Between Washington, DC And Baltimore Is A Charming Maryland City With Shops, Tasty Eats, And Outdoor Fun

Washington, D.C., and Baltimore get a lot of limelight, but there's a Maryland metropolis nestled between them that deserves its 15 minutes, too. Locals know that the city of Bowie is actually pronounced boo-ee — unlike famed musician David Bowie — and they also know that this charming city of nearly 60,000 inhabitants is far more than just a bedroom community for D.C. and Baltimore. Rather, it's a vibrant and dynamic place in its own right, with a fascinating history dating back long before its establishment in the 1870s. At various times, Bowie has been a hotspot for horse breeding and the railroad industry, and it is also home to Bowie State University. Today, Bowie offers visitors an abundance of urban green spaces and opportunities to have fun outdoors, as well as an engaging (and delicious) assortment of shops and dining choices to partake in, and it is well worth a trip.

Getting to Bowie is easy, making it an accessible add-on to a visit to Washington or Baltimore, or a great stop when traveling between the two. Bowie is just a 35-minute drive (traffic dependent) from the heart of Washington, D.C. While public transit (via the MARC commuter train or Metrobus) will take longer, that's also an option. You're also only about 45 minutes by car from Baltimore, and if you're arriving from the skies, you'll likely want to fly into Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), which is around half an hour away.

It wouldn't be a trip to Maryland without sampling some of the state's famously mouthwatering Chesapeake blue crabs, and while Bowie may not be known as the "crab capital of the world" (that'd be Crisfield, a couple of hours away on Maryland's Eastern Shore), it's still a stellar place to grab a mallet and a bib and get cracking. Head to the popular Jerry's Seafood, which bills itself as the "home of the Crab Bomb," for a tasty seafood meal. What is a Crab Bomb, you may ask? It's Jerry's house specialty crab cake, which has been around for almost 40 years. As one Google reviewer puts it, "Jerry's doesn't just serve seafood; they serve memories."

If you're craving some classic soul food cooking, snag a table at Ruby's Southern Comfort Kitchen, a Black-owned and operated eatery. As their website explains, Ruby's menu "is a love letter to Southern and Black culture," with every dish paying "homage to the flavors, resilience, and joy that have shaped our history." In practice, this means a packed menu that includes shrimp and grits, catfish, black-eyed peas, fried green tomatoes, sweet potato pie, and more. Sit out on the outdoor patio if weather permits, and enjoy a hearty meal of what one Google reviewer describes as "authentic Southern comfort food that actually lives up to the hype."

If your idea of getting to know a new place involves a bit of retail therapy — or simply some window-shopping — you're in the right spot. Bowie Town Center is an outdoor shopping hub boasting a vast array of chain and independent establishments, ranging from clothing boutiques and bookstores to electronics emporiums and beyond, not to mention entertainment and dining. Peruse the shelves and racks at familiar stores like Macy's, Best Buy, and Barnes & Noble, or you can find something new at Overdue Recognition Art Gallery, an independent gallery that represents more than 40 African American artists. With both original pieces and fine-art reproductions for sale, you've got options here — whether your budget encompasses art collecting or is more suited towards buying a print to take home. If you're looking to continue your Maryland travels with another charming suburb with artsy attractions, make your way to Catonsville next.

Rather be outdoors and active? Lace up your sneakers and go to Governor Bridge Natural Area. Under the umbrella of the Patuxent River Park and run by the Prince George's County Parks and Recreation department, this verdant wonderland sits beside (you guessed it) the Patuxent River, and encompasses just over 350 acres of lush land. Like Maryland's newest state park, this park has wetlands, woodland, an 8-acre pond, endemic plant life, and myriad streams, so there's no shortage of scenery to immerse yourself in here. For a fun excursion, take a walk (or run) along one of the park's several trails, all of which are rated easy on AllTrails. As one reviewer puts it, these hikes offer "plenty of variety," and you can "make your trail however long and exciting as you want."