The Vibe: Maryland Really Is Little America
If you’ve ever wished that you could take a cross-country road trip to experience everything great about America but just haven’t been able to make it happen, there’s still hope. All you have to do is visit
Maryland. No, really, hear me out.
Maryland is often called “America in Miniature” or “Little America” because, despite its small size, it has a little bit of everything that makes the country great. The topography consists of a mountains to the west and the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay to the East. It’s a perfect blend of Southern traditions with a little Northerner flare. Maryland is home to the city of
Baltimore, a unique and eclectic city of arts, kitschy traditions, and sports.
You’ll also find the kind of small towns you probably only thought existed in the movies. Maryland is even where “The Star Spangled Banner” was written. And come on, it really doesn’t get more American than that.
Local Flavor: That Flag, Though
Other than Baltimore and its sports teams, Maryland generally doesn’t get much recognition. It’s an otherwise small state overshadowed by being sandwiched in between bigger places like
Washington, D.C.,
Philadelphia, and
New York City, and a lot of people might assume that the Old Line State just doesn’t have that much to offer. But they’re obviously thinking of
Delaware.
People in Maryland know better. And that’s why they fly the Maryland state flag prouder and more prominently than almost any other state in the country.
With its bold colors and unique look, there’s no mistaking the Maryland state flag when you see it. People from other states usually don’t even know what their state flag looks like. But once you’ve seen Maryland’s memorable flag, you never forget it. You’ll find it everywhere across the state, from bathing suits and towels at the beach to bumper stickers and at every lacrosse game around the state (and there are plenty of them). Not to mention all the good old fashioned flags flown the traditional way, showing pride for living in the best state in the nation.
Cuisine: Life Without Blue Crabs And Old Bay Is Too Blue To Measure
If you’ve ever been to Maryland, you know that Maryland wouldn’t be Maryland without the world-famous blue crabs.
Whether you’re cracking your own or eating them in cake-form, this is, hands down, the best place to get crabs save for maybe Alaska. And there’s nothing better that goes with crabs than Old Bay (or Chesapeake Bay Seasoning for the purists) which is why you’ll find everybody’s favorite seasoning in every store, restaurant, and on everything from the fries and the pizza to the Bloody Marys.
Nightlife: There’s Always Somewhere To Have Fun If You Know Where To Look
Baltimore is brimming with a great bar scene, night clubs, music venues, trendy restaurants, comedy clubs, and more to keep the entertainment going well into the wee hours of the night. But overall, the nightlife throughout Maryland is fairly laid back. The bars and restaurants in any neighborhood are usually the best place to find the party.
If you’re looking for a little more, Washington, D.C. has an ever-growing nightlife, especially on the weekends, and is only an hour drive away. Philadelphia and New York’s many music venues, night clubs, comedy clubs, bars, festivals, and much more are all within driving distance, too, and make for a great weekend getaway.
Weather: Maryland Is A State Of All Seasons
Maryland is small in size, so the climate is relatively the same no matter what part of the state you’re in. You get all four seasons here, which makes for a great way to enjoy the finest parts of Little America.
When January hits the lows in the upper-20s and places like Baltimore are getting hit with snow to reach their 20-inch annual totals, it’s time to pull out the sleds and enjoy the day off school having good, old-fashioned fun (because, yes, schools in Maryland close at even the slightest threat of snow these days). Head to the mountains and break out the skis and snowboards to enjoy it even more.
Springtime defrosts the state after a usually prolonged winter and brings color back to the landscape and to the cheeks of everyone here. Visiting the many local parks, camping at or visiting Assateague, or even taking a trip down to D.C. to see the cherry blossoms bloom are popular things to do.
Summer reaches temperatures in the high 80s to low 90s on average with a lot of humidity but you can keep cool at the boardwalk in Ocean City or any of the Eastern Shore areas where the temperatures are always a little lower, the breeze is a little breezier, and the Kohrs Brothers and Thrashers fries fall from the sky.
In fall, visit any of the many farms around the state to pick your own pumpkin and take a run through the corn mazes while loading up on freshly baked apple and pumpkin pies for the holidays. Lather, rinse, repeat. That’s the awesome cycle of Maryland.
Safety & Crime: Maryland Is Much More Than A Suffix To Baltimore
Baltimore has definitely made some headlines in recent times and is not always cast in the best light. But don’t believe everything that you read. Maryland is rife with small towns where kids ride their bikes freely and residents walk through parks without worrying, many of which are in close proximity to Baltimore.
Some of the most desirable areas in the state include Somerset, Chevy Chase View, Chevy Chase Village, various Chevy Chase Section neighborhoods,
Garrett Park, and
Bethesda to name a few. These areas all boast safe crime rates and will make you forget anything you’ve heard to the contrary.
Commute: Cars Are A Second Home In Maryland
Don’t shoot the messenger, but when you live in Maryland, you spend a lot of time in your car. And it’s not just in Baltimore. Maryland has the second-longest average commute in the country and, according to the U.S. Census American Community Survey, it also ranks last in percentage of drivers who have an easy commute time.
Fewer than 19 percent of the people who live in this state can get to work in less than 15 minutes. In fact, the average daily commute is 32 minutes statewide, each way. Compared to the national average of 25 minutes, that’s a lot of extra time racked up at the end of the year spent in your car. So, make sure it’s one that you like because bike lanes and public transportation haven’t caught up to speed yet.
Cost Of Living: Maryland Comes With The Mid-Atlantic Price Tag
Maryland is part of the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and anyone who has lived there can tell you that none of the states that make up the area come with a cheap price tag. Maryland is no exception with an average cost of living index of 116. But even at 16 points higher than the national index, Maryland is still one of the more affordable states in the region.
Baltimore Sports Are Everything
Most people in Maryland, especially the folks from the Eastern Shore, don’t relate very well to Baltimore. The city vibe has an entirely different vibe, culture, and even a lot of different traditions from the rest of the state in general. And that whole “hon” thing tends to get old after a while. But one thing everyone can agree on about Maryland is that the sports teams are worth the rest of the weirdness.
The Baltimore Orioles gave the world the legendary Cal Ripken Jr. and the games at Camden Yards have made up some of the best childhood memories for people around Maryland for generations. And after the Colts ran off in the middle of the night leaving Baltimore high and dry, the state was left without an NFL team to call their own.
Some jumped ship and began cheering for the Redskins and others just held a grudge. But the Ravens came to town and filled the void, making it to the playoffs 10 times since 2000, landing four North Division titles, and making it to the Super Bowl twice straight to the Vince Lombardi trophy both times. They’re also the only team in the NFL to hold a perfect record in multiple Super Bowls. So gaining back those football fans hasn’t been too hard at all.
Assateague Island Is A World Of Its Own
A lot of states can say they have beaches. But Maryland is one of the rare states that has beaches where you can walk, swim, and camp right alongside an island of feral ponies. Two million people head to Assateague Island in Maryland every year for the white sand and to see the feral ponies in their natural habitat, a barrier island of shared drifted sand between Maryland and Virginia.
Every year, the feral ponies of Chincoteague Island are gathered together for the Chincoteague Pony Swim where they’re brought through the water to Assateague Island for an auction and massively popular event completely unique to the area.
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