As residents of Maryland, we live in autumnal paradise. We get to experience every bit of the leaves transforming to beautiful hues of red, orange, & yellow while we wear cozy fall apparel & sip on pumpkin spice lattes or warm apple cider. If you’re looking for somewhere to really maximize your time in the crisp fall air, our teammate Erika Spilker curated the list of these Maryland hot spots for a premium fall ambiance:
Best places to see fall foliage:
Patapsco Valley State Park- Whether you hike one of the many trails or drive to the Valley Overlook in the Hollofield area, this park in Ellicott City is an outdoor adventurer's dream.
Elk Neck State Park- This Eastern Shore Park (North East) houses beaches, marshlands, & the Turkey Point Lighthouse where you can enjoy the changing colors of the trees with beautiful water views of the Chesapeake Bay, Northeast River, & Elk Neck River.
Oregon Ridge Park- Boasting 1,100 acres of park, including a Nature Center with activities & exhibits for visitors of all ages, this park in Cockeysville has an abundance of opportunities to enjoy the fall foliage.
Deep Creek Lake- This 4-season lake in Garrett County ecompasses year-round fun for everyone with events & activities for all ages. In the fall you can enjoy local hiking trails in Deep Creek State Park or Swallow Falls Park, the Autumn Glory Festival in Oakland, or ride the Mountain Coaster at Wisp Resort.
Weber’s Cider Mill Farm- Parkville
Baugher’s Orchard- Westminster
Larriland Farm- Woodbine
Butler's Orchard- Germantown
Milburn Orchards- Elkton
Pumpkin Patches/Fall Festivals:
Butler’s Orchard’s Pumpkin Festival- Visit the Pumpkin Festival where you can enjoy activities like the Hay Barn, Ginormous Slides, The Corn Crib, Pedal Tractors, a ride in Cinderella’s Pumpkin & more.
Larriland Farm- In addition to apple picking, Larriland Farm has a large pumpkin patch with hayrides, a boo barn, & a maze.
Baugher’s Orchard- This orchard appeals to the pumpkin pickers just as well as it does the apple pickers with a hayride to the pumpkin fields & the opportunity to enjoy pony rides, face painting, a petting zoo, & a bounce house after your pumpkin is picked.
Summer’s Farm- The Summer’s Farm Fall Festival has more than just pick-your-own-pumpkin to offer. There are jumping pillows, climbing fun, slides, rubber duck races, & more special events to entertain for a full day of fall fun!
Jumbo’s Pumpkin Patch- This Middletown pumpkin patch was once rated as one of the top 10 pumpkin patches in America with its pumpkins, hayrides, petting zoo, horse drawn wagon rides, & more!
Imagine sitting outside on a crisp fall day with a glass of locally crafted wine in your hand & a beautiful charcuterie board prepared in front of you… Some of the top Maryland wineries to enjoy the refreshing fall air are:
Boordy Vineyards- Hydes
Old Westminster Winery- Westminster
Big Cork Vineyards- Rohrersville
Black Ankle Vineyards- Mt. Airy
Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard- Dickerson
Elk Run Vineyards & Winery- Mt. Airy
Unique Fall Events:
Sunflower Festival- Hughesville
Rennaisance Festival- Crownsville
Sunfest- Ocean City
Haunted Pub Crawl- Annapolis
Zoo Boo- Baltimore
Oktoberfest- Frederick
Waterfowl Festival- Easton
As you can see, Maryland is an extraordinary host for fall festivals, idyllic scenery, and fun for all ages and interests. We are lucky to have so many seasonal activities in our backyard so go out and explore Maryland this fall!
