We continue our tour of Maryland’s counties with Dorchester County, an hour and a half away 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.
Dorchester County
Must-Sees
Dorchester County is the birthplace of Harriet Tubman, so the area features many landmarks and museums founded in her honor, including the Harriet Tubman Underground Visitor Center and the Harriet Tubman Museum & Educational Center. Tubman isn’t the only famous figure to call Dorchester County home, though. While it’s now a private residence, Annie Oakley’s House was once the home of the famous female sharpshooter and her husband and still attracts visitors to this day.
Several of the county’s small towns are great for day trips. Cambridge has a bustling downtown and has been hailed as one of the best small towns to visit in the United States. Visitors can also relax by the water at more relaxed, sleepy towns like Elliott Island and Hoopers Island.
Local Nature
The county’s most notable natural spot is Blackwater Wildlife Refuge, a nationally renowned waterfowl sanctuary that is home to the largest population of breeding bald eagles on the East Coast north of Florida. The Eagle Festival is held at Blackwater Wildlife Refuge every year to honor the wildlife refuge’s most notable residents, although the festival is canceled this year due to the avian flu. Its 20,000-acre campus contains a third of Maryland’s tidal wetlands, and its status as a bird sanctuary makes it a great birdwatching spot.
Hunting and fishing are popular activities for visitors to Dorchester County. Long Wharf Park and the Fishing Bay WMA Water Trail are common spots for both.
