Anne Arundel – Waterways, Nature and History

Anne Arundel County combines an impressive waterscape with trails, natural areas and places where the region’s history can be discovered. The 533 miles of shoreline represent natural beauty and diverse recreational opportunities. For choosing a vacation rental, this primarily means that you can tailor your stay to the experiences you want – focusing on water, activity, nature observation or culture.

Water Access Points and Trails for Different Holiday Activities

Public water access points include launch sites for canoes and kayaks from car rooftops, campsites providing access from the water, fishing opportunities, boat ramps, boat rentals, dog beaches and swimming areas. Those who enjoy spending time outdoors will find the B&A Trail, the BWI Trail, the Broadneck Peninsula Trail and the WB&A Trail in the county’s trail system.

The B&A Trail is particularly illustrative: The paved trail is 13.3 miles long and follows the former route of the Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad from Glen Burnie to Annapolis. It is suitable for walking, running and cycling for visitors of all ages and abilities. This allows you to plan an active day according to your interests without committing to just one way of exploring.

The BWI Trail forms a 12-mile paved loop around BWI Airport. A branch at Andover Road leads to the Linthicum Light Rail station. The Broadneck Peninsula Trail is open from sunrise to sunset. Such differences in trail features help you decide whether to focus your holiday primarily on excursions, walks or access to public transportation.

Natural Areas, Shorelines and Birdwatching

Beverly Triton Nature Park has one mile of natural shoreline between the South River and the Rhode River. Five miles of natural trails run along the shoreline, through the woods and around brackish ponds. At Downs Park, you can expect 236 acres on the Chesapeake Bay as well as more than five miles of paved and natural trails.

Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary protects more than 1,700 acres of land in the tidal areas of the Patuxent River. Natural trails and marsh boardwalks provide opportunities for hiking and birdwatching; there are also opportunities for camping, education, research and volunteer activities. Jug Bay is designated an Important Bird Area by Audubon Maryland-DC and forms one of three components of the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Sandy Point State Park also offers short nature experiences. The Symbi Trail and the Blue Crab Trail are each approximately 0.7 miles long. The Symbi Trail leads from a planted pine forest to adjoining wetlands, while the Blue Crab Trail offers wooded areas for birdwatching. In the adjoining Corcoran Tract, there are about four miles of trails for hiking and jogging. Public fishing and crabbing from the shore are possible at Sandy Point State Park.

History, Museums and Special Excursions

Fort Smallwood Park includes a historic gun battery and barracks. The coastal defense facility was built from the late 19th century through the early 1900s and was used from 1890 to 1927. The 380-foot-long Bill Burton Fishing Pier is used for fishing, birdwatching and viewing the local landscape.

Historic London Town & Gardens began as a colonial port on the South River and preserves its history through archaeology, historic preservation and public education. The 23-acre park focuses on history, archaeology and horticulture and offers public guided tours as well as field-trip programs with hands-on learning and immersive experiences. At the Kinder Farm Park visitor center, agricultural artifacts from the 1930s, including a tobacco press and tools for harvesting tobacco, illustrate earlier working life. A 2.4-mile paved loop and several miles of natural trails add to the offerings; an agricultural history program and a working farm illustrate past and present agricultural practices in Anne Arundel County.

For those interested in culture, the National Cryptologic Museum offers thousands of artifacts relating to the history of cryptology and guided tours led by current and former NSA employees. The exhibits range from the first spy network under George Washington and the German Enigma machine in World War II to Native American Code Talkers and modern secure telephones. The Benson-Hammond House displays Victorian-era furniture and textiles, agricultural equipment, quilts, clothing, cooking utensils and other artifacts. The house is considered the only surviving example of a once-thriving market-gardening operation in northern Anne Arundel County.

Places to Continue Your Search

For further selecting your holiday destination, you can also compare the places Linthicum, Annapolis, Glen Burnie, Annapolis Junction, Arnold, Millersville, Odenton and Deale. This makes it possible to choose a vacation rental based on which combination of water, trails, nature, history and culture best suits your travel plans.

For the higher-level travel overview: Maryland.