We continue our tour of Maryland’s counties with St. Mary’s County, a little over an hour from the Anne Arundel region. Learn what fun activities you can do as a family, what to see and what role this county plays in Maryland history.
St. Mary’s County
Must-Sees
Leonardtown is a great place to spend an afternoon shopping and eating, with plenty of things to do in a cozy, small-town atmosphere. It has the first designated Main Street in the county, as well as the only Arts and Entertainment District in Southern Maryland. The Arts and Entertainment District is home to many galleries and gift shops selling works from local artists, and is the home base of the Southern Maryland Youth Orchestra. Don’t miss the Leonardtown Summer Music Festival, with concerts held from April through October. If you like cats, stop by Meow Dyer Cat Cafe to get your feline fix.
Outside of Leonardtown, St. Mary’s County is a great place to visit if you’re a racing fan. The Potomac Speedway regularly draws in crowds with its drag races, as does the Maryland
International Raceway.
Local Nature
St. Mary’s County has a lot of farms to visit, with different plants available for viewing throughout the year. Goldpetal Farms specializes in all things sunflowers, with sunflower mazes and gardens to explore and take pictures in. Bowles Farm is the site of Southern Maryland’s largest corn maze, and has a lot of family fun activities available in the fall. Pick your own flowers at Dixon Family Farm, site of the annual Lavender Days Festival during the summer.
There are five state parks in the county: Greenwell State Park, St. Mary’s River State Park, St. Clements Island State Park, Newtowne Neck State Park and Point Lookout State Park, Civil War Museum & Lighthouse. All of these parks are on the waterfront and offer places to go boating and fishing. St. Clements Island has interesting historical significance, as well, as it’s considered the birthplace of the state of Maryland.
