A season’s worth of spectacular site seeing, day trips, fall fun, harvest heritage, and nature’s bounty.
For these awesome outings you may need hiking boots, binoculars, nerves of steel, produce prowess, and a general willingness to succumb the pleasures of the fall season. It’s what we look forward to—when the weather’s first nip hits, s’mores become the dessert du jour, and the landscape transitions to a leafy colorful kaleidoscope. You know it’s time to enjoy the outdoors and all that fall has to offer. Autumn has arrived. Thus, we offer a delightful guide to some of the region’s more accommodating attractions. Beginning with…
Fall Foliage Hikes
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC): SERC has a series of three trails in Edgewater waiting to be explored. Two of the trails start at the Reed Education Center, both just 1.3 miles long. Keep a look out for Java History Trail. This trail has been used by Native Americans, farmers, and scientists for years. The trail takes you through the forest, and through time. Visit Serc.si.edu for information.
Eastern Neck Wildlife Refuge: This wildlife refuge on the Eastern Shore is a great place to enjoy the views of nature, both waterfowl and foliage. Once you get on Eastern Neck Island, there are seven trails and boardwalks to choose from. Fall is the best time to walk along the Tubby Cove Boardwalk. This boardwalk is about a quarter-mile round trip and brings you through the beautiful trees. Once you get that warm-up in, walk the Duck Inn Trail. This trail is through wooded area and the tall grasses, leaving you in the deciduous trees at the bank of the Chester River. Visit Fws.gov/refuge/eastern_neck for information.
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge & Visitor Center: Blackwater National Refuge Center is one of the best places to find a trail (either by foot or kayak) for bird-watching opportunities, waterfowl viewing, fishing, and more. There are multiple land trails available including Marsh Edge Trail, Key Wallace, and Tubman Trail. Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is located just south of Cambridge and offers trails both short and long. Visit Fws.gov/refuge/Blackwater for information.
Gambrill State Park/Cunningham Falls State Park/Catoctin Mountain Park: This contiguous stretch of three massive parks, forests, falls, and mountainous terrain begins at the foothills just north of Frederick and continuous through Thurmont and up to the Mason-Dixon line. Within each park are miles and miles of hiking trails, boulder outcrops, falls, and numerous scenic overlooks, providing some of the best seasonal views in the state. Visit Dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands for information.
Charter Boats on the Bay
Thomas Point Lighthouse Cruise: Take a cruise around the lighthouses of the Chesapeake Bay right out of Ego Alley. This fall, take part in the Ghost Tour and share ghost stories and pirate tales on the Spirits and Spirits tour, or simply tour the Severn River and Spa Creek. Watermarkjourney.com.
Beautiful Bay Views & Charter Fishing: Charter a boat in Chesapeake Beach, Solomons Island, Rock Hall, St. Michaels, or beyond. Rockfish season is at its year-end prime during the fall. Easily book a charter through Haven Charters, Chesapeake Bay Charters, or one of the many other options on the Chesapeake Bay. Whether you want to fish or just sit back and relax, being on a boat will put you in the right frame of mind. To learn more, book your trip, and begin your research, visit Chesapeakefishingcharters.com or Fishsolomons.com.
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum River Cruises: Contact Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels to cruise on Winnie Estelle. This 45-minute scenic cruise will take you through the Miles River and can accommodate up to 32 passengers. Cbmm.org or 410-745-4944.
Haunted Harbor Tours
Celebrate Halloween with a Haunted Harbor Tour in Annapolis. If you think you know Annapolis, just wait. This 90-minute tour starts at 1 Dock Street and ends at the State House. Not spooked enough yet? Stay for a bonus tour around the most haunted grounds of Annapolis: St. John’s College. Can you handle it? Sign up to learn a whole new side of Annapolis history at Hauntedharbortours.com.
After you conquer the scary truth about Annapolis, face the Eastern Shore with Chesapeake Ghost Tours. They offer 11 different city tours, including Ocean City, Salisbury, Denton, St. Michaels, and Easton. Chesapeake Ghost Tours also offers bus tours to find the hidden, haunted spots in Talbot County and includes passing through three graveyards. Sign up for a tour at Chesapeakeghosttours.com.
Fall Festivities
The Maryland Corn Maze: Each year, The Maryland Corn Maze in Gambrills puts together an unforgettable experience. This year, the theme of the maize maze is America. Many people missed out on vacations last year, so, instead, travel your way through the States in this year’s maze. After you get through the country, enjoy hayrides, rope swings, giant Lincoln logs, and so many more activities. Mdcornmaze.com.
