Maryland State Fair

One of the best ways to wrap up the summer is at the Maryland State Fair. The fair is always held right before school starts and it was a nice to close out the summer activities with a little more than a week of events. This summer the fair is from August 23rd to September 2nd. The Maryland State Fair is located at the Timonium Fairgrounds in Lutherville. It is a fun, relaxing, and entertaining vacation destination within the state.

There are a wide range of activities to keep guests entertained throughout the course of the Fair. From looking at the Fair's website, it appears that the country group The Band Perry will be performing at some point during the week, probably towards the end. The actual dates of the events are still tentative because we still are so far away from the actual event.

This video is a few years outdated but still shows the overall scene!

One of the big staples of the Maryland State Fair is the draw on the "country" side of the state. Many of the events revolve around livestock showing or bull riding or pig racing, etc. Some of the cooler more popular things to watch are the different kind of races whether it be pigs or also horses, and also the "Masters of the Chainsaw" competition.

Fun for everyone not interested in the livestock can come from the delicious food and rides in the carnival like atmosphere.

Deep Creek Lake

Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County is a bit of change of scenery for most Maryland folk, but it is a beautiful change of scenery at that. Tucked in to the Western corner of the state, Deep Creek Lake is the biggest inland body of water in the state at 3,900 acres. 

What makes Deep Creek so special is the year round entertainment. Clear water lakes, rivers, and snow capped mountains provide enjoyment throughout the entire year. In the area there are tons of houses available for rent and there's also a four season resort called Wisp. 

You can do all the things you'd imagine you could do at a huge state park with a giant lake. Fishing, boating, hiking, hunting, biking, skiing(during the right season), waterskiing, tubing and there is even a golf course.

I prefer to visit during the summer because I more enjoy the warm weather, swimming, and water sports atmosphere. It truly is a majestic place during the warmer months and is a great getaway in the state. So this summer look into a trip to Deep Creek and stay for a few days or longer and explore your inner outdoorsmen. 

Preakness: The Biggest Party in the Region

May 18th is right around the corner and that is the day of the annual Preakness race. The Preakness race is a huge occasion for locals and visitors alike. 50,000 people can't be wrong year after year, after 137 running's of the race.

The Preakness race is held on the third Saturday in May at the Pimilico Race Track in Baltimore. It is the second leg of the US Triple Crown and usually the second largest crowd for a horse race in North America, behind only the Kentucky Derby.

You may be thinking, but Tom, I don't care even the slightest about horse racing. To be honest neither do I, but I love large crowds partying together. The horse race is only about 2 minutes of the entire day. The concert in the Infield is a great time and the lineup this year will definitely not disappoint. The headliner is Pitbull who will bring the house down with his upbeat party music. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are also headlining and are sure to get the crowd into party mode too. A country group, Florida Georgia Line are also performing on the Infield. Check out the video above to get an idea of what it looks like to be in the Infield on the day of Preakness.

Ticket prices vary depending on where you want to sit or if you just want to go on the Infield or if you want to get the Preakness Mug, but I think the cheapest ticket starts at $50. You can purchase tickets or check out travel information, or any variety of things on the interactive Preakness website.

Six Flags America: Only Theme Park in the Old Line State

With the weather heating up you'll be looking for places to get away and have a blast with friends and family and Six Flags America is that place for Marylanders. The only theme park in the state is located in Prince Georges County, in Bowie. Now don't let that scare you. The park is closer to D.C. but is also not far from Baltimore and is an easy travel for anyone. There are a few available travel options to get to the park so that shouldn't be any issue.

Going on a nice, hot day is definitely your best bet, that way you can experience the water park as well as the regular rides. The park offers some awesome roller coasters, the best in the state. Six Flags is the best and closest option for Marylanders in search of a thrill.

The newer themed rides are the best bet and guaranteed to be the most fun, so like any theme park that's where you'll find the longest lines. The Batman and Superman are the most fun ones that I went on while I was there. It wasn't nice enough for the water park when I had went but it looked pretty sweet. Everyone I know who has been there loved it.

Joker Roller Coaster, Photo Credit: Phaesia2011  

Six Flags America is the most convenient location for Maryland folk like myself. It's a good outing and a nice experience on a nice day. The price is very affordable and you can even buy season passes that could be worth it if you like it enough the first time you go.

The Greene Turtle: A DMV Treat

     If you're in search of an inexpensive night out with some friends and some delicious food, look no farther than the Greene Turtle. Located only in Maryland, Upper Virginia, Delaware and the District of Columbia, The Turtle is a restaurant every Marylander can take advantage of.

Mmmm Wings! Photo Credit: Stef Yau

     In Maryland there are 25 locations and they are spread throughout the whole state. In my opinion its an underrated restaurant. The places are always very family friendly atmospheres and always offer a great opportunity for a night out. The Greene Turtle is a greats sports bar scene as well. For local Maryland sports it's almost there will be a crowd gathered supporting whatever team may be playing.

     The menu is pretty deep and offers a bunch of seafood options which is my favorite part about eating there.They also have delicious "bar food" type dishes as well, wings, burgers, pizza, etc. As you can tell if you read my blog from a few posts ago, you can see that I love crabs. Being a Maryland based restaurant they have no shortage of crab featured dishes.

