Why You Should Visit Elkton, Maryland

Elkton, Maryland is a town in the northeastern corner of the state of Maryland. It has a population of approximately 14, 500 citizens. Elkton was once well known for it's quickie marriages as it was the first state across the border that did not have a waiting period for marriages. Elkton is the county seat of Cecil County and it is situated about halfway between Philadelphia, PA and Baltimore, MD. It is easily accessible via Interstate Highway 95 or US Route 40.

Elkton has a bustling downtown district with quaint restaurants and shops as well as the county courthouse and municipal buildings, but much of the outskirts are suburban and rural areas, nice for raising families. You don't have to travel very far from the center of town to see farms and farm animals. There are a lot of nice things to see and do in Elkton, Maryland. I am going to focus on activities appropriate for the fall season that is upon us.

The first place to visit in Elkton is Milburn Orchards. It is a great farm to visit for many reasons. The biggest attraction for many is the pick your own apples. Milburn's features this every weekend They also have family farm days on the weekends where there are a lot of activities to do from hayrides to crafts and games to corn mazes to visiting the farm animals and much more. Once a year in October, they host a huge craft fair with vendors from all over the area showing their wares. You can spend a day at the farm and still not get to do it all! And, don't forget to visit the farm store for pies and apple cider donuts along with fresh area produce!

The Fair Hill International is held each October. This is a family event with horse racing as the center of attention. But, even if you do not like horse racing, there is still a lot to do. Families come to this event and picnic and hang out together. There are craft vendors and an art show. There are food vendors. There are activities for children and adults. There are several different horse events including dressage, cross country, and jumping events. There is so much to see and do at this 4 day event! Tickets are $10 per day and less if you purchase a combined days pass.

Around Halloween time, there are several great parades around town. The biggest is the one in Downtown Elkton, along Main Street. There are floats and groups marching in the parade and there is a costume contest with prizes as well. There is food and fun to be had at this event every year. It is good for kids and adults alike and is held the weekend before Halloween every year.

And, then before we know it, there is the Christmas Parade with the lighting of the town Christmas tree. The parade starts at Union Hospital where Santa Claus arrives to lead the parade and greet the children. It then continues to Main Street for the annual tree lighting. The parade features caroling with lots of seasonal songs and it is great fun. This is usually held in early December and is not to be missed!

In addition to these great places to visit, there are a lot of nice restaurants in Elkton that are worth checking out. Some restaurants you may wish to check out are The Fair Hill Inn, The Howard House, Baker's Restaurant, Wesleys and Bently's. All are well worth the visit!

Additionally, there is Meadow Park which hosts many local sporting events and other group gatherings. It is a public park with open areas, pavilions, a play area for children, and a creek running through it. It is easily accessible and a great place to spend a few hours in the great outdoors. There are many other open spaces in Elkton and if you visit, you will find pretty drives and scenic routes to travel.

I highly recommend a visit to Elkton. Check out the fall events and our family friendly parks and open spaces. Visit our wonderful county library or check out the local Elkton History Museum. But, do come! Fall is a wonderful time of year here with moderate temperatures and beautiful foliage to view. Even if you are simply on your way to places north or south on I-95, do take a detour and check out this beautiful town. Elkton is well marked on the highway signs!! You can't miss us!