Maryland has been a
retirement destination for centuries. Chesapeake Bay
splits Maryland in two. The eastern third of the state
belonging to the "Eastern Shore Region" and the rest belonging
to the mainland. The Bay plays a major role in defining
Maryland's economy as well -- Baltimore is one of the east
coast's major ports, and fish and crab harvesting from the
Chesapeake remains a substantial industry to this day.
The Eastern Shore occupies a part of the DelMarVa (Delaware /
Virginia / Maryland) peninsula, a sliver of land which contains
parts of all three states. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge connects
the Eastern Shore to the mainland, but since this bridge is a
fairly recent development (opened in 1952), the Eastern Shore of
Marylnd has more in common with Delaware than it does with the
rest of the state. Ocean City Maryland is one of the
Eastern Shore's most popular destinations.
On the mainland, the cities of Baltimore and Annapolis have
gradually spread out to merge with each other and nearby
Maryland, forming a sprawling megalopolis. With the seat of the
national government so close, much of the economic activity in
Maryland is government-related. Andrews Air Force Base, Fort
George G. Meade, The National Institutes of Health, and the
National Agricultural Research Center are all located in
Maryland, as is the United States Naval Academy, at Annapolis.
Baltimore's waterfront is one of the east's most beautifully
developed travel destinations with superb history, dining, and
lodging. Ride the small ferries to get a good sense of the
harbor and drop in to a restaurant to enjoy a fine meal of crab,
clams, or other Atlantic seafood.