     Depending on your mood I don't think you can have a bad meal at The Greene Turtle. Personally I recommend the Chicken Chesapeake or the Chesapeake Burger (Both have bacon and crab meat....no brainer's.) Choosing the right appetizer is often the toughest choice you are faced with at the restaurant. The Crab Dip is to die for!

Crab Dip        Photo Credit: Imjustmatthew

     Enjoy all of your meals with a wide variety of alcoholic beverages if you're of age of course.

  

Photo Credit: Burt Everson

The Greene Turtle also has a genius business idea of weekly, competitive trivia with good prizes which keep a steady crowd of regulars. 
 
 


View the whole menu here and get a head start on ordering, but it will still take you a minute to decide once you are there and see the wait staff carrying the other dishes around. You can also see which restaurant is closest to you because it shows you the exact mileage from your zip code! Be sure to get one of their great shirts while you're there!
  
     Whether you're in the mood for a nice family dinner, gathering your friend group for a sporting event, or a night out in a slow town The Greene Turtle is an inexpensive option for all of the above. So go out and try it for yourself!

M&T Bank Stadium

College Football Game at the Stadium

     M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore is most commonly known as the home of the recently crowned Superbowl Champions, The Baltimore Ravens. The stadium is a majestic place. It is beautifully structured and the turf is new and is great looking. The sea of purple seats make me feel at home whenever I'm there because I am an avid Ravens fan.

     I had the pleasure of visiting the stadium a few times over this past NFL season, including Ray Lewis' last home game in the playoffs vs. The Colts. As a fan, there is nothing more awesome than attending a home game. The atmosphere is unreal.

     Along with Raven's games the Baltimore stadium holds home to a few other events. Around the state it is the hallowed grounds for high school football state championships. I never made it to play there but I did get to watch my high school play for it when I was a freshman. As a high school football player that's the ultimate goal, to play down at M&T Bank. To see my older friends playing out there was an unreal experience that I'll never forget and I can't imagine how they felt being out there.

Army vs. Navy Lacrosse Game at M&T Bank

     Besides the state championships the stadium has held the Men's College Lacrosse National Championship multiple times as well. This is a great location for the event as Maryland is a hotbed for the sport and the fans come out in huge numbers over Memorial Day weekend. They also host a few other lacrosse events which vary every year and season. On a warm day as a lacrosse fan it's a great scene to catch some good games.

Jay-Z and Justin performance! Photo Credit: Linda Marie

     Over the past few summers the stadium has hosted a few international soccer matches and this year is no different. In late July there are two days of soccer games at M&T Bank Stadium. Also this summer there is even a Monster Truck Rally in July.

     In August the stadium brings the Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake concert to town. This by music standards is a huge concert which will likely be sold out.

     M&T Bank Stadium is a great Maryland Treasure that should be experienced by all. Even if you don't like the Ravens maybe your team is playing them and you want to check them out, do it! Maybe you're a fan of soccer, or lacrosse, or high school football, or Monster Trucks, or Jay-Z whatever it is, M&T Bank is a great venue and a guarantee to be a great experience. 

Maryland Blue Crabs: The State Food

Photo Credit: Tony Weeg

     With summer quickly approaching and warm weather right on the horizon, in Maryland, that means one thing, CRABS. The Maryland Blue Crab is a delicacy and revered as a God like substance in the state. On a weekend in the summer you can surely smell the aroma of steamed crabs and old bay rising from the backyard picnics of about half of every house in any given neighborhood.

     To an outsider, the Crab eating process is tedious, complicated and God forbid you have any small cuts on your fingers because the Old Bay burn would wish you were an amputee. But to a local, the way you break the shell and what meat you eat is unique to the individual. Also to a local, it is something to look forward to for weeks and even months. The winter is death anticipating the arrival of crab season. It is the best season.

     Unfortunately the price for a bushel or two isn't as cheap as a college kid would hope for. That's why buying a bushel is a great bonding experience and an excellent opportunity to gather family and friends for no reason at all except to eat delicious food.

     If you're born and raised in the state you probably even have a friend or two who own a boat and go crabbing for their own keeps. Not only is dragging the line and pulling up the cages a fun time that gives you the satisfaction of catching your own food, but it also saves you the money of having to buy any crabs. Catching them is obviously the hard part, once you have them you just throw them in a large metal pot over a flame in boiling water and a mixture of other unique ingredients. Each crabber has their own blend of whatever makes the crabs they catch delicious.

Photo Credit: Mary Hollinger

    If you can't get out to the Chesapeake area to catch your own bushel, finding a place that sells them is as easy driving around or using the phone book (people still use those right?) or the Internet. Wherever you are I'm sure there's a place close enough to you that has them for a reasonable price.

     With crabs coming back into the food chain in the summer I can't wait to get back to Maryland to chow down on the finest thing the Chesapeake bay has to offer. If you stop in Maryland in the summer be sure to try it for the first time. There's no shame in not knowing how to pick a crab or use a wooden hammer although you might get a few strange looks from the locals. Enjoy the state food!