Hidden Gems of
Maryland
Visit these 10 hidden attractions in Maryland
Maryland, a state in the USA named after the English queen Henrietta Maria, is
home to many cultural institutions and natural beauties, especially its gracious gardens. There are many things
related to this state a lot of people are not familiar with. That is
why we are here to inform you of some hidden gems of Maryland.
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Maryland is one of the original 13 constituent states
of the USA, offering a wide
variety of tourist attractions, many of them true hidden gems of Maryland. |
Crystal grottoes
The first one among the hidden gems of Maryland that we will mention is
this dark cave. It is almost entirely made of red and brown clay and it features narrow passage ways. A
road construction crew discovered it in 1920. They finally opened it as a museum two years later. There is a spot
where water constantly drips from the ceiling, thus creating the only pond in the cave. The cavern has a great
number of stalactites and flowstone, which are red in the part of the cave called Fairyland.
Ladew Topiary gardens
Named after topiary enthusiast and their own creator Harvey Smith Ladew II,
these gardens are outstanding hidden gems to visit. They are full of
butterflies and flowers, featuring a butterfly house and a fox hunt area filled with topiaries resembling dogs,
foxes, horses and other animals, created with Ladew's love for fox hunting in England. It is located in
Monkton.
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Ladew Topiary Gardens is one of the hidden gems of
Maryland,
featuring over 100 topiary forms and garden rooms. |
Fort Carroll
Now abandoned and overgrown, the US
army built Fort Carroll with the purpose of defending Baltimore. The
army also used it as a shooting range in World War II. Even though a Baltimore attorney
purchased the
island in 1958, they didn't do anything with it and now plants
and fauna inhabit it.
Lilypons water gardens
These beautiful water gardens are filled with aquatic plants, fish and, as its
name implies, lilies. There is a small garden shop where you can buy gifts, as well as food for the koi fish. The
place is great for picnics and it hosts interesting events all year long. It is located in Adamstown, and if
breathtaking ponds interest you, this is one of the most amazing places to go. You will absolutely love these hidden gems of
Maryland!
Jug Bay wetlands sanctuary
Located along the Patuxent River, the
sanctuary has many alluring animals to see. Such as frogs which are constantly jumping around and cute little
otters. There is even a pond with beaver homes where turtles also live. You can ride a bike here, go hiking,
fishing and even canoeing. Also, there are trails that lead to a charming overlook of the
river. This hidden gem is for adults and kids of all ages
alike.
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At Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary you will find many
animals, including otters,
that are smart, playful and powerful swimmers. |
George Peabody Library in Baltimore
George Peabody founded the library which is well furnished in every department of
knowledge, from British art to geography. It contains over 300,000 volumes. This "Cathedral of books" was completed
in 1878. It has a dazzling atrium. During daytime, sunlight illuminates the iron-cast balconies dressed in
gold-leaf. Also, the bookshelves reach the ceiling and wooden furniture surrounds them. It looks like something
straight out of Harry Potter! There is no entry fee and if you are
passing by, you absolutely must visit it. This is one of many great
places in Baltimore that we will mention, so if you are interested in moving there, make sure you
contact allstatemoving.net.
Certainly, it will make your moving easier and relieve you of unnecessary stress.
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Even if seeing a lot of books might not be your idea
of fun vacation,
you might be still amazed by George Peabody Library of historical volumes. |
Lawyer's Winterbrook farm
A bit sillier than the others, this farm can be considered an amusement park. It has giant robots and pumpkin cannons for you to shoot out of. That isn't a joke, these
pumpkins can reach the speeds of around 75 miles per hour. You can also search for markers around the corn maze. If
you find all of them, you enter a raffle with the possibility of winning a free ticket next year. You can also find
giant slides and hamster wheels.
Walters Art Museum
This museum was founded in Baltimore in 1934, and it contains over 5,000 years
worth of art. Mummies, Lalique jewelry, Fabergé egg, Asian, Ethiopian, medieval art, you name it, it has
everything. There are even jeweled Turkish rifles. It is attached to a restored three story mansion. The spiral
staircase along with the overhead dome is an architectural masterpiece. The museum is a collection
of William and Henry Walters,
industrialists and bankers who had a passion for fine arts. All of
this costs absolutely no money, but you can still show your support by dropping some money into the donation
box.
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Established as an independent city in 1729, Baltimore
is known as a "city of
neighborhoods", with an estimated population of 2.8 million in metropolitan area. |
Dan's Rock
If you like long distance views from high vantage points, then Dan's Rock is for
you. The summit has a very enjoyable view, and it takes a short 5 minute climb to reach it. On some days, you can
even see four different states from the top. It has many graffiti painted rocks. It is unlike anything you've seen before. However, watch out for
rattlesnakes, they shouldn't bother you if you leave them alone. Overall, it is an easily accessible mountain with a charming view from the
top, and colorful rocks accompany it.
Sherwood Gardens, Baltimore
A must see in the spring, we can describe this lovely little park with one word:
blooming. The tulips and azaleas are marvelous. It has a great mix of purple, red and pink flowers. If you want to
enjoy the flowers, you need to get there before May, because they will stop blooming after that. Moreover, it
features a splendid neighborhood with well-maintained, gorgeous houses. It is really peaceful, almost perfect for a
walk, picnic or reading a book under a tree. In addition, on the Memorial Day weekend, the public can participate
in the tulip bulb digs to provide clean beds for summer plantings. This is
something anyone would dream of visiting, so if you are in Baltimore, do so.
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