Shocks to Expect On Your Maryland Vacation
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about visiting the state of Maryland. This mid-Atlantic state is known for many things, including historic attractions, baseball, and blue crabs. As with any travel destination, there are many surprises in store for your Maryland vacation. If you’re thinking about visiting Maryland, don’t be surprised at these “shocks.”
Old Bay Seasoning Obsession
Old Bay Seasoning isn’t just popular in Maryland; it’s practically an obsession! Outside of Maryland, you might use Old Bay when making seafood. In Maryland, they put Old Bay on everything! I’ve had a beer glass rimmed with Old Bay, caramel corn sprinkled with Old Bay, and chicken wings with Old Bay hot sauce!
They successfully create an Old Bay addiction just before you leave, and you might not be able to find it in your hometown. I recommend stocking up while you are there. Old Bay snacks make a great souvenir!
Souvenirs You Should NOT Buy While Traveling
Maryland State Flag
Maryland residents are also a bit obsessed with their state flag. It is probably one of the most unique state flags in the United States; it’s basically two coats of arms merged together in a four-square pattern. Like Old Bay, they use the state flag everywhere, not just on the license plates. We saw tons of shirts, hats, and souvenirs with the state flag. It’s way cooler than the Illinois flag!
Vacation Spots in Maryland
People are often surprised to learn that Maryland is more than just Baltimore and Ocean City. Those are probably the two most popular vacation spots in Maryland, but there are so many other places to visit in Maryland. They have tons of cool state parks, like Swallow Falls State Park, and hiking trails like the Billy Goat Trail along the Potomac River.
They even have mountains in the western part of the state! Less than three hours west of Baltimore, you can be in the mountains near Grantsville. Casselman River Bridge State Park is a beautiful spot right near town.
Famous Maryland Food
The most famous Maryland food has to be the blue crabs. That’s not a shock. But it’s shocking just how amazing the Maryland blue crabs are, especially if you get them fresh. Chesapeake Blue Crabs are a bit sweeter than other crabs and they are so good. Remember, though, if you want fresh steamed crab, it’s only served fresh in the warmer summer months. Otherwise, it’s been frozen. If you visit Maryland in winter, try some of the other crab dishes.
You can have it in many ways, including the famous Maryland crab cakes. My personal favorite is the Maryland Crab Soup, which is not a crab bisque! It’s a tomato-based soup and it’s delicious! If you want to introduce your kids to crab meat, get them crab mac n cheese or try some crab-flavored potato chips from Utz. I also recommend getting the oysters when you visit Maryland. My favorite type is the Snow Hill oyster.
If you’re not into seafood, Pit Beef is another Maryland specialty. A Pit Beef sandwich will have thinly sliced roast beef that’s crispy on the edges and rare in the middle. You can find it all over, so give it a try!
Munchies in Maryland
Every state has snacks that they are known for, and Maryland is no exception. Besides Old Bay and crab-flavored everything, there are other shockingly good snacks that are more popular in Maryland.
- Berger cookies are a delicious combination of fudge and cookies.
- Sno-Ball drinks (kind of like shave ice) are served all over in the summer months
- Thrasher’s French Fries are delicious!
- Fisher’s Popcorn – I recommend the caramel corn with Old Bay seasoning!
- Caramel creams and cow tales are fun candies to try in Maryland. You can get them all over the country, but they seem fresher when you buy them in Maryland.
- Smith Island cake is a yellow cake with chocolate icing, but it’s got tons of thin layers of cake with chocolate icing between each layer.
Also look out for National Bohemian Beer, which is a local Baltimore beer, and they call it Natty Boh.
Maryland Pronunciations
Sometimes, it feels like they might be speaking a different language in Maryland. They tend to blur words together so Maryland sounds more like Merlin.
Maryland Drivers
I will cut the state a little slack as I-95 does cut through Maryland, so there are a lot of out-of-state drivers mucking up traffic as well. But true Maryland drivers are another level of crazy. They are very aggressive and there’s no compromising with a Maryland driver. It’s especially frustrating if you are heading out to Ocean City for the weekend.
Maryland Locals
I met so many cool people from Maryland. Despite the aggressive driving, they are actually super nice. I had so many locals strike up a conversation with me and one even invited me to an Orioles game. For some reason, this does not apply in Ocean City. It’s like everyone leaves their manners back home when they go to Ocean City.
Baltimore
Baltimore itself is shocking to visit. Baltimore has an unfortunate reputation for high crime and homeless populations. But it can be surprisingly cool to visit if you plan carefully. There are great attractions and museums in Baltimore.
Some great Baltimore neighborhoods to explore include Mt. Vernon, Fells Point, and the Inner Harbor.
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Don’t let these “shocks” keep you from planning a trip to Maryland; it’s full of pleasant surprises. It’s such a diverse state, with cities, beaches, mountains, friendly people, and famous Maryland food! Deciding where to go in Maryland can be overwhelming because it’s such a diverse state, but you’ll have a good time no matter which vacation spots in Maryland you choose!
Want more tips for traveling the Eastern seaboard? Check out some of our other blog posts: