9 Serene Maryland Towns For A Weekend Retreat

Maryland, one of the original Thirteen Colonies and an eye-catching Mid-Atlantic state, sits right at the heart of the East Coast of the United States, boasting plenteous watercourses and extensive shoreline by the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean. Dubbed "America in Miniature" thanks to the different topographies within its borders, Maryland has something for every taste. Beyond the state's oft-congested metropolitan centers of Baltimore, Germantown, and Columbia, these nine serene towns for a weekend retreat are tranquil oases to spend your long sabbaticals far from the urban pandemonium.

Chesapeake City

The Old Line State’s sole community to be sited next to an operational commercial canal, the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal (C & D Canal), Chesapeake City is an attractive town in Cecil County of northeastern Maryland. Divided into northern and southern sections ensuing the canal’s construction, the southern segment highlights the bulk of the town’s carefully preserved 19th-century structures, which presently house gift shops like The Mercantile at Back Street, museums like The C&D Canal Museum, and luxurious bed & breakfasts like The Blue Max Inn. The substantially residential northern section of Chesapeake City is commended for Schaefer’s Restaurant & Canal Bar and the Ben Cardin C&D Canal Recreational Trail that connects the town with Delaware City.

New Market

Promoting itself as the "Antiques Capital of Maryland," this 1,525-inhabitant (as per the 2020 US Census) Frederick County town was initially platted as a colonial rest stop on US Route 40 between Frederick and Baltimore, the state’s most populous city. Spread over 66 acres, the National Register-listed New Market Historic District is crammed with multiple Victorian architecture, Federal-style, and Greek Revival-style buildings. Filling the Downtown area are scores of antique shops like Fleshman’s Antiques, locally owned stores like Gayla’s, and eateries like Vintage Restaurant. Be there at the town’s Second Saturday events (from June to October) and unwind after a hectic day at Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Frederick.

Bel Air

Harford County’s seat, Bel Air, is the chief settlement of northeast Maryland’s Bel Air-Aberdeen, MD urban area, located exactly 32 miles north of Downtown Baltimore. Originally planned on a parcel titled "Scott’s Old Fields" of Aquilla Scott’s ancestral land, this serene community and its contiguous suburbs have developed through the years into the county’s administrative, scholastic, medical, and cultural hub. When in town, take notice of the Liriodendron Mansion, Tudor Hall - the childhood home of American stage actor John Wilkes Booth, Ma & Pa Heritage Trail, and the Bel Air Arts & Entertainment District, used for assorted yearly celebrations. Furthermore, head to Bel Air’s urban parks and the lone community park, the Rockfield Park, for copious recreational activities, and stay overnight at the Hilton Garden Inn Bel Air.

Emmitsburg

Formerly labeled "Silver Fancy" and "Poplar Fields," and later relabeled after William Emmit, a native landowner, Emmitsburg sits 0.3 miles south of the Mason-Dixon Line in Northern Maryland. Apart from being home to the Mount St. Mary’s University main campus, the other recognizable points of interest in this cute Frederick County town are the National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes, Frederick County Fire & Rescue Museum, and National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. Likewise, appreciate the quality American fare and seafood served by the Carriage House Inn Restaurant, and ease off at the family-friendly Sleep Inn & Suites Emmitsburg.

Havre de Grace

Named for the French port city of Le Havre, this squeaky-clean Harford County community is located at the confluence of the Susquehanna River and the gigantic Chesapeake Bay, approximately 40 miles northeast of Baltimore. Havre de Grace is an enticing recreational and tourist hotspot, renowned for the grand Victorian era estates in the Havre de Grace Historic District, fascinating museums like the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum, and phenomenal waterside panoramas. Partake in multitudinous fun-filled endeavors at Millard Tydings Memorial Park and have a pleasant stay at Vandiver Inn.

Berlin

Berlin, christened after the antiquated tavern "Burley Inn," is a teeny Worcester County town that forms a portion of the Salisbury, MD, Metropolitan Statistical Area. Located just 10 miles inland from the Assateague Island National Seashore, Berlin is highly rated for the plethora of scrupulously conserved late xix century commercial properties in the 8-acre Berlin Commercial District. The Burley Manor and Merry Sherwood Plantation House ought to be explored by historical experts while nature aficionados are wooed by the pristine habitats of Maryland’s solus oceanfront park: the Assateague State Park. Make sure to inspect closely the Downtown’s unnumerable art galleries like Henry Fine Arts, top-notch eateries like The Sterling Tavern, and accommodations like The Atlantic Hotel, alongside participating in the annual Berlin Bathtub Races and Oktoberfest celebrations.

Mount Airy

Making up a part of both the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Washington Metropolitan Area, Mount Airy straddles the borderline between Frederick and Carroll Counties. Settled in the early 1830s, side by side, the Baltimore & Ohio (B & O) Railroad line, the hamlet’s formal name was put forward by an Irishman B & O laborer, who, on a windy business day, moaned about his freezing ears owing to the bitterly cold winds that blew across the railroad station at Parr’s Ridge. Saunter down the inviting Main Street while on a tour of this 9,654-inhabitant town, perusing the gift shops like Ben Gue Antiques & Gifts, small craft breweries like Liquidity Aleworks, and cozy storefront cafes like Olde Town Restaurant, besides catching some sleep at the Budget Inn.

Thurmont

A tiny Frederick County town, Thurmont, is located by the US Route 15 Highway at the eastern feet of the Blue Ridge Mountains’ Catoctin spur, approx. 10 miles from the state line with Pennsylvania. This 6,213-inhabitant town’s adjacency to Catoctin Mountain Park, which proffers awe-inspiring vistas of the Monocacy Valley, sparkling streams, and enticing trekking and camping areas, has made Thurmont the most frequented destination for all adrenaline junkies. Do not miss the Cunningham Falls; it's the Free State’s greatest cascading waterfall in the Cunningham Falls State Park. Have a pleasant stay at Super 8 by Wyndham Thurmont and attend the annual Catoctin Colorfest, one of the East Coast’s biggest open-air arts and crafts festivals.

Saint Michaels

Saint Michaels is an arresting Talbot County town set alongside the Miles River on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, precisely an hour-and-a-half drive from Washington D.C. Founded in 1778 and named for an Anglican church that predates the settlement’s establishment, this "Heart & Soul of the Chesapeake Bay" attentively maintains its appearance as a 19th century seaport proudly endorsing its sobriquet: ‘the town that fooled the British.’ When on a tour of this historic town, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and the 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse are some must-visit sites aside from the Downtown’s myriad gift shops like the Preppy Redneck, restaurants like Plates at 208, and hotels like St. Michaels Inn.

From the settlement of Thurmont to the blissful Chesapeake Bay town of Saint Michaels, the eighth-smallest and 18th-most-populous state in the country packs a handful of enticing towns within its boundaries. Flaunting unparalleled natural enchantments, hypnotizing visitor magnets, mouthwatering fare serving foodie havens, comfortable lodgings, and above all, the generous hospitality of the townspeople, these nine serene towns for a weekend retreat in Maryland promise unforgettable experiences on your weekend getaways.