Maryland, one of the original 13 states of the USA, was founded by Lord Baltimore in 1634. Its Atlantic Plain, divided by Chesapeake Bay, rises through the rolling hills and scenic farmland of the state's heartland to the Allegheny Mountains of the northwest.

Its tourist destinations range from the 16km (10 miles) of white, sandy beaches at Ocean City to Baltimore's bustling Inner Harbor. Chesapeake Bay's 6,400km (4,000 miles) of shoreline, including its tributaries, separate the Eastern Shore area of Maryland from the rest of the state. The twin-spanned Chesapeake Bay Bridge is the major link between the two sections.

Annapolis is home to the United States Naval Academy, and the Chesapeake the busiest sailing destination on the Eastern Seaboard. It is also one of the ports of call for yachts on the famous Volvo Ocean Race, formerly the Whitbread Round the World Race. Baltimore is a mere 60km (40 miles) northeast from Washington, DC.