Maryland March destinations

Maryland offers Plenty of choices for girls' getaways Tourism Office suggests March destinations

BALTIMORE – March 8 – Some go to nourish their souls; others want to test their physical limits. And others just want to get away from it all. Girls' getaways are as varied as the travelers themselves.

Now, Maryland's Office of Tourism has designated March as a time to encourage girls' getaways through its Maryland Spotlight campaign – a monthly promotion that highlights distinctive aspects of Maryland tourism.

Margot Amelia, the office's executive director, says: "March is a great time to plan a Maryland getaway – whether it's to a B&B, an urban hotel or a relaxing resort. And, with spring on the horizon, travelers can select lots of outdoors options: hiking and biking, horseback riding, boating, and bird-watching, for instance."

The Tourism Office has this advice for arranging a getaway: Select the kind of experience you want and then match it to the type of destination you prefer. You can opt for fun outdoors on a mountainside or at a waterfront village along the Chesapeake. Want to spend time replenishing your inner spirit? Combine a complete spa getaway with a stay at a cozy inn in Mountain Maryland or a B&B on the Eastern Shore.

Here is a sampling of activities, events and destinations that can each be foundations for planning a girls' getaway:

Resorts and spas

Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina in Cambridge – on the Choptank River on the Eastern Shore – features the Stillwater Spa. This European-style spa has various treatment packages available. Also at the resort: The Golf Club at River Marsh; a 150-slip marina; and Heron Point Wildlife Refuge.

Rocky Gap Lodge and Golf Resort in Flintstone, a town in the foothills of Rocky Gap State Park on a 243-acre lake, offers lots of outdoor activities – tennis, boating, hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing, paintball and geocaching. The Western Maryland resort boasts a Jack Nicklaus-Signature Golf Course. Indoors, you'll find the Garden Spa, pool and yoga classes.

St. Michaels Harbour Inn, Marina and Spa – located on the Miles River in the Eastern Shore town of St. Michaels – is an upscale resort with a full-service spa on the premises. It offers a "Pajama Party" package that includes waterfront suites, spa and dining credits, and even, pajamas. St. Michaels is home of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.

Turf Valley – situated on property that was once a Thoroughbred horse farm – is a sprawling resort with two golf courses in Ellicott City, just west of Baltimore. The resort's spa offers several girls' getaway packages. Off-season rates apply at Turf Valley through March 31.

Wisp Resort Hotel and Conference Center, near Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland, is a four-season mountain resort. You'll find opportunities to delve into a variety of sports. This part of Maryland is an oasis for outdoor recreation. Sewickley Spa is also located here. Check online for spa and resort packages.

Outdoor adventures

Adrenaline High in Salisbury is an Eastern Shore touring company geared for biking and kayaking enthusiasts. Arrange a visit to a winery or a series of houses on a ghost tour. For overnight accommodations, you will have options for a bed and breakfast, farmhouse, houseboat, RV or cabin cruiser. All trips are customized and designed for small groups. Call 410-749-2886.

Terrapin Adventures at Savage Mill (near Fort Meade, between Baltimore and Washington, D.C.) has guides who will guide you through outdoor courses that include ziplines, a giant swing, a high-ropes challenge and a 43-ft.-high climbing tower. In March, courses are open on weekends. Staff members can also take you on a variety of off-premises excursions, such as: horseback riding; nature hikes; geocaching; and rappelling. Water-based activities start later in the spring. Savage Mill was a textile weaving facility from the 1820s to the 1940s. Today it houses a variety of restaurants, shops and artisans' galleries.

Exploring nature

On the Eastern Shore, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, near Cambridge and known as the "Everglades of the North," is a major stop for bird migration along one of the main American Flyways. The refuge is also a waterfowl sanctuary and has one of the nation's largest populations of breeding bald eagles. Killarney B Inn B is one of Dorchester County's nearby lodging options that have girls' getaway packages.

Calvert Cliffs State Park in Southern Maryland's Calvert County is known for imposing cliffs – formed 15 million years ago – that overlook the Chesapeake Bay shoreline. Hike along the park's nature trails and look for fossils. More than 600 species of fossils, especially sharks teeth, have been found here. The park is in Lusby, the same town as Solomons Island Winery.
Culinary adventures

Frederick, an hour west of Baltimore, presents its first Restaurant Week, March 8-14. With 30-plus restaurants, downtown Frederick is a dining destination. It's also the hub of an area rich in culture and Civil War history – the Barbara Fritchie House is downtown. Nearby New Market offers antiques shopping. And, the Frederick Wine Trail is a cluster of six wineries across Frederick County that accounts for more than half of the state's wine production.

