As much as I like Southern Maryland, realistically, if you drive down from DC or Baltimore or…read morethereabouts thinking that the very last tip of land reaching out into the Chesapeake is going to be a great place to visit, you're likely to be disappointed. The site has a lighthouse in classic Maryland style, but it's rarely open. There are some places where you can get in the water, but many where you cannot. The conditions out here can be a little rough, either from too much wind or, immediately inland, fetid swampiness. The history of the place as a Civil War penal colony is interesting. There's some placards and such, but not an enormous amount of actual stuff to do when I've visited. It should be noted that while these are not part of the park, visitors will see a memorial to the site's many lost inhabitants and a separate Confederate memorial as they drive up. For locals, getting a pass may be worthwhile. For those visiting the area, there are a lot of prettier and more interesting sites you'd be passing on the way here.

Loved this state park--such an unexpected surprise! Unfortunately, no ghost sightings inside the…read morepark, but plenty of eerie vibes and fascinating history to make up for it. From the Civil War hospital grounds to the old lighthouse, the stories practically come alive as you explore. The views of the Chesapeake Bay are stunning, and the trails are peaceful, with just enough of a spooky undertone to keep things interesting. Lots of historical plaques to spark your curiosity, SOOO - If you're into history, lore, and maybe catching a glimpse of the paranormal (or just a beautiful sunset), Point Lookout should definitely be on your list!

I love "The Watch" statute. Very expressive, majestic, historical. When I was staying at Calvert…read moreMarina I came down every morning to say hello. And also enjoy the beautiful water surroundings.

The On Watch Monument is a little-known historical landmark at the end of the Dowell peninsula in…read moreSolomon's Maryland. It commemorates the highly important US Naval Amphibious training base that was located here between 1942 and 1945. Many Americans don't realize that our success in amphibious operations was directly attributable to all of those servicemen who were trained here at Solomon's Island. There is really no trace left of the base, but you can stop by and see the statue of the Sailor by sculptor Antonio Mendez. It's also a very beautiful location near where Back Creek joins the Patuxent River.

I must admit the one thing I like almost as much as yelping and eating is exploring historical…read moresights. I have a ninety four year old friend that loves history. She invited me to the commemorative ribbon cutting of the reopening of this one room African American School House. It had been newly renovated. I just love being able to reach out and touch history. One of the perks of going to the reopening was that they had a church service after the ribbon cutting. Men and women that went to school there spoke. I believe the school house was built around the 1890, that would be after slavery. Segregation was ruled unconstitutional by the supreme court in 1954, that was about six decades ago. Looking around the school, which is very small really stirs the soul. It would be so nice if people would bring there children to tour the school. One of the best teachers is being able to reach out and touch history. Bring your son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter to take a tour of history. Until Next Adventure Vonnie

Picturesque inlet that's good for a nice waterfront stroll. Petty homes denote upscalia but besides…read morea summer concert series, dining and recreational options are limited which if you live here is music to your ears as swarming tourists are kept to a minimum. Five stars for the stroll.

Since I live in Solomons, I should probably give it one star so as not to encourage tourists, who…read morebring traffic and noise and otherwise detract from my lifestyle. But that would not be honest, and if nothing else, I'm honest. Solomons, also known as Solomons Island, is an unincorporated community in Calvert County, Maryland. The population was 2,368 at the 2010 census, up from 1,536 at the 2000 census. Solomons is a popular weekend destination spot in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. It includes the mainland on the north side of the mouth of Patuxent River, where it meets the Chesapeake Bay. It is just across from the U.S. Naval Air Station Patuxent River (on the south side of the mouth of the Patuxent River). Originally called Bourne's Island (1680), then Somervell's Island (1740), Solomons takes its name from 19th century Baltimore businessman Isaac Solomon, who established a cannery there shortly after the Civil War. Solomon's home still stands on the front of the island. The area has been inhabited since colonial times. Solomons was a rather isolated boat-building town housing the University of Maryland Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, until 1977 when the Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge was built. The bridge leads from just off Solomons Island proper to St. Mary's County and the Patuxent Naval Air Station. The town now welcomes tourists with numerous marinas, seafood restaurants, gift shops, a boardwalk, a sculpture garden, the Calvert Marine Museum where visitors can climb atop a former lighthouse, board harbor cruises, and hear occasional outdoor concerts by famous performers. Solomons also has three major hotels, a U.S. Navy family recreation center, and Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Chruch. The Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center in Solomons is a Smithsonian-affiliated forested sculpture park where creations of Kenneth Snelson, George Rickey, Arnaldo Pomodoro and other major sculptors are on exhibit.

To start the young man at the front desk was very welcoming, professional, and knowledgeable. The…read moregrounds outside were well kept and extremely clean. Closed toed shoes for walking around the park is a must, I went unprepared with flip flops. The restrooms inside were also clean. There's a gift shop and a library as well. The exhibit was very well done and I absolutely loved how interactive it was, it's also handicap accessible and self guided! I definitely recommend checking out the wildlife drive across the street at blackwater refuge, we saw the statue of Harriet Tubman catching a muskrat to then seeing one at the refuge!

