Maryland & Washington DC

Maryland has been more complicated to research than it should have been...

I was expecting to research a small state where other than visiting Washington DC, there would be little else to do. 

I was all done with my research when Lee pointed out that Washington is not in a state, its a district on its own and therefore visiting it will not tick off Maryland. I'm still annoyed, not due to the extra research,  it has ruined the name of our blog. It now needs to be RoadTrip48+DC!

So after this revelation, I started to look at Baltimore which is just an hour away from Washington and I was surprised at how much there is to do in this city.

The Inner Harbor seems to be the place to be with the restaurants, bars and attractions but there are also a few historic landmarks to check out around the city, including the site where the National Anthem was inspired:

I have read a number of blogs and travel sites about what to see in Maryland and nearly every single one of them suggests trying the Maryland Blue Crab. Their meat is supposed to be very sweet and tender even if they are a bit fiddly to eat!

The plan:

State:	Maryland
Towns of Interest: (FB) = Firebreak	Washington DC Baltimore
National Parks:	N/A
State Parks of Interest:	Rocks State Park
Places of Interest: (N) = Night Stay	Washington DC (Nx3) Trolley Tour Capitol Hill The Mall Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Maya Lins Vietnam Veterans Memorial Constitution Gardens Washington Monument White House Arlington National Cemetery Tour of the US Capitol and learn about the history of the building (Tickets are free but available only on a first-come, first-served basis at the Capitol Guide Service kiosk on the sidewalk on the Capitol’s southwest side (near the intersection of First Street and Independence Avenue, Southwest). Ticket distribution starts at 9.) Georgetown (Shopping / Bars) U Street (Bars / Restaurants / Clubs) Baltimore (N) MTA pass (pass for all day subway, light rail, and bus usage) Baltimore Inner Harbor (parks, hotels, restaurants, shops and museums) Baltimore Water Taxi (Fun, inexpensive method of transportation for the Inner Harbor and its attractions) Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum (Known as the birthplace of railroading in America. This historic landmark has the largest collection of railroad artifacts in the world) Horseshoe (Casino located in the heart of downtown) Fort McHenry (Where the Americans held off the British for more than 25 hours during the War of 1812, inspired national anthem) Lexington Market (Two-block market more than 200 years old. Mary Mervis Deli for the best shrimp salad sandwich) Fells Point (Shipbuilding center that dates back to 1730 and more than 350 original residential structures, this historic waterfront neighborhood is overflowing with shops, restaurants, pubs and even a vibrant nightlife) Chesapeake Bay (Try the Maryland Blue Crabs) NB: Car parks in Baltimore are expensive, try to use public transport Rock State Park (Primarily known for huge boulders, but also consists of forests, streams, and waterfalls. One of the main features is the King and Queen Seat, a huge rock outcrop which was a traditional ceremonial gathering place of the Susquehannock Natives)
Routes of Interest:	Route 13
Where to Stay:	Washington DC The Westin Georgetown, Washington D.C. ($162) Holiday Inn Washington-Capitol ($180) JW Marriott Washington, DC ($246) Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Washington, DC/Downtown ($182) Cheaper alternatives away from Capitol Hill: Days Inn Quality Inn & Suites New York Avenue Budget Inn ($77) Motel 6 ($69) Baltimore Holiday Inn Express Baltimore At The Stadiums ($99) Pier 5 Hotel Baltimore, Curio Collection by Hilton ($199) Holiday Inn Baltimore-Inner Harbor ($124) Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Baltimore Downtown/Inner Harbor ($124) Quality Inn Downtown ($83)
Useful Links:	https://www.trolleytours.com/washington-dc/1-day-itinerary http://www.forbestravelguide.com/baltimore-maryland/what-is-the-best-way-to-see-baltimore-in-one-day