Maryland is a state rich in fine produce, historic locales, and fascinating people. Though we make a complex crowd, our common location with all its natural and cultural features makes us unanimously proud, which deserves a little attention. How can we harness the Maryland lifestyle to its best? This article features a few life hacks and pro-tips for enhancing your home and garden, traveling smoothly around the area, catching the best Maryland seafood, and getting in on great local happenings.
Home & Garden
There’s no place like home! Here are some ideas for the care of your habitation, both inside and out:
Raise Your Maryland Flag the Proper Way
The proper way to hang your beautiful Maryland flag is to have the black and gold quarters on the upper left and lower right. The black check should be on the upper left corner while the gold check should be on the lower right. Have you been doing it right so far?
Plant Native
Besides the state’s agricultural variety, Maryland has hundreds of native plant species few know about, all listed on sites such as Nativeplantcenter.net, Mdflora.org, and Umd.edu. Benefits of planting a great blue lobelia, some butterfly weed, or any other native include less maintenance, as well as much-needed food and shelter for native animal and insect species.
Buy Local Produce
Agriculture is Maryland’s largest commercial industry and comes in varied abundance: crops, livestock, horticulture, wineries and vineyards, and much more. It only makes sense to buy local and support the economy via farmers’ markets or community supported agriculture programs. In our temperate climate, most crops come to harvest from mid-summer through late fall. September is a sweet spot for many fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon, squash, and sweet corn. Take advantage of the produce available and eat the harvest of the land!
Pro-tip: Choose a good watermelon by picking one with a yellow sunspot and giving it a knock or two. If it sounds hollow and vibrates, you’ve got a good one.
Travel
Travel by car is a major component of the Maryland lifestyle, and there are plenty of state sites worthy of making a trip. Here are a few ways to make parking and driving around town even smoother.
Snag that Parking Space
Downtown Annapolis
Navigating through and locating a parking space in historic downtown Annapolis can be difficult even for those who’ve frequented the city for years. Though downtown Annapolis has several parking garages and lots, a best bet is the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium lot, where you can hop aboard a shuttle to and from downtown. If you opt for a garage along upper West Street, you can save your feet the trek downtown by using the Circulator, Annapolis’ blue trolley, which can transport you there and back for free.
Make a Quick MVA Trip
No one enjoys sitting at the MVA (Motor Vehicle Administration) for hours, waiting to get a simple driver’s license renewal. Those days are no longer mandatory. First, however, you’ll want to research when you’re required to upgrade your license to the new REAL ID.
According to Maryland’s MVA website, a Maryland driver’s license must comply with the REAL ID Act by October 1st, 2020 if the individual plans to use it as identification to board a domestic flight or enter military bases and certain federal facilities.
A REAL ID is easy to obtain. Schedule an appointment for a guaranteed wait of 15 minutes max and bring the proper documents. The MVA website allows you to determine if and when you need to become REAL ID compliant, check which four documents to bring, and schedule an appointment.
What if you are compliant and still need to renew your driver’s license? You can renew it online or by mail.
E-ZPass Through Tolls
An E-ZPass device is far easier to access than many people realize. In fact, your local grocery store is likely to supply them. After its first use, you must set up an E-ZPass account within seven days. The transponder is mounted to the top of your windsheild and automatically pays as you drive through the toll in the E-ZPass lane. For more information, visit Ezpassmd.com. You can breeze through those tolls in no time!
Master the Bay Bridge
A marvel of engineering, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge is both a daily route for some and a scenic treat for others. During the summer months, traffic on the Bay Bridge bears the effects of rush hour traffic from D.C. and can get clogged. Be mindful of wind speeds and storms before you go, and keep your eyes on the road.
Regardless of its beauty and regular traffic, the Bay Bridge is famously one of the scariest bridges in the United States. If you feel jittery about driving across, you’re not alone. The Kent Island Express offers a Drive-Over service, which you can call at 410-604-0486 any time of day.
Fall for the Beach
Maryland has many options for beachgoers aside from Ocean City and Sandy Point State Park. Additionally, the fall may be the best time to go.
