9 Of The Most Captivating Small Towns In Maryland
Many Americans can recognize the widely-known song "The Star-Spangled Banner," both a national anthem and a rallying melody for American troops who won their freedom during the War of 1812. It was in the state of Maryland, in Fort McHenry, in the city of Baltimore, that this patriotic song was created. From the heights of the Alleghany Mountains down the depths of the Chesapeake Bay, you will find some of the most captivating small towns in Maryland that continue to embody the patriotism and American freedom “The Star-Spangled Banner” exemplifies. However you wish to go about in Maryland—at Saint Michael or Cumberland or Thurmont—you will undoubtedly be amazed and awed by the “Old Line State,” so named when George Washington and his soldiers held the line at the Battle of Bunker Hill and captured Yorktown.
Saint Michaels
Situated beside the Miles River and Chesapeake Bay lies the saintly town of Saint Michaels. As one of the best fishing destinations in Maryland, travelers will want to go fishing all over Chesapeake Bay and even on the Miles River. In the past, however, Saint Michael was known as “the town that fooled the British” during the War of 1812, in which the townsfolk dimmed their hanging lanterns to make the British believe they had lost. Additionally, Saint Michaels also manufactured agile ships called the Baltimore Clippers to outmaneuver the sluggish British warships.
Much of this history can best be reviewed at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and Store, the St. Michaels Museum, and the Cannonball House—the Cannonball House, in particular, is the only surviving structure surviving British cannonades. These days, you can go birdwatching at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge or sampling exquisite wine along the Chesapeake Wine Trail. Either way, book a room in one of Saint Michaels' protective establishments, such as the Inn at Perry Cabin, St. Michaels Harbour Inn Marina & Spa, or St. Michaels Inn.
Thurmont
Approximately 55 miles away from Hancock, the spellbinding town of Thurmont entreats newcomers to many activities and amenities in Maryland. Whether you are learning more about the American Revolutionary War by visiting the Catoctin Furnace—built in 1774 to be a manufacturing plant for ammunition—or admiring the planet’s many kinds of wildlife at the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo, travelers will be astounded by the spectrum of spectacles to enjoy in Thurmont. Feel vivified by the sights and sounds at both the Cunningham Falls State and the Catoctin Mountain Park. Discover even more of Maryland’s habitats at the Cat Rock & Bobs Hill Natural Area, and let your curiosity take you to an infamous moonshine distillery from 1929 called the Blue Blazes Still. Dozens more activities and amenities abound in this magnificent and captivating small town known as Thurmont.
Leonardtown
About 60 miles southeast of the US capital city of Washington D.C., travelers can follow the Potomac River down to the lackadaisical town of Leonardtown. With its impressive eye for the arts, as best observed at Saint Mary’s Art Council and the Arts & Entertainment district, and its deep cultural connections to the Amish and Mennonite communities, as best experienced during the Amish Quilt Auction in November, you will undoubtedly be captivated by Leonardtown’s quaint and quintessential atmosphere to make a faraway place feel like home.
More quilts of Amish mastery can be purchased and perused at Leonard Wharf Park, while routes like Butterfly Trail and Wine Trail are great places to see butterflies and sample exquisite wine. Like any small town, a local legend permeates the neighborhood, specifically the legend of the Molly Dyer Rock, which contains the fading handprint belonging to a local healer named Molly Dyer. Take care not to touch this particular rock lest you incite Molly Dyer’s vengeful ghost, and have a great experience overall in the mesmerizing town of Leonardtown.
Berlin
Sharing its name coincidentally with the capital city of Germany, the small town of Berlin was dubbed the “Coolest Town in America.” Only about eight miles away from Ocean City and Assateague Island, the town might have acquired its name from a mispronunciation of Burleigh Inn, a historic tavern you can book a room at, located at the crossroads of the Philadelphia Post and Sinepuxent Roads. Over 47 buildings compose the National Register of Historic Places in Berlin’s communal confines, among them the Calvin B. Taylor Museum, which discusses how the town came to be, and the Mermaid Museum, which focuses on possible mermaid sightings in the area. See more reasons why Berlin is considered the Coolest Town in America every July 7, when the annual Bathtub Races attracts dozens of people to Berlin’s streets to see people racing on bathtubs with wheels.
