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The Baltimore-Washington Parkway passes right by Ft. Meade in Maryland.

Ft. Meade, MD

I didn’t take a single photo at Ft. Meade, Maryland. Ft. Meade houses the super secret National Security Agency. I imagined accidentally taking pictures of something verboten and being attacked by fierce military working dogs while being swarmed by dark SUVs and sleek black helicopters.

I can’t show you what Ft. Meade itself looks like. But I can certainly tell you about living in the area. Meade’s in a great location for adventures and shopping. It is half way between Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C. The Baltimore-Washington Parkway (BW Parkway) runs past the post’s northeast side and State Highway 32, the Patuxent Highway, runs along the south/southwest side.

This location provides plenty of options for fun, but it also means traffic can be a nightmare. During the weekdays from about 6-9 a.m. and 3-7 p.m. traffic really snarls on the BW Parkway.

We chose to live off post rather than wait for housing. We ended up in South Laurel because it was a relatively easy commute. Many people choose North Laurel, Jessup, Severn, Odenton and even Columbia.

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Lake Kittamaqundi provides a tranquil setting near downtown Columbia, Maryland.

There are a plethora of shopping options in the area. On post, there’s a big PX and commissary. Off post I shopped in a mishmash of areas. Some of my favorites were: Jessup for Mom’s Organic Market, Elkridge for Costco and Trader Joe’s, Columbia for Whole Foods plus The Mall in Columbia and lots of restaurants, Crofton for Wegman’s and Arundel Mills Mall for outlets.

Get Out and Explore

Once you’re settled and ready to explore the area, start on post with Burba Park Recreation Area. A paved walking path and three fishing piers make this a nice place to relax. Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) rents out a pavilion for picnics and a cottage which is more like a giant meeting hall than a place to sleep.

Ft. Meade also offers the Camp Meade RV Park and two cabins for rent. If you’re PCSing to Ft. Meade this could be a good option while waiting for housing. It’s also a great launching pad for vacations because it’s very close to many tourist attractions.

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The National Security Agency’s museum gives visitors an inside look at George Washington’s spy ring.

Just outside the fence surrounding Ft. Meade along the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, the free National Cryptologic Museum waits to reveal its secrets to visitors. Just avoid taking pictures in the parking lot. I’m not kidding.

This museum may be small, but jam-packed, interesting exhibits recount our nation’s most unique codes, spy techniques and agency history. Interactive exhibits test kids’ skills and everyone can catch a guided tour for even more stories and intrigue. For most of us, this is all we’ll ever “see” of the National Security Agency.

Denise Sloan/PCS Adventures

The restored Montpelier Mansion, built by the Snowden family in 1780s, is open for tours.

Down the road in South Laurel history buffs can tour Montpelier House Museum built in the 1780s by the Snowden family. Throughout the year, the park hosts special events like herb classes, teas and holiday festivities for kids and adults. The summer garden also bursts with color and life.

While in Laurel, don’t miss the Dutch Farmers Country Market. The food comes from farmers in Dutch Country, Pennsylvania. I found organic meats, dairy, veggies, fruit, honey and a plethora of homemade goodies for sale each week. Lantz Restaurant serves a delicious breakfast. Make sure you arrive early. This popular spots fills up quickly.

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The Patuxent Research Refuge provides an escape from urban life.

Next take a short jaunt down the Baltimore-Washington Parkway to the Patuxent Research Refuge’s National Wildlife Visitor Center and Pollinator Garden. The refuge has two tracts, north and south. The visitor center is at the south tract. Here the staff offers monthly kids programs in the Discovery Center and everyone can learn all about the Monarch butterflies that enjoy the gardens.

We enjoyed the walking trail around the lake at the south tract with our dogs. It gets very muddy after rains, but otherwise the refuge provides a quiet escape from urban life. For a more remote experience, the north tract offers 25 miles of trails for walking, biking and horseback riding.

Washington, D.C.

Continuing south on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, our nation’s capital offers a dizzying array of choices for entertainment and sightseeing. I’ll highlight a few. Ande wrote about the District too, so check out her article for more ideas.

No trip would be complete without walking along the National Mall to see all of the memorials and museums. You could easily spend days and not see it all. Some of my favorites are the Smithsonian National Museum of Air and Space, Smithsonian Museum of American History and the Lincoln Memorial. I would suggest looking at the National Park’s website or app before venturing in to the city. Decide what interests you most and plan from there.

Denise Sloan/PCS Adventures

Every spring the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. is magical.

One thing you shouldn’t miss is the yearly National Cherry Blossom Festival. For four weeks in spring, Washington celebrates the 1912 gift of cherry trees from the Japanese to Americans. The event includes an opening ceremony, a parade and daily events.

As you can imagine, cherry blossoms attract enormous crowds. We opted just to walk the Tidal Basin and take in the blooms on our own. We visited very early one morning to beat the crowds. It was a good call. It was a magical experience we shared with fewer people.

Denise Sloan/PCS Adventures

James Bond’s car is just one of the fun surprises at the International Spy Museum.

