Spring is officially here, and for residents of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, that means the start of a host of local and regional activities.
Whether you're planning a day of sightseeing, or staying close to home, you'll find lots to see and do.
When it comes to local activities, Upper Marlboro can't be beat.
For the kids, there are a variety of summer and sports camps.
Golfers will enjoy the challenging links of the Marlboro Golf Club, and the Bowie Baysox baseball club hosts games in an old-fashioned ball park only 10 minutes away.
For summertime family fun, Six Flags America is right up the road.
Or, take advantage of the natural beauty of the area at one of the nearby parks or wildlife sanctuaries.
And don't forget the fabulous variety of restaurants as well as shopping, from local stores to large malls.
Because of its central location in Maryland, Upper Marlboro is a unique starting point for enjoying the natural beauty and history of Maryland.
To the West, Washington D.
C.
, rich with museums and government landmarks, is only 35 minutes away.
Likewise, a 30 minute drive to the east will take you to Annapolis, the State's capital and home of the United States Naval Academy.
Another 15 minutes eastward lies the stunning beauty of Maryland's Eastern Shore, famous for its laid-back lifestyle and world-class seafood.
Know a Civil War buff? Take Highway 301 South from Upper Marlboro and explore numerous historic civil war sites on your way to Virginia, including the escape route of John Wilkes Booth.
With all it has to offer, Upper Marlboro is a great place to visit, and an even better place to live.
Upper Marlboro, the county seat of Prince George's County, is rich in history.
The area was settled around 1695, and named after John Churchill, an ancestor of Winston Churchill.
Darnall's Chance, the present-day County Administration Building, was constructed around 1700.
Brothers Daniel Carroll, who signed the United States Constitution, and John Carroll, the first Roman Catholic bishop in the United States, may have been born in the home.
In 1706, the port town of Marlborough was created.
The town was originally to be built on an "L"-shaped grid, but resident dissatisfaction with the plan led to a new survey with a new community name of Upper Marlborough.
Upper Marlborough was a port town for tobacco ships early in its history, and tobacco farms covered the surrounding terrain.
In 1721, the town's courthouse was built, and the county seat was then moved to the community.
Horse racing was a major area attraction after its arrival in the mid-1700s.
In 1870, Upper Marlborough was incorporated, and the town's name was changed to Upper Marlboro in the late 1800s due to the actions of a postal clerk who consolidated the letters to fit on contemporary rubber stamps.
The name stuck.
Tobacco farming led to sedimentation of the Western Branch and diminished role of the town as a port, and Upper Marlboro residential developments have replaced area farms.