By Jim Hunt for the News and Journal
Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the Maryland Municipal League Annual Conference in Ocean City. The weather was perfect, the beaches were bustling, and the boardwalk buzzed with vacationers enjoying the sun, surf, and seafood. While I was there for work, I had a front-row seat to the action from the balcony of my beachfront hotel.
The conference brought together leaders from cities and towns across Maryland. I’ve spoken at this event many times over the past thirty years, and this year I presented on my new book, The Entrepreneurial City, to a full house of engaged municipal officials. A special guest in the audience was Mayor Steve Patterson of Athens, Ohio—2025 President of the National League of Cities and a good friend. I was honored that he penned the foreword to my book.
Driving home gave me time to reflect on Maryland’s remarkable diversity. Leaving the coast, I passed through stretches of farmland that could easily be mistaken for the Midwest. Then came the Chesapeake Bay Bridge—an engineering marvel that still makes my palms sweat no matter how many times I cross it. For those who share that fear, Maryland offers a unique service: for $40, a professional driver will take the wheel and guide you safely across. The view from the top—sailboats dotting the bay, the horizon stretching wide—is always worth it.
On the western side of the bridge lies Annapolis, Maryland’s capital and home to the U.S. Naval Academy. My wife and I visited last year and were struck by its charm, history, and walkable streets. Not far away is Baltimore, the state’s largest city, with over half a million residents and a skyline shaped by its proximity to Washington, D.C. The region is home to numerous federal agencies, giving it a distinctly metropolitan feel.
Heading west on I-70, I passed through Frederick and Hagerstown—cities steeped in early American history. I’ve driven this route more than 300 times, and it’s become second nature.
Like many West Virginians, I’ve made plenty of stops at the Hagerstown outlets, a favorite shopping destination just across the border.
As the road climbs into the mountains, the landscape begins to resemble home. Cumberland and Frostburg echo the towns of West Virginia, and in winter, the stretch of I-68 between them can be treacherous. I’ve left D.C. under sunny skies only to find myself in a surprise snowstorm near Frostburg—aptly named, and never one to disappoint when it comes to white-knuckle driving.
Maryland is a state of contrasts. You can start your day with your feet in the Atlantic, hike a mountain trail by afternoon, and catch a ballgame at Camden Yards by evening. While I’ll always be a Mountaineer at heart, our neighbor to the north and east is a welcome and fascinating companion.