Beautifully done. This National Historical Park is well maintained and full of interactive…read moreexhibits. The space is handicap accessible and most exhibits include easy to read fonts and braille. I would definitely recommend this educational experience to learners of all ages.

Historic Sotterley is a preserved plantation near the water in Hollywood, Maryland. Pre-pandemic,…read morethey offered ours, hosted weddings inside the historic home and taught classes for all ages. During the pandemic, these have been suspended, but you can still visit. There's a small parking lot and signs that guide you to the historic home, gardens and slave house. Like many plantations in this area, people were enslaved here. It's a tragic fact to know when you visit so you can mourn and grieve. It would be inappropriate to visit this place without knowing the tragedy of it and how it led to the systemic racism that sadly still exists today. May we all fight for justice for all!

Yes, the grounds are pretty. But a really important reason to visit is the story this place tells…read moreof enslaved people and their captors. Growing up in the South as a white person, I have been accustomed to historic plantations that allow visitors to share a romantic view of the "Old South." A view that ignores the ravages of slavery. In contrast, Sotterley has invested in presenting artifacts of its history with enslaved Africans, primarily through renovating a slave cabin. What is chilling is that a ship carrying people kidnapped from West Africa docked on the shores of Sotterley. The UN has designated it as a special cultural site because of this history. Learn more about the effort to present a true picture of life at the plantation in this article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2019/07/18/descendants-slaves-slave-owners-discover-legacy-marylands-sotterley-planation/

the staff is friendly and really supportive. We only had pictures done here for our wedding but I…read morecan completely understand the appeal of hosting a special event/meal here. It's a wonderful location and just made for some great memories!

From the owner: Poplar Hill Mansion is a beautiful historic home. Salisbury, Maryland"s oldest home and first…read morehospital is now an historic house museum open to the public for free tours every Friday & Sunday 12-4 or by appointment any other day. Come learn about the first surgeon in Salisbury, Dr. John Huston, his family, and the enslaved people. See furnishings of the early 1800s, learn about medicine of the time period, and see the exhibits about life in the period of the nation's early history. It also provides affordable rates for private event rentals, and makes a beautiful setting for a wedding, birthday party, anniversary party, baby shower, and more!

On the side of the road near where Greenbelt Road crosses the Beltway is this historical marker…read moresign denoting the Taoping Castle (circa 1750). It is on Walker Road. It reads: On this site, Isaac Charles and Nathan Walker erected a large white oak log house named for their ancestral stronghold in Scotland which the three brothers had fled after the failure of attempts to unseat George I, King of England, as ruler of Scotland. Isaac permanently settled here and obtained land grants for 188 acres. He and his three sons served in the Revolutionary War. The graves of Isaac and his son Nathan are north of here. Taoping Castle was the birthplace of Samuel Hamilton Walker (February 24, 1817 - October 9, 1847). Lt. Colonel of the Texas Rangers and Captain of the US Cavalry, he left home at age 19 to fight Indians and later became a leader and hero of the Rangers. His suggested changes to Samuel Colt's revolver resulted in Colt's success as an arms manufacturer. 1000 Colt-Walker pistols - the first, heaviest and longest revolvers ever issued to American forces - were purchased for the Texas Rangers during the Mexican war. Walker was killed in that war at the Battle of Hua Mantla, Mexico. The family cemetery is all that remains of the Taoping Castle estate.

Six of us (aged 24 to 77) went for lunch at the tavern on a Thursday and had a delicious lunch and…read moreenjoyed an interesting presentation by the weavers guild on the second floor. There is a nice gift shop that benefits the historic hotel/tavern. The food at lunch was a limited menu but the black bean soup and freshly made bread was fabulous and others in our group enjoyed the quiche. If you like historic places I definitely recommend this place.

This place is a hidden gem. The cafe and gift shop are combined in one large, multi-room space on…read morethe first floor. The shop features household items, decor, quilts, knitted and woven items, made by local Virginian artisans. There are a few studios in the back where artists-in-residence can be found working on their crafts, and classes available (there was a beading class in session the day I was there.) The clerk was a volunteer, as I think is all the staff, and she was super nice and gave me lots of information about the shop and artists. I bought an adorable knit jellyfish ornament (pictured) even though I was originally planning on just looking. Then I went through to the cafe, also manned by volunteers, these from the culinary guild. They had soups, a salad option, a sandwich option, and some baked goods, mostly already prepared. I got the autumn chopped salad with spring mix, apples, avocado, bacon and a cheddar cheese dressing. It came with a choice of fresh baked bread and I picked a molasses cornbread variety that was AMAZING. The sandwich option, which I did not get, is also worth mentioning because it was a grilled cheese with BACON AND JAM and sounded incredible. My salad was delicious though and I needed some greens in me. The volunteers were all so nice and helpful. I love this place!