On the Eastern Shore, Talbot County's first Restaurant Week, March 21-28, features fine dining at more than 20 eateries in Easton, Oxford, St. Michaels, Tilghman and Trappe – at special prices. The county's culinary reputation, cultural attractions and Bay lifestyle, have helped it become "the Hamptons of the Chesapeake." Restaurant Week also includes free afternoon admission to county museums and the annual Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition, March 27, at Easton's Avalon Theatre.

The 10th annual Taste of Solomons, also March 27, allows you to sample Chesapeake Bay cuisine and the lifestyle of this Southern Maryland waterfront town. Local restaurants serve up their specialties, amid art displays and wine tastings. You can even arrange excursions with operators of kayaking, boating and fishing trips. Attractions in and near Solomons include: Calvert Marine Museum, Annmarie Garden (public sculpture park) and Calvert Cliffs State Park.
B&Bs and boutiques

Gramercy Mansion Bed and Breakfast in Baltimore County presents one of its Whisks, Wine and Women classes – "Steak to My Heart," on March 18. This session demonstrates the gourmet touches that can accompany a steak dinner. Make the "Ladies' Night Out" event a "Ladies' Night INN" when you stay at the B&B with a discounted rate. Spa packages are also available.

Baltimore's three Harbor Magic Hotels – Brookshire Suites, Admiral Fell Inn and Pier 5 Hotel – are boutique-style properties along the city's waterfront. Stay one night and get a second night free, along with a $25 voucher good for nearby dining and spa services. Brookshire and Pier 5 are in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, and Admiral Fell Inn is by the water in the historic Fells Point section.

Vandiver Inn in Havre de Grace has packages that include breakfast, a bottle of wine, and a fruit and cheese platter – good for all rooms, including Jacuzzi and fireplace suites – during the week or weekends before March 31. The inn hosts its annual St. Patrick's Day beer dinner, March 13. Havre de Grace, located where the Susquehanna River meets the Chesapeake Bay, has numerous galleries and restaurants, a waterfront promenade and a decoy museum.
Wine trails, arts districts, Main Streets

Maryland has eight wine trails that connect wineries in various regions of the state. The Patuxent Wine Trail, for instance, is a north to south route that includes five Southern Maryland wineries. Check the Maryland Wineries Association web site for details about each trail, including lodging and restaurant information.

Arts and entertainment districts are concentrated areas of cultural activities and venues that can be enticing locations for getaways. Maryland has 18 of these districts – in cities and towns of all sizes, from Berlin (south of Ocean City near the Atlantic coast) to Cumberland in Western Maryland's mountains. The Maryland State Arts Council lists the A&E districts on its web site.

Maryland's 23 designated Main Streets are downtown business districts with historic structures that have been restored in an effort to revitalize local communities and commerce. Main Streets often include a variety of shops and boutiques that are operated by local merchants. Like A&E districts, they can be interesting getaway destinations. Chestertown, a scenic waterfront town on the Eastern Shore, and Frostburg, a college town in Western Maryland, both have Main Streets.
Wellness centers

Apothecary Wellness Spa – located just south of Baltimore's Inner Harbor in Federal Hill – focuses on a holistic and organic approach to health and beauty services. Baltimore magazine named it "best holistic spa" in 2009. The American Visionary Art Museum, which houses an eclectic and unusual collection of art, is nearby.

Blue Heron Wellness in Silver Spring specializes in acupuncture, massage therapy, yoga and herbal medicine. The center also offers skin-care treatments and an ongoing schedule of workshops. Downtown Silver Spring is awash with restaurants, cultural venues, and shopping and lodging choices.
Tracing history

Annapolis, Maryland's capital and for a brief time, the U.S. capital, is known for its restaurants, galleries, Colonial gardens and maritime lifestyle. Take a walking tour. The town has more 18th-century buildings still in use than anywhere else in the nation. Visit the U.S. Naval Academy. Plan a sightseeing trip around Annapolis Harbor aboard a sailboat or powerboat. Lodging choices include B&Bs, inns and major hotels.

Washington County in Western Maryland has more than 35 museums and historical sites, including Antietam – one of the Civil War's most significant battlefields. The county also has premier hiking and biking trails, nearly two-dozen stone bridges from the 1800s, and discount shopping at Prime Outlets in Hagerstown. Also in Hagerstown: the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and the Maryland Theatre, a restored landmark built in 1915.
Monthly themes
In February, the Tourism Office spotlighted Black History Month in Maryland. Previous themes have
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