland stop on the Red Line. The Zoo is in another part of DC and while it might be walkable, I do not recommend it!

Maryland and Washington D.C. are amazing places to visit – and if you aren’t sure where to start, contact Talley Your Adventure and we will help you out!