Crisfield
Crisfield, lauded by many for being the “Crab Capital of the World,” is one of the best destinations for you to taste Maryland’s famous Chesapeake bivalves, blue crabs, and oysters. Those interested in fishing for their own food can charter a fishing trip through the Tangier Sound and towards Smith Island. On the other hand, those with an affinity for history can learn all about Crisfield’s origins at the J. Millard Tawes Historical Museum. At the Ward Brothers Workshop, you can admire and buy some of the best decoy carvings in the state, and lodgings such as the Captain Tyler Motel and Rodeway Inn at Somers Cove Marina will keep you satisfied and accommodated in your vacation in the Crab Capital of the World.
Havre de Grace
Havre de Grace, which in French means “Harbor of Grace,” graces all visitors far and wide with its majestic harbor on the Susquehanna River and beside Chesapeake Bay. Being the “Decoy Capital of the World,” newcomers can find the best duck and waterfowl decoy carvings at Havre de Grace Decoy Museum. Meanwhile, real ducks, waterfowl, and other birds can be seen at the Susquehanna National Wildlife Refuge. The Keeper’s House Museum and the Concord Point Lighthouse both provide a comprehensive narrative of Havre de Grace’s important ports and history.
Meanwhile, the Steppingstone Farm Museum contains a gallery of artworks from 1880 - 1920. You can head over to the Susquehanna Museum at the Lock House to learn all about the Lafayette Trail which was an important route for merchants and traders to take when heading in and out of Havre de Grace. If you wish to stay a little longer in Havre de Grace, seek accommodations at the Vandiver Inn, the Spencer-Silver Mansion, or the White House.
Chesapeake City
Chesapeake City was originally called the Village of Bohemia or Bohemia Manor in the early 17th century. A Bohemian map maker named Augustine Herman was the man who established the town so that it could serve as a port settlement near the commercial canal of Back Creek and Elk River, which are both connected to the Chesapeake Bay and the Delaware River. The C & D Canal Museum explains much of this history, particularly the widening of the canal that connects Chesapeake Bay with the Delaware River. There are also a handful of historic buildings, like the Saint Francis Xavier Church and Worsell Manor, that will give you a greater appreciation of Chesapeake City’s past. Since it is only about an hour away from Baltimore and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, you can enjoy a simple and leisurely retreat in Chesapeake City, particularly in welcoming abodes like the Blue Max Inn.
Hancock
Travelers might assume that the town of Hancock was named after John Hancock, the first signer of the Declaration of Independence, since the town was involved in the American Revolutionary War. However, the town got its name from a local soldier named Edward Joseph Hancock Junior under George Washington's leadership. For years, Hancock has been a vital waystation along the Potomac River in a narrow corridor between West Virginia in the South and Pennsylvania in the North. It provided the C&O (Chesapeake and Ohio) Canal Towpath and the Western Maryland Rail Trail with easy access to three different states. Also, it repelled several attackers, as seen in Fort Fredrick State Park’s impenetrable defenses. Travelers will certainly enjoy strolling through several landscape features around Hancock, such as the Green Ridge State Forest and the Appalachian Mountain Ranges. Most importantly, you can relax yourself for a new day of adventure at the Hancock Motel.
Cumberland
Cumberland, just around 30 miles away from its neighbor Hancock, can be found in the bowl-shaped valley known as the Cumberland Narrows. With the Allegheny Mountains surrounding the town and the Potomac River bounding it, Cumberland served as a regional headquarters for George Washington during the American Revolutionary War. The one-room cabin that he slept at can be found at Riverside Park, and the military barracks he and other generals fortified can be found in Fort Cumberland—this fort was famous for repelling attacks in the year 1786 during the French and Indian War. The Allegheny Museum, the National Civil War Museum, and Canal Place Heritage Area all discuss the different perspectives and interpretations of Cumberland’s past. For a scenic tour of the Allegheny Mountains, you can always take Western Maryland’s Scenic Railroad, which is also part of the C&O Canal Towpath. For lodgings, you can always book a room at places like the Cumberland Inn & Spa.
Maryland earned the title the “Free State” when it was one of the first states and one of the first of the original 13 colonies that broke away from the British Empire and other colonial powers from Europe. It is also known as “America in Miniature” since nearly every geographic landscape in America can be explored in Maryland, particularly around the most captivating small towns in Maryland. Between Chesapeake City’s canals and natural avenues to Saint Michael’s position in the Chesapeake Bay, travelers can visit all kinds of regions and biomes that the whole of America is famous for—except for the desert. Most of all, these captivating small towns in Maryland will keep you staying for a long time due to the number of activities and amenities you can savor during your vacation in the Free State. Feel free to try out new things in Maryland’s beautiful small towns.
