Chesapeake Bay

The Chesapeake Bay area has more than 100 sites rich in culture, history, fishing, and farming. You can spend months here and not see everything. Pick your camping spot wisely, because there are tons of things to do in this area. There is plenty of baseball, trains, horses, fishing, hiking, and boating.

The Chesapeake Bay estuary, or where rivers meet the ocean, touches six states and Washington DC. Learn how to catch crabs and shuck oysters in coastal towns that rely on the sea creatures for their livelihoods. See wild horses galloping around huge sand dunes on the coastal islands in between Maryland and Virginia.

Explore the history of the area at St. Mary's City, Maryland, where the state was founded in 1635. Check out Baltimore, one of the most important ports during the War of 1812 and a noted industrial city that help America expand westward. Washington DC harbors the rich history and seat of power in the nation's capital.

Hands-on history sites are all over the area. Grist mills still grind wheat or corn into flour, and some of them go all-out for holidays and festival times. Drum Point Lighthouse and museum, on Solomons Island, gives you an idea of what it was like to run a lighthouse along the bay. In every town you tour, there are historic buildings and people who can tell you stories about what happened there.

Recreational activities abound. Rent a boat or bring your own and get out on the water to catch some prize fish. Hike or bike on many of the trails near the bay. Campsites are full of natural wonders, including coastal sites near the water and secluded areas surrounded by tall trees. Much like the Chesapeake Bay area's activities, your choices of campsites are plentiful.