Maryland has gotten a bad rap via Facebook lately. Apparently, we have a crazy-high percentage (47%) of Marylanders want to move elsewhere. I'm sure many of these opinions are based on taxes or politics or something, but they want to leave.
I don't.
Here's why.
There are some things that Maryland has, that nowhere else can offer.
1. Weather. Granted, I hate winter. I could, truly, do without it. There are not many places that get to feel the piercing freeze of winter, the warm defrost, the brutal heat of summer, and the crisp breeze of fall. As terrible as winter is for me, I love being able to appreciate every aspect of every season.
2. Crabs, Old Bay Beer, THE BAY. Ok, it's not the cleanest body of water, but I support any and every movement to clean it up. It offers us one of Maryland's greatest attributes... CRABS. We can catch them, and we can eat them. We can tie chicken necks to strings and use detergent bottles as bouys and we can have a crab feast that very night. Obviously, with an absurd amount of Old Bay and cold beer. Have I mentioned Maryland has some fantastic breweries? A quick google just gave me a list of 20, and I know for a fact that isn't all of them. Personal favorites? Heavy Seas.
3. We can do ANYTHING. Seriously. This is my favorite thing about living in the area I live in. Within a matter of 3 hours, we can do anything...which is why I am PUMPED to be raising kids here. They will experience it all. We have several beaches, mountains (lots of snowboarding I will not personally partake in), Baltimore & The National Aquarium, plenty of water parks, pools, national parks, amusement parks, Annapolis (filled with great food and MD & US history) & the Naval Acadamy (Hello, Blue Angels?), TWO zoos, the national mall (Smithsonian Museums, art museums, and an up-and-coming culinary scene), sailing, crabbing, endless parades and festivals. Our kids will be raised experiencing history instead of just reading about it, and they'll have the opportunity to go on endless adventures.
So I may not have the most popular opinion, but it's true... Maryland does not suck.
