About St. Mary's County Maryland’s oldest county, St. Mary’s has been welcoming visitors since 1634! Shaped by the Chesapeake Bay and its mighty tributaries, the Patuxent and Potomac Rivers, the verdant peninsula has fostered a traditional lifestyle anchored in the natural bounty of the Tidewater. History and nature, traditional lifestyles, great seafood and cozy cottages and inns await the modern day traveler. A state park with mainland museum, St. Clement’s Island marks the first landing of British colonists in Maryland. Travel back in time at Historic St. Mary’s City, the state’s colonial capital, where you’ll enjoy a welcome from the crew of the Maryland Dove. Travel one century and a few miles up the peninsula to Sotterley Plantation. Enjoy the panoramic riverfront setting, investigate the rambling Tidewater manor house, and hear stories of slave life at the slave cabin. Stand watch where Union Soldiers stood at Point Lookout at the confluence of the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay. Climb to the top of the Potomac’s Piney Point Lighthouse, then march forward into the future at Patuxent River Naval Air Museum and learn about our nation’s quest for aviation excellence. With four centuries of experience, we’ve gotten very good at greeting travelers.
Top Ten Things To Do in St. Mary's County
1. Go kayaking down one of St. Mary's County's pristine waterways! 2. Visit one (or all!) of St. Mary's County's lighthouses! 3. Shop at the Amish Market in Charlotte Hall! 4. Go geocaching at one of our many sites and attractions! 5. Enjoy the great taste of a Southern Maryland crab cake at a seafood restaurant along the water! 6. Step back into history and discover what it was like to live in Southern Maryland during colonial times at one of our historic sites, such as Historic St. Mary's City or Sotterley Plantation! 7. Take your family or friends charter boat fishing with an experienced local charter boat captain! 8. Go to the beach at Point Lookout State Park or Elms Beach Park! 9. Spend a relaxing weekend at one of our campgrounds! 10. Go shopping at the unique stores located in Leonardtown!
Top Ten Things To See in St. Mary's County
1. Visit the Leonardtown Wharf Public Park! 2. Browse our local art galleries! 3. Watch a performance by the Newtowne Players, our local theater group, at the Three Notch Theater in Lexington Park! 4. See one of our great chefs in action during a cooking demonstration! 5. Enjoy a race at the Maryland International Raceway in Mechanicsville! 6. Attend one of our fabulous festivals held throughout the year such as the Crab Festival, Oyster Festival, or Wine Festival! 7. Pick up a copy of the Southern Maryland Trails guide and follow a unique trail to some of our farms and art galleries! 8. Take in the beauty of our tidewater landscape during a scenic cruise aboard a charter boat! 9. Go on a St. Mary's County driving tour and enjoy the beauty of our agricultural heritage! 10. Follow a bicycle path through one of our state parks or historical sites and see wildlife native to St. Mary's County!
If you want to tantalize your taste buds,look no further than one of St. Mary's many fine seafood restaurants.Hot steamed crabs, spiced shrimp, or the fresh catch of the day, we've got something for everyone.Bring your appetite and pull up a chair.
Southern Maryland offers an extensive range of habitats for birdwatching...wooded forest,open farmland,marshes,swamps and shoreline.Lying along the Atlantic flyway the region is host to waterfowl in winter as well as spring and fall migrants.
Maryland began here! Historic sites & natural wonders, scrumptious seafood & fantastic festivals,wide-open water & quaint shopping towns await our modern day visitors,Reconnect. Rejuvenate. Relax. Have Fun!Come visit & make a little history of your own.
This site helps tell the story of African Americans in St. Mary's from Colonial settlement through the Revolutionary and Civil Wars,and through years of segregation and the struggle for equality. The context is that of the rural Tidewater area.
Step aboard with one of our experienced captains and fish some of the Bay's richest water off of Point Lookout, where the Potomac River meets the Chesapeake Bay!
Bounded by over 400 miles of shoreline St Mary's offers hundreds of coves and inlets for the canoe and kayak enthusiasts to explore. Miles of open river for cruising the scenic waterways of the St. Mary's peninsula await!
Planning a meeting or reception? St. Mary’s has a variety of facilities to accommodate your needs.We offer full service conference facilities complete with the latest technology for business professionals as well as unique settings for receptions.
From historic to traditional, victorian to contempoary, St. Mary's County's inns & B&B's are as unique & engaging as the folks who run them. Just relax, your hosts are happy to help you plan & enjoy the perfect getaway.
Planning a wedding reception? St.Mary's has a variety of facilities to accommodate your needs. We offer full service conference & event facilities. Many of these facilities can also serve as wedding venues, some provide garden or historic setting.
St. Mary's County offers miles of scenic roadways and trails for you to discover. Historic St. Mary's City has a beautiful 3 mile trail that runs through forests, fields and along shoreline where Maryland's 1st settlers established their colony.
From beachfront cottages, modern kitchens and baths, TV, AC sized to meet your needs--- To wooded waterfront sites for RV and tent camping including swimming pool, boat ramp, camp store, laundromat and restaurant.
St. Mary's has a variety of charming shops to browse away the day. From antiques and collectibles to nautical gifts and pottery you'll find the perfect something for everyone on your list.
Shop. Dine. Explore!
At Point Lookout State Park, short marked trails are offered through it's 1,ooo acres to various interpreted locations of Civil War activities.
The 9 mile course encircling the 250 acre lake at St. Mary's River State Park is a little known treasure.
