Meandering Through Pickering Creek Audubon Center in Maryland

Meandering Through Pickering Creek Audubon Center in Maryland

Over the past few years, we have been fostering our birding skills. On our most recent trip to Maryland, we learned that we would be near Pickering Creek Audubon Center while perusing hiking options. So, a meander through Pickering Creek during our visit to nearby Kent Island on Chesapeake Bay was an easy choice.

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Appreciating Colonial History at the William Paca House in Annapolis

Appreciating Colonial History at the William Paca House in Annapolis

Strolling through Annapolis, one quickly notices threads of colonial history throughout. During our trips to Annapolis, we have enjoyed learning a little more about colonial history each time. On our recent trip, we treated ourselves to a tour of the grand William Paca House and Garden.

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Spring Hike to Cascade Falls at Patapsco Valley State Park in Maryland

Spring Hike to Cascade Falls at Patapsco Valley State Park in Maryland

Our spring road trip waterfall hunting continued into Maryland. We were centered in the Annapolis area for a bit and discovered Cascade Falls in Patapsco Valley State Park about 40-45 minutes away. Patapsco Valley State Park contains 16,043 acres of preserve, so it is rather massive. Given the large size of the preserve, you do want to make sure you are heading to the Cascade Falls Loop Trail to see the falls. There are two spots that I know of to access the trail. We ended up parking on the side of Landing Road to access the trail. There is a parking lot on the other side as well. However, we did like the hike from Landing Road. I wouldn't have changed our hike for the day! Just nature bliss!

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Kent Island Discoveries {Maryland}

Kent Island in Maryland is part of what is called the Eastern Shore as it is situated on the eastern side of the Chesapeake Bay. The island is not too far from Annapolis, so we used it as our base for our visit. I am so glad we did because we had an incredible view from the Hilton Garden Inn:

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Walking Around Annapolis

Annapolis is an incredibly walkable city. The architecture beautifully melds the centuries along the Chesapeake Bay. On both of our visits, we meandered in and out of alleyways always discovering a new treasure.

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Exploring the Maryland State House in Annapolis

Maryland State House from our previous summer visit.

The Maryland State House provides for a stunning focal point in Annapolis. As the oldest state capitol building in continuous legislative use, the structure has many stories to tell. The state house is perched on a circle. So, you can the stunning and regal architecture from many points in the city.

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Chesapeake Heritage and Visitors Center: The Perfect Place to Start

Before heading into Annapolis for the day after spending an evening on Kent Island, we stopped at the Chesapeake Heritage and Visitors Center. The visitor center provided a window into the history of the region including the people, geology, ecology and economy. Initially, the museum seemed a bit on the small side but we really learned a lot. A worthy adventure!

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Great Falls in Maryland

Great Falls in Maryland is a stunning nature escape

Great Falls is a series of rapids and waterfalls on the Potomac River straddling the Maryland and Virginia border about 14 miles northwest of Washington, DC and 45 miles southwest of Baltimore. Great Falls Park provides access in Virginia and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park provides access from Maryland. We visited the Chesapeake and Ohio National Historic Park during our road trip to Annapolis.

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Road Trip to Annapolis, Maryland

This week, we took a road trip to Annapolis, Maryland! Over the next couple of weeks, I will share our discoveries and stops on the way and back.  Overall, the trip from the Chicago area to Annapolis is about 11-12 hours, therefore there is a lot to discover there and on the way! We were able to stop in Pittsburgh on the way there and back:

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An Afternoon in Annapolis

While in the Shenandoah area, we opted to venture out and explore Annapolis. Growing up in New Jersey, I definitely need to refuel with water views whenever I have the opportunity. So, I was excited to take some time walking along the Chesapeake Bay. We quickly fell in love with Annapolis' harbor and its colonial charm. So, I am now eager to go back and scratch more under the surface!

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Summer Road Trip to the Shenandoah Valley and Hocking Hills

Blue Ridge Mountains of the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia

Our first road trip this summer was to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia and the Hocking Hills in Ohio. We spent four days in the Shenandoah Valley and two in the Hocking Hills. The weather was amazing, so we spent plenty of time in nature enjoying the landscapes. Over the next week, I will be sharing our discoveries with you. Our base for the Shenandoah Valley was lovely Winchester, Virginia. The historic town is charming and we benefited from a hotel near the downtown area full of eateries and not far from museums.

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