St. Mary’s County | MARYLAND Only one hour south of Washington D.C. in Southern Maryland

PROFILE FOR TRAVEL WRITERS

Just 34 miles from the capital beltway to the county line, St. Mary’s makes a great

daytrip or weekend getaway destination from anywhere in the Mid-Atlantic. Being

Maryland’s birthplace, colonial & historic sites abound. Being surrounded by the Bay,

Potomac & Patuxent, Chesapeake Bay heritage is ever-present. Seafood, wineries,

scenic by-ways, water-based state parks, and fun festivals blend to provide a high

quality of life. The area’s population is the youngest in the state and among the most

highly educated, so that means art and culture, inventive cuisine, and outdoor

recreation are high on the list of things to do!

What’s New in St. Mary’s County?

Patuxent River Naval Air Museum

Now featuring a brand-new facility, this museum tells the story

of U.S. Navy testing and evaluation at the Patuxent River Naval

Station. The new building will include high-tech and interactive

exhibits, a video screening area, full-size combat flight

simulators, a museum shop, and a visitor information center.

Living History and Active Archeological Sites at Historic St. Mary’s City

Known as one of the most significant and best-preserved 17th Century archeological sites in the

country, Historic St. Mary’s City boasts several unique experiences for visitors who like to get

“hands-on” with history. In between visits to numerous living history sites at Historic St. Mary’s City,

visitors can view live archeological digs at several sites around “town” conducted by students of the

Field School. On special occasions, visitors can tour the collections lab of artifacts found at the site

and witness archeological preservation at work. Over at the St. John’s Site Museum, a modern and

state-of-the-art facility has been created over the excavation of this major 17th Century structure,

giving visitors a glimpse into the lives of those who once lived there through interactive exhibits.

3 Ecosystems in One Town

Kayak down the meandering

Macintosh Run from Port of

Leonardtown Park to the

Leonardtown Wharf on Breton Bay

to witness 3 beautiful ecosystems

chock full of a variety of flora &

fauna, including Bald Eagles, Herons,

Ospreys, beavers, river otters and

more. Guided & unguided tours

available.

www.VisitStMarysMD.com

Connect with Us!

Andrew Ponti, Tourism Coordinator | Andrew.Ponti@stmarysmd.com | 301-475-4200 x1404

St. Mary’s County Division of Tourism | P.O. Box 653 / 23115 Leonard Hall Drive, Leonardtown, MD 20650

Writer Research Trips · Itinerary Planning

Central Mid-Atlantic Destination · Washington, D.C.: 55 miles | Annapolis: 65 miles

Baltimore: 85 miles | Richmond: 101 miles | Philadelphia: 180 miles | New York City: 280 miles

St. Mary’s County Maryland FAST FACTS

Shoreline: 536 miles | Land: 375 square miles | Youngest population in the state (median age 35) | Highest

concentration of Veterans in the state | Population: 109,100 | Largest Employer: NAS Patuxent River | 4-year

College: St. Mary’s College of Maryland | County Seat: Leonardtown | Maryland’s birthplace and founding colony |

Maryland’s first capital (Historic St. Mary’s City)

Peninsula Power: Lighthouses, Marinas,

Waterman Heritage Tours, Charter Boats

Discover Our New World: Maryland’s First

Landing, First Capitol & Settlement

Savor St. Mary’s: Local seafood, waterside

dining, wineries, food-focused events like Crab

Fest, Oysterfest & Winefest

Towns & Trails: Historic Leonardtown offers

dining, galleries & shopping around a historic

square, or get out on water trails, cycling routes &

scenic byways

The Right Stuff: Sweeping military history,

including Civil War and War of 1812 sites,

monuments and the Naval Air Museum

Park It: Fish, hike, paddle, camp, relax at one of

five gorgeous water-based state parks.

www.VisitStMarysMD.com

St. Mary’s County Tourism can help interested

travel writers with accommodations, dining spots,

outfitters, site admissions, writer research tours,

interviews, images, and much more. We would be

happy to create a custom tour for your research

visit to St. Mary’s County.