Welcome To MarylandMaryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the Southern United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east. Maryland was the seventh state to ratify the United States Constitution, and three nicknames for it, the Old Line State, the Free State, and the Chesapeake Bay State are occasionally used.

Capital - AnnapolisLargest city - BaltimoreLargest metro area Baltimore-Washington Metro Area

Website: www.maryland.gov

Religions in MarylandMaryland was founded for the purpose of providing religious toleration of England's Roman Catholic minority. Nevertheless, Parliament later reversed that policy and discouraged the practice of Catholicism in Maryland. Due to immigration patterns, Catholics have not been a majority in Maryland since early Colonial times. Nonetheless, Catholicism is the largest single denomination in Maryland. The Islamic community in Maryland is small but it is growing, especially in the Baltimore area.

Principal Cities

Aberdeen – home to Aberdeen Proving Grounds and hometown of baseball great Cal RipkenAnnapolis – state capital, home of United States Naval AcademyBaltimore – most populous city; commercial and cultural hubBethesda – Suburb of D.C; Home to National Institutes of Health (N.I.H.) and Bethesda Naval Hospital; best-educated city in the U.S with a population of 50,000 or more.Bowie – largest city in Prince George's County; site of Bowie State UniversityColumbia – large unincorporated planned community managed by the Columbia Association

Principal CitiesEllicott City – county seat of Howard County and original terminus of the Baltimore and Ohio RailroadFrederick– western gateway to Appalachian Mountains, suburban center, county seat of Frederick CountyGermantown – home to the Department of Energy; fastest growing community in Montgomery CountyGaithersburg – home to National Institute of Standards and Technology; 2nd most populous city.Hagerstown – largest community in three county Western Maryland region

Principal CitiesOcean City – very popular beach resort on Atlantic coastline; 2nd most populous city Rockville – county seat and business center of Montgomery County northwest of Washington; Salisbury – largest city and business center of Delmarva peninsulaSilver Spring – Suburb of D.C.; home to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the headquarters of the Discovery ChannelWaldorf – largest town in Southern Maryland

Maryland Attractions

Eastern ShoreBaltimore Inner HarborAnnapolis City DockC & O Canal National Historic ParkMaryland ParksDeep Creek LakeSix Flags AmericaStrathmore Music CenterBrookside GardensMeriwether Post PavilionHistoric Ellicott CityAFI Silver Theater and Cultural CenterNational Wildlife Visitors CenterNASA Goddard Visitor CenterNational Harbor

Website: http://visitmaryland.org

Brookside Garden

Brookside Gardens is a 50-acre award winning garden located within Wheaton Regional Park in Wheaton, Maryland.Park Address and Accessibility:2002 Shorefield RoadWheaton, MD 20902Shorefield Area - Turn onto Shorefield Road from Georgia AvenueGlenallan Area - Turn onto Glenallan Avenue from Kemp Mill Road or Randolph RoadOrebaugh Area - Turn onto Orebaugh Avenue from Arcola AvenuePark Information Line: 301-495-2595

Beach at Deep Creek Lake State Park

Deep Creek Lake State Park is great place for young children to play and swim on the sandy, lifeguarded beach (during the summer months).Getting to Deep Creek Lake:The resort is located just three hours from the Washington DC metro area and Baltimore. Follow I-70 to I-68, Take Exit 14 onto Route 219 South. Follow Route 219 for approximately 13 miles.

Six Flags America

Amusement and Water Park Near Washington, DCSix Flags America is located on Route 214, Central Avenue, approximately five miles from I-495 just 30 minutes from downtown Washington, DC. Contact Details: 13710 Central Ave. Mitchellville, Maryland. (301) 249-1500 and (800) 491-4FUN Tips: Buy tickets in advance - Visit on a weekday - Arrive early to get the most out of your day

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park

Since 1971 the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal (C & O Canal) has been a national park, providing a great place to enjoy the outdoors in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia.The C & O Canal starts in Georgetown and stretches for 13 miles to Great Falls Park in Virginia. At the Georgetown Visitor Center you can get a map and take a tour on foot, by bike or by mule-drawn boat.

National Wildlife Visitor Center

The National Wildlife Visitor Center is the largest science and environmental education center in the Department of the Interior.Visitor Center Building : Open 9:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. Daily Except Closed on Federal HolidaysWildlife Images Gift Shop : 11:00 A.M - 4:00 P.M. on Visitor Center open days except closed on Mondays - November through mid-March Trails and Grounds : Sunrise - 4:30 P.M. Daily. Except Closed on Federal Holidays

AFI Silver Theater and Cultural CenterThe AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center is a state-of-the-art moving image exhibition, education and cultural center.Address: 8633 Colesville Road - at the intersection of Colesville Road and Georgia Avenue - in the heart of the downtown Silver Spring, Maryland and two blocks north of Metro's Red Line station.See Features and Schedules : www.afi.com/silver/new/default.aspx

National Harbor

National Harbor is a 300-acre waterfront destination in the Washington, DC area that opened in the spring of 2008. National Harbor is located in Prince George's County, Maryland on the Potomac River, just minutes from Washington, DC. The site is accessible from I-95/I-495, I-295, the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge, and by water taxi from Washington, DC, Old Town Alexandria, Mount Vernon, and Georgetown. Official Website: www.nationalharbor.com

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