| BALTIMORE, MD Mon, May 21, 2007 Follow in the footsteps of Harriet Tubman and other freedom seekers along the Underground Railroad. Imagine yourself in a horse-drawn wagon traveling west along the Historic National Road. Feel the thunder of soldiers' drums on battlefields of infamy and glory. Hear Native Americans sing moving songs at a Pow Wow. Or enjoy modern delights such as eating oysters and crabs fresh from the Chesapeake Bay. Go tubing in a cool mountain stream shaded by champion trees or jump waves in the salty ocean surf.
Maryland Byways can take you there...with a new guidebook and map released for free distribution just in time for summer travel. The companion pieces guide travelers off of the state’s major highways to routes recognized for their scenic beauty, rich heritage and natural splendor. The 19 byways encompass the entire state and bring travelers to out-of the-way locations where memories made will last will a lifetime.
“Maryland is blessed with some of our nation's most spectacular scenery, picturesque towns and critical history,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “Maryland Byways give both residents and visitors alike a chance to experience the treasures that make our state an authentic American treasure.”
To date, three of Maryland’s Byways have been designated America’s Byways by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation tthrough the National Scenic Byways Program because of their nationally significant cultural, historic, natural, recreational and scenic qualities. Those byways are Chesapeake Country, which offers a trip through Maryland’s Eastern Shore, a vista-filled journey along the Catoctin Mountain Byway, and the Historic National Road, which has been dubbed “The Road that Built the Nation.”
The Maryland Byways Guidebook and Map are being unveiled as the State of Maryland welcomes delegates to the National Scenic Byways Program Conference being held in Baltimore. The Guidebook and Map were produced in cooperation with federal, state and local partners and agencies including: the American Byways Program; the State Highway Administration; the Maryland Office of Tourism, Maryland Department of Planning, the Maryland Heritage Preservation and Tourism Areas Program; and Maryland Destination Marketing Organizations. Trailblazer signs designate all 19 routes and feature Black-Eyed-Susans, the byway name and directional arrows.
For more information on Maryland’s Byways, please visit www.marylandroads.com and go to the Explore Maryland heading.To order copies of the Scenic Byways Map and book, call 1-877-MDBYWAY or visit www.visitmaryland.org and go to Explore Maryland/Scenic Byways.
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