For many vacationers, Maryland means three things: proximity to Washington, D.C.; the great Chesapeake Bay that splits the state in two, and Baltimore. Ocean City, a resort town on the Atlantic receives the most favorable mentions from travelers, but Maryland's identity still revolves around the District of Columbia, the Chesapeake and Baltimore. Visitors to D.C. often stay in Maryland (and many who work in the District live there, too).

But visitors should make time to enjoy Maryland's aquatic pleasures, especially on the Eastern Shore. Go deep-sea fishing on the Atlantic side, boating and rafting on the Potomac and crabbing everywhere. Whether or not you actually catch one, eat your fill of Maryland’s signature dishes made of blue crab.

Who goes there? Families pursue lots of typical seaside activities in Ocean City: beaches, boardwalk, a carousel and lots of kid-friendly facilities. Travelers with or without children enjoy Baltimore's ethnic neighborhoods and the Inner Harbor, a redeveloped area of hotels, shops, restaurants, museums and festivals. There’s something for everyone in this border state.

When do they go? Summers are hot and humid, but the mountains in the west provide respite — as do all those summertime activities on the water. Winters are cool and with snow at times.

If you like off-road biking, test yourself on nearly 100 miles of dirt roads and a challenging 11.6-mile wilderness loop in the Green Ridge State Forest. The forest offers 30 miles of scenic hiking trails, as well. For biking trail maps, see www.dnr.maryland.gov/outdoors/biking.html.

Hike the 3.8-mile Billy Goat Trail in the C&O Canal National Historical Park. You’ll know how it got its name after covering the one-mile section that requires you to climb over boulders and slide down rocks. There are many other and longer hiking trails; for information, go to www.dnr.maryland.gov/outdoors/hiking.html.

Annapolis is called Maryland’s sailing capital, so take sailing lessons here. Or, enjoy a range of other boating opportunities, or go windsurfing.

Charter a boat for daytime or nighttime fishing in Chesapeake Bay and the lower Potomac River. Or, go crabbing in the bay. Or, at Ocean City, try deep-sea fishing.

Go camping. Just for starters, the Maryland Forest and Park Service maintains 2,000 campsites and 120 cabins.

Go canoeing or kayaking on the Patuxent or Potomac. There are paddle-in campsites along both rivers.

Attend the Governor’s Cup Crab Race at the National Hard Crab Derby and Fair, held each Labor Day weekend in Crisfield, a tiny town known as the crab capital of the world. Then — in Crisfield or wherever you get the chance — eat crabs, hard shell or soft; eat crab cakes; eat crab salads. Eat the local specialty until you feel like one!

When in Baltimore, take a water taxi to Fell’s Point, a waterfront neighborhood where you will find plenty of pubs, fresh seafood spots (steamed wild mussels highly recommended) and, on some nights, live blues.

Visit a few wineries and sample the products.

Here’s an unusual theme for a bike trip: One itinerary (23.4 miles) follows the escape route used by John Wilkes Booth after he assassinated President Lincoln in April 1865. For biking trail maps, see www.dnr.maryland.gov/outdoors/biking.html.

Here’s a simpler biking idea: Follow the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath in the C&O Canal National Historical Park. The river is the Potomac.

Plan a driving trip along one of Maryland’s themed Civil War Trails. One of these follows the escape route of John Wilkes Booth, as well, but others focus on specific battles: Antietam and Gettysburg. The state promotes a number of other driving trails, one focused on the battle that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the U.S. national anthem and another built around the Underground Railroad used by slaves to escape to Canada.

See harness racing at the Ocean Downs Racetrack outside Ocean City. Also, the quieter waters around Ocean City are good for fishermen, kayakers, para-sailers and sailors who don’t want nature to play rough with them.

Come to Maryland for the Preakness, one of the so-called Triple Crown horse races, at Pimlico in Baltimore, the third Saturday in May.

Visit Fort McHenry in Baltimore, site of the battle that prompted Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner.” In the same harbor area, see the USS Constellation, the last surviving ship from the Civil War.

Bike, run or walk the 13-mile Baltimore & Annapolis Trail, in Annapolis.

Take a guided walking tour (with guide in Colonial-era costume) of Annapolis’ downtown. The entire city center is a National Historic District.

Attend the Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament in Hanover.

Go bird-watching. Maryland is well supplied with the forests, marshes and waterways that bring the birds. For more information and a list of all birds recorded in the state, visit the Maryland Ornithological Society at www.mdbirds.org.

For more information, consult:

For more information, consult the Maryland Office of Tourism at www.visitmaryland.org

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