Harford County, Maryland has it all. Scenic countryside landscapes and farms, check. Charming towns, check. State parks, check. Great seafood, check. Less than an hour away from Baltimore, just over an hour from Philadelphia, 1.5 hours away from Washington DC, and 2.5 hours away from New York City this is the perfect weekend getaway destination on the East Coast.
From the historic towns of Havre de Grace and Bel Air to stunning outdoor destinations like Rocks State Park, Ladew Topiary Gardens, and Susquehanna State Park, this diverse county offers a myriad of experiences to fill an unforgettable weekend getaway.
Harford County is renowned for its historical significance, with influences dating back to the colonial era and the War of 1812. As you wander through the pretty streets of Havre de Grace, you’ll find yourself immersed in the town’s maritime heritage, discovering landmarks like the Concord Point Lighthouse and the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum.
Meanwhile, the town of Bel Air beckons with its quaint charm, bustling shops, and thriving arts scene that showcases the county’s creative spirit.
But it’s not just the rich history that makes Harford County an exceptional getaway destination. The region boasts an abundance of natural beauty, offering a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Rocks State Park entices outdoor enthusiasts with its towering rock formations, scenic trails, and the awe-inspiring Kilgore Falls, while Susquehanna State Park provides opportunities for hiking, camping, and exploring the picturesque Susquehanna River.
For a touch of whimsy, head to Ladew Topiary Gardens. Lose yourself in the enchanting world of meticulously sculpted hedges, vibrant flower displays, and serene gardens.
Whether you’re a history buff, nature lover, or simply seeking a relaxing weekend escape, there are so many amazing things to do in Harford County, Maryland to complete a recipe for a great weekend getaway.
Check out these 5 places to see and amazing things to do in Harford County to enjoy an unforgettable trip to Maryland: open for your weekend getaway.
Disclaimer: This post was in collaboration with Visit Harford as always all experiences and opinions are our own!
Places To Visit in Harford County on a Weekend Getaway
Spend time in Historic Havre de Grace
One of the absolute must stops and things to do in Harford County, Maryland is to spend time in the historic town of Havre de Grace, if not base your entire weekend getaway here.
This waterfront town is situated where the Susquehanna River meets the Chesapeake Bay. Due to its waterfront location, you can find a rich maritime history here, which you can learn all about by visiting the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum as well as Concord Point Lighthouse, the second oldest lighthouse in the state of Maryland and one of the most storied and historic lighthouses on the East Coast.
You can also thank the location on the Chesapeake Bay for the incredible seafood and culinary scene here, you won’t want to miss taking advantage of eating all the blue crab you can by dining at restaurants like MacGregor’s or take advantage of the outdoor waterfront seating at Tidewater Grille along the Susquehanna River.
During our own getaway, one of our favorite things to do in Harford County was antique shopping and Havre de Grace had no shortage of great places to find antiques and vintage pieces! If you’re an antique enthusiast like us you’ll want to set aside a few hours to check out Bahouka’s Antique Mall & Beer MuZeum on Union Avenue, Seneca Cannery Antiques (which spans 3 full floors), and JoRetro for mid-century home furnishings and vintage clothing on Washington Street!
Speaking of Washington Street, you’ll want to also shop all the cool boutiques and spots here as well. Even if you’re just looking for a sweet treat at Les Petits Bisous Macarons or a caffeine-fueled pick-me-up at Concord Point Coffee.
And as you’re exploring all the wonderful things to do in Havre de Grace, you’ll also notice the colorful murals that dot the town. In fact, you can check out the public art map for Havre de Grace if you want to hunt them all down or check out Graw Alley for the collection of murals by artist Ezra Berger that illustrates the history of Havre de Grace in over a dozen larger than life murals in a beautiful public park and space.
And if you’re looking for any other excuses to stick around and explore more of what Havre de Grace has to offer while checking out all the wonderful things to do in Harford County on a weekend getaway, be sure to spend the night at the historic Vandiver Inn bed and breakfast that’s housed in a famous, historic mansion and is the perfect home away from home on your weekend escape!
