Maryland

Bordering Washington, D.C., Montgomery County is a great place to stay when you want to explore the nation's capital but also benefit from the county's very special attractions. Choose from any number of museums, public galleries, theaters, historic sites, and parks. Visit the Clara Barton National Historic Site in Glen Echo (301-492-6245; open daily, 10 A.M.-5 P.M., shown by guided tour only), which commemorates the life of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross. The home, built in 1891, served as the headquarters and warehouse for the organization. Special events, such as plays and open houses, appropriate for all ages and free, are offered throughout the year.

Nearby the Barton house is the historic Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, which operated from 1828 to 1924 and follows the route of the Potomac River for 184.5 miles, from Washington, D.C., to Cumberland, Maryland. Along this route, you'll find hundreds of original structures, including locks, lock houses, and aqueducts, dating from the canal's heyday. Bike or hike along the nearly level, continuous trail through the spectacular scenery of the Potomac River Valley.

QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY

In lovely Queen Anne's Count, on the scenic Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, enjoy a succulent crab or oyster dinner beside a bustling marina, fish and crab on the Bay, bicycle through historic and picturesque small towns, and hike through marshes.

Start your journey at the Chesapeake Exploration Center on beautiful Kent Narrows. The center is home to "Our Chesapeake Legacy," a hands-on, interactive exhibit providing an overview of the Chesapeake Bay region's heritage, resources, and culture. The exhibit covers the Bay's early history, and explores the importance of the key industries of agriculture and commercial fishing.

Kent Island, just across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, is the oldest settlement in Maryland. In Stevensville, the largest town, visit the restored Stevensville Train Depot and Christ Church, home to Maryland's oldest congregation, founded in 1631. Matapeake State Park, on the island's western shore, offers views of the Bay Bridge, boat ramps, and a 900-foot-long fishing pier. Terrapin Beach Nature Park includes a one-mile nature trail, pond, two observation blinds, and a boardwalk to the Chesapeake Bay.

ST. MARY'S COUNTY

The expansive Chesapeake Bay and two mighty rivers, the Patuxent and the Potomac, cradle the peninsula of St. Mary's, shaping both its geography and its way of life. Cruise open water on an authentic skipjack, and explore tidal inlets by canoe or kayak. Climb to the top of the only remaining lighthouse on the Potomac. Here, where Maryland began, historic sites abound. Visit St. Clement's Island, where English colonists landed in 1634, or Historic St. Mary's City, the state's first colonial capital and its premier outdoor living history museum and archcological park. Enjoy the seasonal harvest of crabs and oysters--available for sampling at waterside eateries and the many heritage festivals held throughout the year.