Pro-tip #1: September is a surprisingly nice time to go to the beach. After Labor Day, prices decrease and crowds thin out. In Ocean City, most restaurants are still open and events abound every weekend. Plus, the water is still at its warmest. Pro-tip #2: Take advantage of the local bay and river beaches. The Chesapeake Bay and its rivers host great spots such as Matapeake Beach, Assateague State Park, and Calvert Cliffs State Park.
Dining
Food, glorious food! Make sure to get the best of each season and be mindful of the waters.
Best Time to Eat Crabs
They say the best time to eat Maryland’s famous crabs is September through October, especially when the moon is full. Crab season in Maryland is typically from April to November, but there’s an overall consensus that September through October is prime crab-eatin’ time. Is it true that crabmeat is at its finest just as the moon is waxing full? No scientific evidence has proven this verity, but we’re believers nevertheless.
A Note on Maryland’s Blue Catfish
Introduced into North America in the 1970s, the blue catfish is an invasive species thriving in waters from Ohio to Mexico, and is also the largest type of catfish on the continent. Blue catfish dominate the tidal Potomac River and several other Chesapeake waterways, sustained partially by Maryland’s blue crabs. The best way to quell the overpopulation is a simple and enjoyable one: eat the fish. Blue catfish is delicious; more and more restaurants are serving it, and recipes are booming. Get your rod and go fishing—you may catch a 100-pounder!
Best Time to Eat Oysters
Chesapeake country is the center for eating oysters, with oyster bars and seafood restaurants abound. Oysters are best eaten during the colder months of September through April (these are the only months that have the letter “R”—an easy trick to remember when oysters are best to eat). The summer months bring the risk of toxins and is the spawning season for the shellfish; however, today, commercial practices enable safe consumption all year long.
Community & Entertainment
All over the state of Maryland you can find community groups and services to join. In addition to fun and entertaining events, there are endless ways to connect with your community.
Find Common-Interest Groups
Meetup.com: This nifty site connects individuals of common interests to local groups so they can meet new people, learn new things, and get out of their comfort zones. The categories range from foreign language practice to computer programming to pets. You can start a Maryland group of your own.
Adult rec leagues, free summer concert series, other weekend events, and various associations are plentiful in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, and the Eastern Shore. What’s Up? Media Community Editor Caley Breese adds, “There are always events in the region throughout the year that support dogs/animals, so if [you] have a dog, that would be a great way to meet people with common interests.” You never know who you might meet in an area with so many groups and events.
Save a Spot: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
The Navy stadium is Annapolis’ grandest sports venue, hosting Naval Academy sports, the Chesapeake Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse, and national and international games and events. Parking can consequently be an issue. Buying a season parking pass guarantees a parking spot. And due to the stadium’s stellar renovations in 2004, any seat is ideal to watch the game. Go Navy!
Find the Best Service
Need intel on the best businesses in your area from readers like yourself? Look no further! What’s Up? Media’s got you covered with several Best Of lists in your region, including the Best of Real Estate, Home & Garden in this issue (page 51). For more lists, including Best of Food & Dining and Retail & Professional Services, visit Whatsupmag.com.
Find Special Care for Your Loved Ones
Knowing where the best resources are for your family member with special needs is far from common knowledge. Thankfully, the Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities, What’s Up? Media, and the Senior Provider Group have jointly compiled a resource book, The Anne Arundel County Directory, which lists a multitude of organizations, agencies, and advocacy groups for those living with ADD/ADHD, Asperger’s, autism, Down syndrome, and other disabilities. Visit aacounty.org/departments/aging-and-disabilities.
Navigate the Maryland Renaissance Festival
For more than 40 years, the Maryland Renaissance Festival has hosted entertainment for the whole family and been a source of quality people-watching. Renn Fest, located on Crownsville Road in Annapolis, welcomes guests to a 15th–16th century world with jousting, music, dare devil acts, hearty fare, and plenty of artistic ware. This year, it is open every weekend from August 24th through October 20th, 2019.
The best way to enjoy it is to follow these pro-tips: #1: Buy tickets online at rennfest.com. #2: Plan your itinerary. #3: Bring plenty of cash. #4: Wear comfortable shoes. #5: Come early in the morning during the first three weekends or in late October to beat the crowds.