Before embarking on a scenic hike, be sure to make stops at a few of the historic points of interest at the Rock Run Historic Area. This area is situated right along the Susquehanna River and offers beautiful views and riverside trails to enjoy as well.
Here you’ll find a historic and operational gristmill, known as the Rock Run Gristmill that’s constructed out of stone with a 12-ton water wheel! There’s also the Carter-Archer Mansion or Rock Run Mansion that rests on the hill overlooking the gristmill that still has period-piece antiques and home furnishings inside. Nearby you’ll also find the Jersey Toll House and what remains of the Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal.
Explore the Town of Bel Air
Another vibrant town not to be missed in Harford County, Maryland is Bel Air, which actually serves as the county seat. Bel Air is another delightful stop on your weekend getaway.
You can appreciate the rich history of Bel Air by exploring the Bel Air Historic District where you’ll find a collection of beautifully preserved buildings. Or enjoy the local arts and culture scene by catching a performance on your weekend getaway at the Bel Air Armory, which building alone is a showstopper on Main Street as it looks like a castle!
Speaking of Main Street, you’ll want to browse the great independent and locally owned shops dotted along here including browsing for your next addition to your vinyl collection at REB Records, hunting for more cool vintage treasures at Tommy’s On Main, or creating your own scented candle at Aroma Candle Studio to name a few of the great stops on Main Street!
Beer lovers can rejoice as there are two breweries in town on Harford County’s Libation Trail including Independent Brewing Company and AleCraft Brewery. We stopped at AleCraft Brewery and loved everything we sampled and tried here, along with admiring the design work on their products and their support of local artists.
If you’re hungry, you’re in luck. There are mouthwatering Philadelphia-style cheesesteaks and pub grub at Magerk’s or enjoy some of the freshest ice cream you can get your hands on at Broom’s Bloom Dairy just outside of town. Famous for their ‘cow to cone’ ice cream experience, this fully operational dairy farm not only has ice cream for those with a sweet tooth, but a whole menu of farm-fresh meals and if you’re about to head back home, you can pick up fresh kitchen ingredients straight from the farm from meats to cheeses!
Visit the Enchanting Ladew Topiary Gardens
One of our favorite highlights and things to do in Harford County from our personal visit was spending the afternoon exploring Ladew Topiary Gardens in Monkton. This historic gem is home to one of the top 10 topiary gardens in the world!
Visiting here you’ll be transported to the world of whimsy and meticulously designed topiary gardens from the mind of Harvey S. Ladew, born well-off during the Gilded Age, this huntsman and creative is the mastermind behind this beautiful and world-renowned property.
Ladew spend a considerable amount of his life enjoying the sport of fox hunting in locations all over the world including Maryland, where he discovered this property and purchased it to transform it into his own personal estate and enchanting topiary garden sanctuary.
In fact, some of his century-old designs are still on display today! The expansive gardens include over 100 topiary designs and 15 themed garden rooms all designed and arranged around axes and vistas that give any visitor in the past century, whether it be one of Ladew’s personal visitors or to anyone who’s visited the gardens since it was passed over to the public to enjoy in the 1970s.
It’s easy to get lost like Alice in Wonderland here for a few hours admiring the design work and vision behind this influential topiary garden, you’ll even notice the love Ladew had for fox hunting as there’s an entire topiary design and garden focused around a fox hunt – which was our favorite!
Visitors can also schedule a tour inside his historic estate too which includes beautifully designed rooms that offer stunning views of the gardens.
Whether you’re an avid horticulture enthusiast, a lover of art and design, or simply seeking a peaceful escape, Ladew Topiary Gardens is a must-visit destination and one of the not to be missed things to do in Harford County, Maryland.
Enjoy the Stunning Views at Rocks State Park
While driving around and exploring all the beautiful things to do in Harford County including passing rolling pastures and farmland with gorgeous historic barns, you may find yourself around Rocks State Park, which is another must-visit destination!
