This book provides the most current and comprehensive review available of the natural and human history of the Catoctin Mountain region of Maryland, a part of the beautiful and interesting Blue Ridge physiographic province. The book is divided into three sections. In section one, the author systematically reviews the landforms, waters, weather, plants, animals, and other environmental features of the region, and then reviews how humans have used and modified this mountain landscape. Section two is a detailed guide which provides the reader with maps and descriptive information about the parks -- all of which make reading about or visiting this part of the Blue Ridge an easier, more meaningful, and more satisfying experience. Sources of additional information about the parks and the Catoctin Mountain region are provided in section three.

From the sandstone ridges and shale valleys of western Maryland to the sand dunes and tidal estuaries on Delaware's coast, the geologic features of the Mid-Atlantic region include a diverse array of rocks and landforms assembled during more than 1 billion years of geologic history. The book's introduction presents an overview of the geologic history of Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C., and 35 road guides discuss the landforms and rocks visible from a car window, along bike paths, and at nearby waysides and parks, including Chesapeake Ohio Canal National Historic Park, Assateague Island National Seashore, Rock Creek Park, and Cape Henlopen State Park.

The first-ever insider account of Camp David, the president's private retreat, on the seventy-fifth anniversary of its inception. Never before have the gates of Camp David been opened to the public. Intensely private and completely secluded, the president's personal campground is situated deep in the woods, up miles of unmarked roads that are practically invisible to the untrained eye. Now, for the first time, we are allowed to travel along the mountain route and directly into the fascinating and intimate complex of rustic residential cabins, wildlife trails, and athletic courses that make up the presidential family room. For seventy-five years, Camp David has served as the president's private retreat. A home away from the hustle and bustle of Washington, this historic site is the ideal place for the First Family to relax, unwind, and, perhaps most important, escape from the incessant gaze of the media and the public. It has hosted decades of family gatherings for thirteen presidents, from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Barack Obama, including holiday celebrations, reunions, and even a wedding. But more than just a weekend getaway, Camp David has also been the site of private meetings and high-level summits with foreign leaders to foster diplomacy. Former Camp David commander Rear Admiral Michael Giorgione, CEC, USN (Ret.), takes us deep into this enigmatic and revered sanctuary. Combining fascinating first-person anecdotes of the presidents and their families with storied history and interviews with commanders both past and present, he reveals the intimate connection felt by the First Families with this historic retreat.

Hiking Maryland and Delaware explores sixty-two easy-to-follow, and easy-to-get-to hikes. Weaving the natural history and rich cultural history of two of our nation's oldest states, the author guides you through the rugged mountains, old-growth hardwood forests, salt-marsh wildlife preserves, and Piedmont stream valleys that attracted settlers to the region more than three centuries ago.