Maryland’s state flower, the black-eyed Susan, features the striking black and gold colors of Lord Baltimore’s family crest. Its blossom also contains 13 petals, signifying the number of the original colonies.

Courtesy of Tim Tadder Photography/Maryland Office of Tourism

Maryland - Nature and Scientific Wonders

By Smithsonian.com
Smithsonian.com, November 06, 2007

Catoctin Furnace
From 1776 to 1905, raw pig iron and iron implements of all kinds were manufactured at this historic site. Hike wooded trails to the furnace and discover the remnants of a community that included founders, miners, clerks, charcoal makers, storekeepers, teamsters and others.

Chesapeake Bay
It's the largest estuary in the United States and the soul of the region. Fish, swim, boat, sit and watch the sun cross the horizon, eat spicy steamed crabs, sail on a historic skipjack, hunt for duck. The possibilities abound.

Butler's Orchard
Check out a favorite pick-your-own farm and farm market in Germantown with strawberries, Christmas trees and everything in between.

Deep Creek Lake
This man-made lake in western Maryland (the largest in the state) features terrific boating, swimming and boating, as well as hiking and skiing in the surrounding mountains.

Eastern Shore
Whether you crave the honky-tonk fun of Ocean City's boardwalk or the sophisticated eateries of Easton, want to see the wild ponies of Assateague Island or relax on the beach, Maryland's eastern shore has what you seek.

National Aquarium in (Baltimore)
Encounter spectacular sharks, beautiful corals and more than 10,500 aquatic creatures as you travel from the Chesapeake Bay to the Amazon Rain Forest. See bottlenose dolphins and some of the most colorful animals in the world.

Purse State Park
Set on the Potomac River at Wades Bay, the area is perfect for hunting, bird watching and fishing. Fossilized sharks teeth, bones and shells are often found along the waters edge.

Rocky Gap State Park
The 3,000-acre park features the 243-acre Lake Habeeb, a dense hemlock forest and an impressive mile-long gorge framed by sheer cliffs. Hundreds of camping sites are available.

Butler's Orchard
Check out a favorite pick-your-own farm and farm market in Germantown with strawberries, Christmas trees and everything in between.

Deep Creek Lake
This man-made lake in western Maryland (the largest in the state) features terrific boating, swimming and boating, as well as hiking and skiing in the surrounding mountains.

Skipjack Nathan of Dorchester
The skipjack is the Maryland State boat, and the Nathan is a traditional 65-foot skipjack based in Cambridge available for day sailing or events.

Island State Park (St. Clement's)
In 1634, the first English settlers to arrive in Maryland landed at St. Clements. The 40-acre park is dedicated to their memory and accessible by boat.

Aviation Museum (College Park)
Aeronautics buffs will love this interactive museum dedicated to the world's oldest continually operating airfield—where Wilbur Wright first taught military pilots to fly. The museum features aircraft, hands-on exhibits and animatronics.

Science Center
From dinosaurs to outer space, the science center in Baltimore captivates adults and children alike. Multimedia, interactive galleries keep up with the latest discoveries in biological science, space exploration and Earth studies. Watch a tornado form before your eyes; convert your own energy into electricity even touch a cloud.

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