Finally, I love the International Spy Museum! If you’re a fan of “James Bond” or the “Mission Impossible” movies, you’re going to love the Spy Museum. You can check out my story about this spot here.

Baltimore, Maryland

Next reverse course and head north along the Baltimore-Washington Parkway to Ft. McHenry National Monument and Shrine near the harbor to learn how a battle in the War of 1812 inspired Frances Scott Key to write our national anthem.
We watched the movie in the visitor center and then wandered the grounds following the self-guided tour. Our visit coincided with a living history day so we got to see cannon firings, an encampment and daily life at the fort in living color.

Denise Sloan/PCS Adventures

Visitors help raise the flag at Fort McHenry National Historic Site and Shrine in Baltimore.

I’d suggest going early, especially in the summer, on holidays or for special events. McHenry is popular and during those times, it does get crowded. Nonetheless, it’s a definitely worthy of a stop.

Next, head north to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. This spot offers fun for the whole family. Peel back the layers the National Aquarium by exploring the deep ocean sea life exhibits to upland tropical rain forests.

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The Shark Alley section of the National Aquarium gives visitors an up close look at an apex predator.

The Blue Wonders section includes a multi-level tank of 225,000 gallons of water with several types of sharks, stingrays and sawfish in Shark Alley. Dolphin Discovery showcases six Atlantic bottlenose dolphins visible from the amphitheater or the underwater viewing area. Other experiences can include diving in Shark Alley, behind the scenes tours and movies in the 4D theater.

People pack the aquarium during the summer, on holidays and during peak hours. That makes it hard to enjoy so I’d recommend visiting first thing in the morning and during a week day if possible. Reserving tickets online before you visit also makes the day flow smoother.

Denise Sloan/PCS Adventures

The Historic Ships in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor give visitors a glimpse in to America’s naval history.

The Historic Ships also call the Inner Harbor home. They are scattered around the piers and they include: USS Constellation (1854), LS-116 Chesapeake (1930), USCG Cutter 27 (1935), USS Torsk (1944) and Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse (1855).

Start at Pier 1 with the museum gallery and the USS Constellation. Then walk to the other piers to see all of the ships and the lighthouse.

The Maryland Science Center, Top of the World Observation Level, Port Discovery Children’s Museum and the Baltimore Museum of Industry are scattered around the Inner Harbor. Plus the area also offers many restaurants and shops like the renovated Pratt Street Power Plant with the Hard Rock Cafe.

A word of caution. Be situationally aware while in Baltimore and stick to the Inner Harbor. When we were there, crime was a big issue.

Annapolis, Maryland

Next head southeast of Baltimore to Annapolis, home of the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) and the Maryland state capital. It’s also dubbed the “Sailing Capital of the U.S.”.

I loved spending time in this coastal town. Museums, shops and restaurants fill this easily walkable, historic downtown.

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Bancroft Hall houses all of the Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy.

If you’ve never been to Annapolis, start with a tour of the Naval Academy. Yep, even I toured it. I just didn’t tell them I married a West Point graduate. Ande wrote a whole story about touring the academy with her father, a Naval Academy graduate, and her two sons. You can check it out here.

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The Maryland State House is the only state house that once served as the nation’s capitol.

One of the first things I did after touring USNA was Watermark’s Colonial Annapolis and Maryland State House Walking Tour. Our guide, dressed in a colonial costume, gave my Mom and I feel for the importance of Annapolis in our early American history. As we walked the streets and toured the State House with him, our guide spun tales of prominent citizens, politicians and building a nation.

Denise Sloan/PCS Adventures

The Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse is the only screw-pile lighthouse in it’s original location on the Chesapeake Bay.

I explored the “Sailing Capital of the US” moniker by taking Watermark’s Scenic Severn River Cruise and the very cool Chesapeake Bay Lighthouses Cruise. Both leave from Annapolis and give visitors even more views of the unique area surrounding the city. I wrote a story about the lighthouses cruise you can read here.

Denise Sloan/PCS Adventures

The Reynolds Tavern serves a delicious English Tea!

My friend Rebecca and I enjoyed tea at the Reynolds Tavern that was built in 1747. William Reynolds constructed the tavern, rented rooms upstairs and housed his hat business in the building. Today you can still dine downstairs and rent a room upstairs for the night. I’d definitely recommend the Reynolds tea if you’re looking for a fun girls’ adventure followed by shopping around town.

Finally, make sure you stroll around town and explore the shops and restaurants. One-of-a kind items fill unique shops and the restaurants offer delicious local dishes like Maryland crab cakes. If you happen to be around at Christmas, all of the shops decorate with festive window displays and garlands. Plus the town goes all out on decorations for a Christmas tree near the harbor at Main Street and Compromise Street. Definitely add Annapolis to your Ft. Meade bucket list.

As you can see, Ft. Meade offers plenty of options for the adventurous. I barely scratched the surface with these 40 minute-or-less trips. So grab your camera and start exploring! But maybe wait to take pictures until you’re off Ft. Meade.