Travel

100 day trips from Baltimore

Amy Davis, Baltimore Sun

Distance from Baltimore: 70 miles, about an hour-and-a-half drive Why it's worth the gas: More than 100,000 Union and Confederate soldiers met on Sept. 17, 1862, in a battle that produced 23,000 casualties. A century and a half later, you can imagine the roar of cannon and guns as you pass through peaceful meadows and over Burnside's Bridge. Thousands of acres showcase weapons, memorials, graves and structures that together tell the story of the bloodiest day of the Civil War. Films and displays at the Visitor's Center describe how factors in the fight -- such as dumb luck and squandered opportunities -- kept either side from a decisive victory, yet the result emboldened President Abraham Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. Don't miss: The 150th anniversary of the battle will be marked Sept. 15-17 with tours, hikes, lectures, music and children's activities. The names of soldiers killed or gravely wounded will be read at a remembrance ceremony Sept. 17. Information: Antietam National Battlefield, 5831 Dunker Church Road, Sharpsburg, Md., 21782; 301-432-7648 or nps.gov/ancm.

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Algerina Perna, Baltimore Sun

Distance from Baltimore: 150 miles, about four hours between car and ferry Why it's worth the gas (and fare): Smith Island is the place where you were told settlers' descendants still spoke Elizabethan English. That's not true, but residents of the remote Chesapeake villages of Ewell, Rhodes Point and Tylerton do have a Tidewater dialect. Seafood lovers will appreciate the fare (crabcakes, crab soup, softshell crab), outdoorsy folks will enjoy paddling, birding and fishing the so-called "guts" (creeks) in the marshes, and anyone with tastebuds will love the Smith Island Cake. The Smith Island Center offers tourist information, history, a gift shop and, perhaps most important, public restrooms. Don't miss: For $3, you can stroll into the picking area at the Smith Island Crabmeat Co-op, ask questions and get a sample. The co-op is open June through November and sells fresh crabmeat, crabcakes and more. Order in advance if you're smart. Information: Smith Island Center, 20846 Caleb Jones Road, Ewell, Md., 21824. 410.425.3351 or visitsmithisland.com

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We know gas prices aren't what they used to be, but summer calls out for that all-time family favorite: the road trip. Here are 100 places to visit, including many that won't put too much stress on the fuel gauge. Also see: 100 Maryland places