This thoroughly updated edition is the most comprehensive guide to Maryland.
Author Leonard Adkins has combed the state for the best of the best- and least-known attractions in this completely updated guide to Maryland. Explore unpretentious fishing villages on the Eastern Shore where time has stood still—or at least slowed down considerably; wander through 17th- and 18th-century mansions, mines, and mills of the southern region; lose yourself in the wilds of Maryland's northwestern mountains and rivers; and take in some of the finest museums, shops, and cultural centers in the bustling urban hubs and historic villages.
This comprehensive guide offers refreshingly opinionated recommendations for places to eat, stay, and visit that accommodate every travel style and budget. Thirty-four detailed maps and an alphabetical "What's Where" subject guide aid in travel planning. Hundreds of dining reviews tell you where to find the quintessential crab feast or the finest five-star restaurant, as well as inns, B&Bs, hotels, and vacation cottages. 75 black & white photographs, 23 maps, index.
Still have the same opinion about this book. The Dime Museum was defunct long before the time of this printing but it's still listed. Also, "creativeness" is not a word.
First review:
This book was just okay. As someone who lives in the Baltimore area, I found some things misleading. For instance, Pimlico is NOT in Mt. Washington, nor would I recommend checking out that area when there isn't an event there. There are parts of Baltimore that I just would not recommend to visitors. As well, the area in Baltimore County directly north of Baltimore is brushed over in a general way, as though it has no real merit of its own. Restaurants that were missed were kind of shocking. Really? No mention of Tapas Teatro!? I don't think I saw the Paper Moon Diner in there, either. Very little mention of attractions that are the quirky Baltimore-only kind of places that gives Charm City its name. What about Dangerously Delicious Pies? What about EdMart? I was disappointed.
It was interesting to read about other Maryland attractions as well, but I can only assume it's not exactly a comprehensive guide when Baltimore practically hands it to him and he doesn't take it.
With a name like "explorer's guide" you might expect some specialized content, perhaps for hikers or people who want to get off the beaten path. If so, you would be disappointed - it's pretty much standard travel guide fare. But it does cover the entire state of Maryland, which is helpful if you want to get beyond Baltimore / Annapolis / DC.