The state of Maryland is home to the Chesapeake Bay and the Appalachian Trail for outdoor enthusiasts. History abounds with Civil War trails, plantation homes and colonial sites. On the Eastern shore lies Ocean City, a well-known beach destination with a boardwalk loaded with restaurants and shops. Camping is widely available in Maryland for a unique experience for the next family vacation or corporate retreat.
Located near Rohrersville in northern Maryland, the Tree House Camp at Maple Tree Campground (thetreehousecamp.com) boasts 20 acres of forest land next to the Appalachian Trail. The tree houses are primitive enclosed structures seven feet off the ground with bare wooden bunks and no mattresses. Insulated for year-round use, the campground’s tree cottages are built on stilts eight to 10 feet off the ground and include small porches. The cottages are equipped with a table, chairs and a wood stove for heating and cooking. Visitors must bring their own bedding and lighting.
The Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay stay at Sandy Pines campground, located near Fruitland in Eastern Maryland. Enveloped by 49 acres of forested area, Sandy Pines offers tree house units that sleep 24 and are available for other Girls Scout groups, non-profit and corporate groups. Open from April 1 to October 1, Sandy Pines tree houses include a fire pit area, electricity, fireplace and indoor bathroom.
The Treehouse at Deep Creek Lake is not built high in the trees. It is however, built atop a hill where nearly every view boasts the breathtaking mountains of western Maryland, while other vistas include Deep Creek Lake itself. The hand-peeled log lodge is nicknamed “The Treehouse” because it emulates the feel of living in a real tree house nestled in the woods, but with the comfort of a luxury resort. Deep Creek Lake, the largest lake in Maryland, offers fishing, boating, water skiing and swimming.
