Having spent about 20 years living in Maryland before I moved to the District, I have all the traits you’d expect. I love Old Bay, and yes, really, I love blue crabs. I know, I have the “Merlin” accent. My formative years were spent driving up and down MD-355 for fun–and in those years from when you get your driver’s license to when you can legally drink, summer weekends were often spent at the Rockville Town Center for movies at the Regal Cinema and holiday weekend festivals like Hometown Holidays.

Admittedly, though, especially as I’ve gotten older, I’d be much more likely to take a train to New York or a plane anywhere really than explore the highways and byways of the Old Line State. After all, we all know the song. A few weekends ago, however, I found myself in Easton, Maryland, for a wedding. I was quite taken with the small-town charm of the area, particularly the quiet breezes and picket fences found in the “downtown” of Historic Easton and nearby Oxford. It seemed like a perfect setting for some weepy young adult novel about summer love. In fact, when the time comes, I could definitely see myself renting a pretty little house with a porch to write my book without any distractions.

Oxford, Maryland

This holiday weekend, I’ll head back to Easton, primarily because I purchased two antique nightstands but could only fit one in the tiny city-sized sports car. I also plan to take a couple good books to read on a bench somewhere before what I expect will be another phenomenal dinner at the Bartlett Pear Inn.

On the Road in Maryland

If you’re sticking closer to Washington, however, you may join in any number of activities like a ballgame or barbecue. Or, perhaps, you will head back to Rockville for a blast from the past. Find out all the details about these events and more in my Washington Times column, and have a pleasant holiday.