Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
and from Washington, DC (four hours), and Baltimore (3½ hours).
Ocean City Coastal Highway Bus
(day pass $3)
runs up and down the length of the
beach, from 6am to 3am. There's also a tram ($3 or $6 all-day pass) that runs 11am to
midnight from memorial day to late September.
WORTH A TRIP
ASSATEAGUE ISLAND
Just 8 miles south but a world away from Ocean City is Assateague Island sea-
shore, a perfectly barren landscape of sand dunes and beautiful, secluded
beaches. This undeveloped barrier island is populated by the only herd of wild
horses on the East Coast, made famous in the topic Misty of Chincoteague.
The island is divided into three sections. In Maryland there's
Assateague State
Park
( 410-641-2918; Rte 611; admission/campsites $4/31; campground late Apr-Oct)
and fed-
coteague National Wildlife Refuge
(
www.fws.gov/northeast/chinco
;
8231 Beach Road, Chin-
coteague Island; daily/weekly pass $8/15;
5am-10pm Mon-Sat May-Sep, 6am-6pm Nov-Feb, to 8pm
Mar, Apr & Oct; )
is in Virginia.
As well as swimming and sunbathing, recreational activities include birding,
kayaking, canoeing, crabbing and fishing. There are no services on the Maryland
side of the island, so you must bring all your own food and drink. Don't forget in-
sect repellent; the mosquitoes and biting horseflies can be ferocious!
TOP OF CHAPTER
Western Maryland
The western spine of Maryland is mountain country. The Appalachian peaks soar to
3000ft above sea level, and the surrounding valleys are packed with rugged scenery and
Civil War battlefields. This is Maryland's outdoor playground, where hiking, skiing, rock
climbing and white-water rafting are just a short drive from Baltimore.
