were built in the Second
Empire, Queen Anne and
Colonial Revival styles,
while most ‘regular’
homes are two-story,
center gable ‘I-houses,’
once one of the most
common housing styles
in rural America in the
19th century, now largely
displaced in this region
by modern split-levels.The Drive » Take Ridge Rd/
MD-27 back to Liberty Rd/MD-- Turn left and proceed along
for 10 miles to reach Elk Run.
5 Hill & Horse
Country
Much of Frederick,
Carroll, Baltimore andHartford counties consist
of trimmed, rolling
grassy hills intersected
by copses of pine and
broadleaf woods and
tangled hedgerows; it’s
the sort of landscape that
could put you in mind
of the bocage country
of northern France or
rural England. A mix of
working farmers and
wealthy city folks live out
here, and horse breeding
and raising is a big
industry.
It can be pretty
enchanting just driving
around and getting lost
on some of the local
back roads, but if you
want a solid destination,
it’s tough to go wrongwith Elk Run Vineyards
(%410-775-2513; http://www.elkrun.
com; 15113 Liberty Road, Mt
Airy; tastings from $5, tours
free; h10am-5pm Tue-Sat,
1-5pm Sun), almost exactly
halfway between Mt Airy
and New Market. Free
tours are offered at 1pm
and 3pm, and tastings
can be arranged without
reservations for at least
two people.
The Drive Continue
west on Liberty Rd/
MD-26 for 6 miles, then
turn left (southbound)
onto MD-75/Green Valley
Rd. After about 7 miles,
take a right onto Old
New Market Road to
reach New Market’s Main
Street.Start: 1 Baltimore
In Southern Maryland, 75 miles south of Baltimore via US 301 and MD-4, skinny
Calvert County scratches at Chesapeake Bay and the Patuxent River. This is a gentle
landscape (‘user-friendly’ as a local ranger puts it) of low-lying forests, estuarine
marshes and placid waters, but there is one rugged feature: the Calvert Cliffs. These
burnt umber pillars stretch along the coast for some 24 miles, and form the seminal
landscape feature of Calvert Cliffs State Park (%301-743-7613; 9500 H. G. Trueman
Road, Lusby; hsunrise to sunset; pc#), where they front the water and a pebbly,
honey-sand beach scattered with driftwood and drying beds of kelp.
Back in the day (10–20 million years ago), this area sat submerged under a warm
sea. Eventually, that sea receded and left the fossilized remains of thousands of
prehistoric creatures embedded in the cliffs. Fast forward to the 21st century, and
one of the favorite activities of Southern Maryland families is coming to this park,
strolling across the sand and plucking out fossils and sharks’ teeth from the pebbly
debris at the base of the cliffs. Over 600 species of fossils have been identified at
the park. In addition, a full 1079 acres and 13 miles of the park are set aside for trails
and hiking and biking.
While this spot is pet- and family-friendly, fair warning: it’s a 1.8 mile walk from the
parking lot to the open beach and the cliffs, so this may not be the best spot to go
fossil hunting with very small children unless they can handle the walk. Also: don’t
climb the cliffs as erosion makes this an unstable and unsafe prospect.CALVERT CLIFFS
DETOUR:
WASHINGTON.DC,.MARYLAND.&.DELAWARE.TRIPS15
(^) MARYLAND’S NATIONAL HISTORIC ROAD