For fans of the classic modern children’s literature and the Disney film adaptation of Natalie Babbit’s Tuck Everlasting, you’ll want to head to Kilgore Falls, the second largest waterfall in the state and a famous filming location in the 2002 film.
The hike to Kilgore Falls is a short walk through a lush, heavily forested trail that leads you to a shallow creek where you’ll find the rushing waters. Wear water shoes or take your shoes off altogether to cut through the creek and get a closer glimpse of the falls. You’ll find locals swimming in the pools below the falls, picnickers, and even families with their dogs all relaxing at this tranquil spot tucked away in the forest of Rocks State Park.
While Kilgore Falls is without a doubt one of the most popular outdoorsy things to do in Harford County in the park, another highlight here is the King and Queen Seat rock formations and outcroppings that offer a dramatic view that is believed to be where Native Americans held ceremonies as the rock outcroppings resembled a natural throne.
This popular photo spot can be visited by parking at the Park’s Main Office and walking over to the ledge or hiking up from the Red Trail at the Rock Ridge Picnic Area. You’ll want to be extremely cautious when visiting though as you’ll be exposed to cliff edges and dangerous areas where it can be easy to fall if you’re not paying close attention.
And for those looking for more outdoor activities to enjoy here, there’s an ample amount of areas for picnics, and fishing, and for those who are skilled rock climbers, there are plenty of opportunities for rappelling and bouldering.
Enjoy Historic Sites and Hike at Susquehanna State Park
During our weekend getaway exploring all the amazing things to do in Harford County, one of our favorite ways to enjoy the outdoor splendor before heading back to the city was enjoying a hike in Susquehanna State Park.
Before embarking on a scenic hike, be sure to make stops at a few of the historic points of interest at the Rock Run Historic Area. This area is situated right along the Susquehanna River and offers beautiful views and riverside trails to enjoy as well.
Here you’ll find a historic and operational gristmill, known as the Rock Run Gristmill that’s constructed out of stone with a 12-ton water wheel! There’s also the Carter-Archer Mansion or Rock Run Mansion that rests on the hill overlooking the gristmill that still has period-piece antiques and home furnishings inside. Nearby you’ll also find the Jersey Toll House and what remains of the Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal.
After checking out the historic sites and points of interest, head over to the Deer Creek Picnic Area for a scenic hike and or picnic. We did the Deer Creek Trail Loop, which can take anywhere from 90 minutes to two hours depending on how many stops you make along the way, and is about 2.5 miles in total.
The easy-to-follow trail is marked by green signage, you can find the entrance to the trail at about the halfway point of the parking lot along the wooded side. You’ll first see 3 different directions you can go, the straight path and the path to the right are the Deer Creek Trail, you can start in either direction, we opted for the straight-ahead path which popped us out at the other at the end of the loop.
Along the trail you’ll encounter bird-watching opportunities and lush vegetation, we both really loved the vine-covered trees we encountered along the trail. The main star here is the towering champion White Oak Tree you’ll encounter at about the halfway point of the loop. There will be a small sign that you’ll encounter leading you off the main trail momentarily to lead you to the champion tree! What’s even more exciting is that the White Oak Tree is the official tree of the state of Maryland, so you’re getting to see one of the largest and most impressive in the state on the trail.
There was also a champion beech tree on this trail too that sadly succumbed to a storm about a month prior to our visit. It was still laying down on the ground in a clearing so you can get a sense of scale at what size this tree was standing and towering over the rest of the trees in the forest!
The entire trail is easy-moderate with some ups and downs and is the perfect way to get a sense of the beauty that Harford County has to offer. If you’re looking to go on a longer hike, you can easily branch off at the forks to the red and blue marked trails, which can also be accessed from the Deer Creek Picnic Area.
Whether you’re exploring the maritime heritage of Havre de Grace, immersing yourself in the small-town charm of Bel Air, venturing into the scenic wonders of Rocks State Park and Susquehanna State Park, or exploring the enchanting and whimsical Ladew Topiary Gardens, Harford County promises a memorable weekend getaway on the East Coast.
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