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Hanover is where a lot of Maryland trips begin or end. Wedged between Baltimore and Washington, it wraps around the southern edge of BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, and its hotels, highways and train station make it a handy base for both cities.
What put Hanover on the map for visitors, though, is Arundel Mills. The giant outlet mall opened in 2000 on former farmland, and the Live! Casino and Hotel Maryland rose beside it a decade later, turning a quiet crossroads into one of the state's busiest entertainment districts, with dinner theater, concerts and a large movie complex all within walking distance.
The rest is surprisingly green. The paved BWI Trail circles the airport through woods and parks, and the Dixon observation area lets families picnic while jets pass low overhead. Nearby Linthicum adds a museum of radar and electronics history and an 1820s farmhouse run by the county historical society, and downtown Baltimore's Inner Harbor is about 20 minutes north.
One of Maryland's largest shopping centers, with around 200 outlet and brand stores, a food court, a big Cinemark theater and family attractions under one long roof. Racetrack-style corridors loop the whole building, so note your entrance number. Weekday mornings are calm, while December weekends get very busy.
A large casino resort next to Arundel Mills, with thousands of slot machines, table games, a big poker room, restaurants and a hotel tower. Its concert venue, The Hall, books comedians and touring bands. Guests must be 21 to enter the gaming floor; parking in the garages is free, and the casino is open around the clock.
A dinner show at Arundel Mills where knights on horseback joust, swordfight and compete for the crowd while you eat a four-course meal with your hands. Each section cheers for its own colored knight, which makes it lively for kids and groups. Arrive early to browse the castle hall and see the horses before seating.
A paved loop of about 12 miles that circles BWI Airport through woods, neighborhoods and small parks, popular with cyclists, runners and walkers. It connects to the BWI light rail stop and the B&A Trail. Start at the Dixon observation area for parking and restrooms, and carry water, since shade is patchy.
A park at the end of a BWI runway where airliners pass low over a grassy hill, with a playground, picnic tables and open lawn. It is a classic family stop, a trailhead for the BWI Trail and a favorite of local plane spotters. Late afternoon brings the busiest arrivals and the best light for photos.
A small museum near BWI that tells the story of defense electronics, from early radar and Cold War surveillance gear to satellites, with hands-on exhibits and a jet parked outside. Many volunteers are retired engineers who share first-hand stories. Admission is modest; check opening days before you go, as hours are limited.
A brick farmhouse from the 1820s, one of the last reminders of the farms that covered this area before the airport, now home to the Anne Arundel County Historical Society. Rooms show period furnishings and exhibits on county history, and the society runs a research library on site. Opening times are limited, so check the schedule first.
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