Maryland

Old Bay seasoning appears on so many Maryland dishes that it functions almost as a state symbol, a small but real sign of how deeply the Chesapeake Bay shapes local food, from blue crabs to crab cakes. The nickname “Old Line State” honors Maryland soldiers whose stand in a 1776 battle let George Washington’s army escape.

Baltimore and the area around Washington, DC carry a busier, more professional pace, while the Chesapeake Bay itself moves more slowly, tying together boating, fishing, and waterfront life across the state.

At Fort McHenry, Francis Scott Key wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and Annapolis preserves its role as one of the country’s oldest capitals, home to the U.S. Naval Academy.