Queen Anne Farm: Continue the family tradition by picking your own pumpkins and mums in Mitchellville. Jump on the back of the tractor pulled hay wagon and pose for pictures with the Pumpkin House. Queenannefarm.com.
Knightongale Farms: Pick your pumpkins at Knightongale Farm in Harwood. This 90-acre farm features pumpkins, Christmas trees, sunflowers, and more. During pumpkin season, enjoy a petting zoo, hayrides, corn maze, and everything else you need for a full fall festival. Knightongalefarm.com.
2021 International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards: Gather at the Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum and Poe Park on October 2nd & 3rd to commemorate the 172nd anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s death and for a Death Weekend Poe Places Tour. The fourth annual event is free and will feature Poe-themed performances, art, vendors, food, and more to celebrate Poe’s life, works, and influence on the arts. Poeinbaltimore.org.
54th Annual Autumn Glory Festival: The annual Autumn Glory Festival is a 5-day celebration of autumn that celebrates the beauty of the local fall foliage in Deep Creek. The festival will occur October 13th through October 17th and will feature a parade on Saturday, October 16th. This festival will have a craft and gift sale, kick-off dinner, fall foliage driving tours, and so much more. Find more information at Visitdeepcreek.com.
Homestead Gardens’ Fall Festival: Traditionally held each fall, this festival features pumpkin picking, kids’ games/crafts/attractions, hayrides, food/drinks (including for the adults), live music, and Homestead’s famous homemade apple cider donuts. Homesteadgardens.com.
Rock Hall Fall Festival: FallFest attracts thousands of visitors from across the eastern seaboard showcasing the quaint hamlet of Rock Hall as it celebrates its heritage as a waterman’s town. Locals and visitors alike attend the festival because they know that FallFest guarantees to be a unique event where musicians hold forth throughout the day, oysters are local and plentiful, and children can participate in captivating and free activities. Approximately 40 handicraft vendors show and sell their wares at the festival and a large selection of food vendors serve up regional favorites. Rockhallfallfest.org.
U-Pick Farms & Pumpkin Patches
Baugher’s Orchard, Westminster: After serving Carroll County and beyond for over 100 seasons, Baugher’s knows exactly how to approach the fall season. Visit Baugher’s every weekend in October for their Fall Festival from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. They offer apple picking, pumpkin picking, a petting zoo, homemade fudge, and baked goods, and more. Baughers.com.
Brookfield Pumpkins, Thurmont: Visit Brookfield Pumpkins to pick your own pumpkins, gourds, and squash (including butternut and spaghetti squash). Stop by the store to buy corn, mums, and more fall necessities and then stay around for a glass of wine from their neighbors, Links Bridge Vineyard. Brookfieldpumpkins.com.
Clark’s Elioak Farm, Elicott City: Make sure to purchase your tickets online for Clark’s Elioak Farm in Ellicott City this fall. Walk-ins will not be available. Visit the petting farm and the pumpkin patch and be sure to ride the cow train and the enchanted express train through the enchanted forest. Clarklandfarm.com.
Buppert’s, Marriotsville: Stop by Buppert’s for hayrides, pumpkin picking, and a corn maze everyday through November. Reserve tickets online to ride the hayride during the week and stop by on the hour from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Bupperts.com.
Gaver Farm, Mount Airy: Come out from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day to pick pumpkins, apples, and sunflowers on their 12-acre patch. Hayrides and admission are free to the pumpkin patch. Don’t forget to get lost in the corn maze, play with the pedal carts and experience over 50 other attractions on the grounds on fall fun days, every day through October 31st. Gaverfarm.com.
Jones Family Farm, Edgewood: Bring your family to Edgewood for pumpkin picking and fall activities, including making your own, homemade scarecrow to take home with you. The farm is open daily through November 1st from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jonesproducefarm.com.
Mary’s Maze, Ellicott City: Mary’s Maze has more than just a “Once Upon a Time”-themed corn maze. Visit their pumpkin patch, hay castle, and mini maze on their beautiful farm every weekday of October from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Come back on the weekends for live music, photo sessions, fall snacks, and drinks. Stay tuned for the end of October when they’ll be hosting a Flashlight maze and Haunted maze. Visit their website to see the musician and food truck schedule. Marysmaze.com.
Winterbrook Farms, Thurmont: Experience the learning barn, pumpkin pillow, ziplines, and plenty more activities after you walk through the pumpkin patch and corn mazes at Winterbrook Farms. On the 327-acre farm, there is sure to be an activity for everybody. Winterbrookfarms.com.
