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Sizzlin Calendar

OC Alternatives

Special Issues 2009

Parks/Hiking and Biking We may live in a concrete jungle, but Baltimoreans are lucky to have such a wide range of options ...

Gardens Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, (301) 962-1400, brooksidegardens.org. Free is a ve...

Downy Ocean, Hon Stuff to See Art League of Ocean City, 502 94th St., (410) 524-9433, artleagueofoceancity.com. Fam...

Get Wet and Wade When you're looking for an escape from the hot, hot heat of Baltimore in the summer, sometimes an a...

Pools Baltimore City's Department of Parks and Recreation operates wading pools, indoor swimming pools, a...

Sports Orioles Promotional Nights, through Oct. 3, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, theorioles.com. Even if th...

Art AIA Baltimore Bookstore and Gallery, 11 1/2 W. Chase St., (410) 625-2585, aiabalt.com, 9 a.m.-4:30 ...

Festivals and Extra-vals Sowebo Arts Festival, May 24, around Hollins Market, soweboarts.org. With three stages of live musi...

Kids Stuff to See Clark's Elioak Farm, 10500 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, (410) 730-4049, clarkland...

Zoos Adventure Aquarium, 1 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ, (856) 365-3300, adventureaquarium.com. Just acro...

Fourth Of July Accident's Fourth of July Homecoming, 9 a.m.-10 p.m., South Street Complex, Accident, (301) 746-634...

History Midnight in a Haunted House, 10:45 p.m. through Nov. 2, Jennie Wade House Museum, 548 Baltimore St....

Stage Pillow Talk, through May 24, comedy, Laurel Mill Playhouse, 508 Main St., Laurel, (301) 617-9906, l...

Music May 21: Trey Anastasio with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (Meyerhoff) Coldplay (Nissan Pavilion...

Outdoor Dining Plenty of restaurants have a few table set up outside in warm weather, but here are some of the swe...

Food Festivals Summer is really about taking our favorite activities al fresco, and there are few things Baltimore...

Farmers' Markets BALTIMORE CITY Baltimore Farmers' Market, 8 a.m.-noon Sundays May 3-Dec. 20, Holliday and Saratoga...

Wineries Basignani Winery, 15722 Falls Road, Sparks, (410) 472-0703, basignani.com. Black Ankle Vineyard...

Useful Info Maryland Maryland Office of Tourism Development, visitmaryland.org Maryland Department of Busine...

OC Alternatives Assateague Island National Seashore, 7206 National Seashore Lane, Berlin, (410) 641-1441, nps.gov/...

Posted 5/20/2009

Assateague Island National Seashore, 7206 National Seashore Lane, Berlin, (410) 641-1441, nps.gov/asis. It's Ocean City--the same water, sand, wind, and surf--but with wild ponies and campgrounds instead of the boardwalk, hermit crab vendors, and outlet malls.

Deep Creek Lake, 898 State Park Road, Swanton, (301) 387-5563, dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/deepcreeklake.html This reservoir boasts boating, water skiing, wake boarding, fishing, golfing, and black bear sightings. This place is serious about fishing: bass, trout, black crappie, walleye, yellow perch, rock bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, chain pickerel, northern pike, and shiners on the regular.

Dewey Beach, Dewey Del., deweybeach.com. This tiny beach town (it's only 0.3 sq. miles) is like a miniature OC--cheap beer, adults to play with, and according to The Washington Post, "lots of tacos."

Elk Neck State Park, 4395 Turkey Point Road, North East, (410) 287-5333, dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/central/elkneck.html If it's less about boardwalks and more about camping, this beach has cabins, plus all that nature stuff like boat launches, hiking, fishing, and canoeing.

Hart-Miller Island State Park, 2813 Jerusalem Road, Kingsville, (410) 592-2897, dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/central/hartmiller.html This Baltimore County park brings the bay to you with camp land and acres of wading in the lapping waves.

North Point State Park, 2813 Jerusalem Road, Kingsville, (410) 592-2897, dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/central/northpoint.html Picnic in a trolley shelter, stroll the Defenders Trail used in the War of 1812, and cool off in the wading beach.

Rehoboth Beach, Rehoboth Beach, Del. rehoboth.com. Reader's Digest's 2006 best beach in America, "modern resort" Rehoboth downsizes OC's excess to pack in the fun.

Rocky Point Beach, 2200 Rocky Point Road, (410) 887-3780, baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/recreation/countyparks/rockypoint/index.html Wave hello to Hart-Miller, Craighill Light, and the bay before you cannonball into the Chesapeake. Swim, party, picnic, and conveniently drive home at sundown to catch tonight's episode of whatever can't-miss show is on this summer.

Sandy Point State Park, 1100 E. College Parkway, Annapolis, (410) 974-2149, dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/Southern/sandypoint.html The problem with OC is that you can't drive up to the sand. Sandy Point has a big parking lot, plus picnic tables, grilling stations, and showers at a reasonable distance from the water.

Smith Island, smithisland.org. Getting to Maryland's southernmost point requires boarding a ferry, which leaves once in the morning and once in the evening, making this Somerset County island a real get-away.

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