Places to Explore and Things To Do for Couples In Maryland

“My husband and I are looking for new places to explore and things to do in or around Maryland as a couple! We’re not picky and enjoy anything ranging from trying new coffee shops and visiting museums to day-long hikes. We’re open to camping, hotels, and Airbnb options!” This question was posted in the “Things To Do In Maryland” Facebook Group. In particular, they are looking for:

1. Looking for fun day-trip options that aren’t DC or Baltimore (approximately 1–2 hours from Baltimore).
2. Also looking for overnight or weekend getaway spots (preferably 2–4 hours away in any direction).

Get ready for adventure. Here are top-notch recommendations from the Things To Do In Maryland Facebook Group for new places to explore around Maryland. Locations are grouped together by the general region they are in. Each comment is followed by the initials of the person who made the recommendation. 

Maryland State Parks

First things first. Readers highly recommend getting an annual Maryland State Park Pass (if you don’t already have one). A reader was gifted one, and they said, “It made it our family mission to visit them all within the year- such a cool way to explore the state. We kept track of the ones worth returning to, and it was fun to explore the local area when we went on longer weekends to check off several parks.” 🙂 R.N.

Visit Annapolis

Annapolis is a beautiful, walkable, and historic town on the Severn River, with an eclectic food and culture scene and a water taxi that offers an enjoyable ride from one side of Annapolis to the other.

• Annapolis is a wonderful place to spend a day or 2. Historic, beautiful, totally walkable, great food, city dock, Naval Academy, cozy feel. The Graduate Hotel is a fun place to stay. E.T.
• Annapolis is fun to walk around, and there are often events and some places to eat near the water. I recently had a good crab cake sandwich at Buddy’s Crab and Ribs.

Eastern Shore of Maryland

Of course, there’s Ocean City, MD.  Hotels and resorts, a beach, boardwalk, and more.  M.F.

Courtyard by Marriott Ocean City Oceanfront

Newly renovated Oceanfront hotel with a fresh, eclectic coastal vibe. Relax and make yourself at home with warm welcomes and great ocean views. The Courtyard by Marriott Ocean City is conveniently located on 15th Street and the excitement of Ocean City’s 3-mile Boardwalk: the perfect getaway spot for your weekend getaway. Experience breathtaking sunsets, sunny afternoons, and exciting nightlife for all ages.

• St. Michael’s received numerous recommendations as a fun destination. The Chesapeake Maritime Museum, a waterfront park and brick-paved walk, cute shops and restaurants serving delicious food are some of the highlights in St. Michael’s.
  Comments include:
  St. Michael’s for a weekend. P.C.
  St. Michael’s is lovely. K.C.
  Great museum, shops, and restaurants. B.T.
  Come to St. Michaels, MD, and enjoy a cruise!! 
• Berlin, MD is an adorable little town with awesome restaurants, great shops & delicious ice cream! And it is only 20 minutes to the beach! L.W.
• Blackwater Wildlife Refuge and dinner at Old Salty’s on Hoopers Island for an eye-opening Eastern Shore, Maryland experience. E.V.
• Camping at a State Park is fun. I have done Assateague and Tuckahoe. A.McG.
• Check out Adkins Arboretum in Ridgely. B.R.
• Love all the suggestions here. We love Chesapeake City. Great bars and restaurants, music in the park, take a boat cruise, walk or rent bikes to ride along the beautiful canal. C.B.  
• The Bethany Beach/Rehoboth/Ocean City/Berlin/Assateague/Fenwick area is great. There are usually events and lots of different activity ideas (examples: Easy hikes, mini golf, laser tag, arcade, ice cream, etc) G.S.G.
• Cowtown Glamping Cabins – ranch rentals near Ocean City, MD in Selbyville, Delaware. W.B.

Frederick, Frederick, and Frederick

Historic street, mountain views, a canal that runs through town, Downtown Frederick’s vibrant shops and restaurants, bike quiet country roads, hike scenic trails, or discover stories that shaped the nation.

