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.
Cities in St. Mary’s County, Maryland include: Leonardtown, Lexington Park, California, Wynne
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!