5 Spots in Maryland We’re Especially Thankful for This Year

With so much beauty and history to the state, it’s hard to pick just a few places in Maryland to be thankful for when so many deserve to be on the list. But, it has to be done and here you’ll find a few underrated gems, some places you’ve certainly heard of (but may not have visited), and more!

Assateague Island

Location: the Atlantic Ocean

Why We Love It: Wild horses. No, not the song from the Rolling Stones, this island has actual wild horses. Which, in and of itself, should be enough to be thankful for. But it’s more than that. It’s also the lovely scenery that surrounds the horses and makes it seem like something out of a Kinkade painting, namely large stretches of pristine sand, salt marshes, and a coastline known as a heavy surf area with a frothing sea. With very little human touch to the island outside of facilities helping operate the national seashore shared between Maryland and Virginia, this is the perfect place to visit or even camp when you want to get away from it all (or get closer to the horses, of course). 

Charm City Cakes

Location: Baltimore

Why We Love It: Choosing a bakery owned by a Food Network star usually means one of two things. First, the cakes are probably very visually appealing and taste fine, but the price tag doesn’t match the expected quality. The second (and usually less expected due to the rise of dissatisfied Yelpers making themselves more known than satisfied ones) is that you’re about to get some seriously amazing baked goods, and sure, the price tag will likely match. In the case of this charming store owned by Duff Goldman, the latter is the case. Many will believe that it’s because he’s kept his empire small by not opening a host of other bakeries all over the country, but a lot of the appeal of Charm City Cakes is in the quality and creativity that the space offers — with custom cakes in crazy shapes, cake making classes, and colorful merch offered among the more simple concoctions seen daily.

Antietam National Battlefield

Location: Sharpsburg

Why We Love It: To this day, the Battle of Antietam holds the title of the bloodiest day on American soil. But, despite the pain and grief there was also hope and from the deaths on this day, the Emancipation Proclamation was born. It is regarded by many as the turning point for the North and what led them to winning the war. Overall, there’s just as much to be sad for in this area than to be thankful for. But the National Battlefield continues to honor those who have given their lives and visiting the space can provide some perspective for many, especially considering how well-maintained and set up the visitors center and museums are.

Hagerstown Aviation Museum

Location: Hagerstown

Why We Love It: Oftentimes in museums there are airplanes hanging from the ceiling as a way to round out the general space, or perhaps a few exhibits here and there, but they’re rarely at the focus of museums unless the museum is dedicated to aviation itself. This is where the Hagerstown Aviation Museum comes in! Part of the reason why this location is so significant is because this is where a majority of the airplanes used in WWII were made and today it has amassed the most complete collection of historical Fairchild aircrafts in the world. Besides being able to see the planes, you can also go inside many of them and interact with them in a way that other museums can’t allow. 

North Point State Park

Location: Edgemere

Why We Love It: With an interesting past history as an amusement park and a hub of defense during wartime, this state park has been through many evolutions and today serves as a testament to how nature can reclaim an area. But, although that is part of the reason why we’re so thankful for it, it’s not the one that has landed it on this list. It’s on this list for the crabbing (and fishing, but we’re in Maryland here, so crabbing is the big ticket item) opportunities. Yes, this is not the only place where you can crab, but it is an ideal spot for three reasons: lack of crowds, a decent number of crabs, and easy accessibility. So, get crabbin’!

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