• Frederick – Civil War Medicine Museum, then Dublin Roasters for coffee, walk around Carroll Creek and downtown to stop in all the shops. Visit one of the many breweries or distilleries for a trivia night if you’re staying overnight, or don’t mind driving late. B.C.
• Frederick, Maryland, has a pretty robust theater community. And the Weinberg Center has a great variety of excellent acts… music, great speakers, live theater, etc. L.McC.
• Frederick is fun to walk around with some great dining options. Isabella’s is great for tapas. G.S.G.

Southern Maryland

• A great weekend getaway is St. Mary’s County. Stay at Pier 450 The Quarters Motel. Very cute place! Each room is decorated differently. The food and service is top notch. On some Fridays and Saturdays, they have bands right on the sand, fire pits, and kayaks during the day. 
• Come visit us in southern St. Mary’s County! There are plenty of nearby places to visit, such as Historic St. Mary’s City. Just a couple of hours from Baltimore. (And no Bay Bridge to contend with — we’re on the Bay/Potomac side of the state.) Point Lookout is not far, and St. Mary’s City Museum.
• Chesapeake Beach has resorts, a beach, and a waterpark. Rod ‘N Reel Resort just completed a big restoration project. M.F.
• Solomons Island in Calvert County has great restaurants, bars, shops, a marine museum, nice B&Bs, and a beautiful view. B.W.
• Kayak at Mallows Bay, you might want to wait for warm weather. 

Western Maryland

Hands down, Deep Creek Lake had the most recommendations for the Western part of Maryland. Additional comments about Deep Creek include:

• Deep Creek, Cumberland, Frostburg, the falls, state parks, etc. Snowshoeing, biking, hiking on the GAP trail that runs through Frostburg, downhill skiing, and tubing at Wisp in Deep Creek, etc. L.M.
• I love going to Swallow Falls in Deep Creek Lake during the winter and hiking the area. S.C.
• Cunningham Falls State Park in Thurmont. Rocky Gap State Park in Flintstone. There’s lots to do, including camping. E.C.
• Gaitherburg MD. They have a new lakefront and Seneca State Park. G.L.
• French-Asian Inspired Bakery in Gaithersburg: Tous Les Jours @ Rio
• Rocky Gap State Park, it’s a beautiful lake/ state park and you should stay at the Rocky Gap Casino Resort. Y.R.
• This is perfect for a short weekend getaway airbnb.com/h/mountainhousewhitetail V.E.

Hikes: the Billy Goat Trails, MD. Appalachian Trail: 40 miles in MD. Deep Creek, Catocin Mountain, Sugarloaf Mountain, Big Savage Mountain. Tons of great hikes in Maryland. R.K.

You can ride the railbikes at tracksandyaks.com J.F.

Nearboy Locations

Not in Maryland, but close by with interesting destinations. 

Pennsylvania
I just came back from a short weekend trip to Pittsburgh and did tons of fun stuff I’d highly recommend. One activity was holding a falcon at the National Aviary. B.C.

• Columbia, PA for the National Watch & Clock Museum which is way more interesting than it sounds, I promise! Also, nice hometown diner feeling restaurant (Hinkle’s) with a gift shop not far from the museum and a river trail for exercise. A.Z.
• Gettysburg National Military Park, New Hope PA, Lancaster County PA (Amish Country) B.A.
• Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA. About 90 minutes from Baltimore. Fantastic place. S.S.
• Peddler’s Village in PA.  Bombay Hook in DE.  Shepherdstown in WV, close to Harper’s Ferry(great weekend trip, food shops and hiking and camping if you choose) N.H.
• Yorktown, Jamestown, Lancaster PA, Bucees in Mt Crawford  VA, Bethlehem PA. K.B.
• Eisenhower’s Estate in Gettysburg is cool. In the Spring, it is nice to visit Winterthur and Rockwood Park in Delaware. G.S.G.

Virginia

Great suggestions here. Outside of MD, Luray, VA along with Shenandoah NP are a great weekend getaway! Also many spots in WV for a weekend getaway! L.E-S.

• George Washington’s Mount Vernon ❤️M.P.
• Staunton,VA. L.H.
• We loved Charlottesville and the Blue Ridge Pkwy. K.B.

West Virginia
Harper’s Ferry is a nice place to visit with some war history. G.C.