Southern Maryland: Places to Go and Things to Do in Southern Maryland

Born and raised in Southern Maryland, I am a Maryland state girl at heart. The funny thing about it is that I spent eighteen years of my life plotting and planning on how to leave the Southern Maryland area for good. I always felt like there was nothing to do in Southern Maryland...no places to go in Southern Maryland. Now that I've moved out of Southern Maryland, I realize how many intriguing and historical places there really are in Southern Maryland.

If you're stuck and you're looking for places to go in Southern Maryland or things to do in Southern Maryland, use this guide...from a woman who was born and raised in Southern Maryland and knows the ropes.

If you know anything about Southern Maryland or Maryland's history, you'll know that St. Clement's Island is the first place in the state where pilgrims landed in the year of 1634. The reason that St. Clement's Island is my first recommendation for a place to go and something to do in Southern Maryland is due to its sheer serenity. As a child, we visited St. Clement's Island on field trips and learned about the history of the uninhabited island and how important it is to the state of Maryland's history.

Today, St. Clement's Island has been designated as a part of a state park, altogether known as St. Clement's Island State Park. You can find a small, yet quaint museum filled with Southern Maryland historical information and displays, and also the Blackistone Lighthouse. The Blackistone Lighthouse is not the original lighthouse that sat on the island, waiting to guide and warn oncoming boats and ships of the island's presence; however, the lighthouse was recently reconstructed in 2008 and is named Blackistone Lighthouse after the island's first name - Blackistone Island.

If you can make it out to the Potomac River and over to St. Clement's Island, it is definitely worth visiting as it is an intriguing place to go in Southern Maryland...and hey, what else do you have to do anyway?

A richly historical plantation known as Sotterley Plantation is located in Hollywood, Maryland. If you're looking for a beautiful and serene place to go in Southern Maryland, then Sotterley Plantation is the place to go. Dating back to the eighteenth century, and one of the oldest surviving plantations in Maryland, Sotterley Plantation gives tours to locals and tourists on a year-round basis. During Halloween and Christmas, Sotterley Plantation puts on some lovely events to celebrate the seasons and how many seasons Sotterley has endured in Southern Maryland.

With still-standing slave cabins, tobacco barns, and beautifully lush gardens, Sotterley Plantation is a beautiful and interesting place to go in Southern Maryland...and highly recommended by locals. Just be careful you don't go at night...Sotterley Plantation is said to be extremely haunted. To read more about the hauntings of Sotterley Plantation, click here.

Solomon's Island is located in Calvert County and is our third recommended place to go in Southern Maryland. You will find Solomon's Island where the Patuxent River and Chesapeake Bay meet. This small and historic island is known to have been inhabited since the 1600s and has been known as many different names since its establishment, including Sandy Island, Bourne's Island, and Somervell's Island. Today, it is a beautiful place to go in Southern Maryland and boasts many things to do in Southern Maryland.

Solomon's Island has some wonderful Bed and Breakfasts and gift shops, as well as a historic lighthouse, sailing excursions, jet skiing, shopping, and of course...ever-loved and notorious Maryland seafood restaurants. The Riverwalk is well known for its hopping bars and restaurants, and is a fun place to go in Southern Maryland during the 4th of July (I can attest to this). If you're looking for a party in Solomon's Island and something more adult to do in Southern Maryland, check out Solomon's Island Tiki Bar...it's quite popular among the young people of Southern Maryland.

At the the southern-most part of the state of Maryland is Point Lookout. Point Lookout is a part of St. Mary's County and a great place to go in Southern Maryland. If you're looking for something outdoorsy to do in Southern Maryland, the Point Lookout State Park has it all. Camping, fishing, beaches and boating. Haunted lighthouse tours are also given on certain occasions, and the entire peninsula of Point Lookout is known to be quite haunted (by soldiers and colonial families, etc). The Point Lookout area has seen its share of history, including being explored by Captain John Smith himself, being settled by Leonard Calvert, and used during three different wars including the Civil War.

Today the Point Lookout State Park is a favorite among Southern Maryland locals and tourists, with its gorgeous forests and surrounding peaceful water. Historical markers are present, if you'd like to learn more about the history of Point Lookout. There's something magical and mysterious about Point Lookout, which makes it the fourth recommended place to go in Southern Maryland. You won't be bored here.

If you'd like to read more about haunted Point Lookout, click on the Maryland Paranormal link here.

The last recommended place to go in Southern Maryland is St. Mary's City located in southern St. Mary's County. Merely a joy for its historical factors and rebuilt historic buildings, St. Mary City is worth a visit if you live in Southern Maryland or are visiting for a certain period of time. My recommendation is to stop in St. Mary's City on your way to Point Lookout. There's less to see here, but there are a few things to do. Take some pictures of the archaeological digs and take some tours of the different museums located in this historic town.