The Mid-Atlantic Region is along the Atlantic Coast between the New England Region and the Southeastern Region. It is comprised of the states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington D.C.

The Mid-Atlantic Region is the most densely populated region of the United States. The top four largest metropolitan areas are New York City, Washington DC, Philadelphia and Baltimore which are all near the Atlantic Coast. The eastern parts of the region is urban with bright lights of the big cities.

While the region is dominated by the continuous urban area running from New York City to Washington DC, other parts of the region are more rural and have a little bit of everything for visitors to enjoy. For nature enthusiast the Mid-Atlantic Region has tranquil beauty of the rolling countryside, seaside boardwalks, white sand beaches and the Appalachian Mountains which passes through the entire region.

Of course, the region has more than its share of historical sites and political importance. Historically, its roots started during the colonial times, many significant events of the American Revolution occurred in the region and some of the most important civil war battles were fought in the region. Politically, Washington DC is the epicenter of the nation’s politics.

Mid-Atlantic’s Traditional Foods

Traditions foods in some regions are consistent across the region but that is not true for the Mid-Atlantic Region. Traditional food in the Mid-Atlantic Region varies greatly from state to state.

It is difficult to list all of the traditional foods in the Mid-Atlantic Region but some are foods are famous in certain states. The most famous foods in each state are listed below, try some of these when you travel to these states:

New York

• Bagel with cream cheese – a combo that includes cream cheese, salmon, capers, tomato, and red onions all stacked up on a bagel.
• New York-style cheesecake – cheesecake with gobs of egg yolk-spiked cream cheese on a cookie crust.
• New York Hotdog – sold out of food carts.
• Pastrami on Rye
• New York-style pizza – dough-base of the pizza has a crispier texture.

Maryland and Virginia

• Steamed Crabs
• Crab cakes – typically consist of crab meat, egg, bread, mayo, and of course, Old Bay.
• Oysters – Virginia is celebrated as the Oyster Capital of the East Coast.
• Blue Crabs are another delicacy of Virginia’s coastal towns along the Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore.

Pennsylvania

• Philly Cheesesteak
• Hoagie
• Philly soft pretzels

Travel is about experiences, include experiencing each state’s most iconic foods when you visit!

Must See Attractions

My list of Mid-Atlantic must see attractions are primarily historical and political sites. The exception to this is to see some of New York City’s modern attractions and some regional nature.

Historical sites are scattered all throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region. This region was where many important events took place during the founding of the country and during the transformation of the country in the Civil War years. Visiting these sites can be educational to help understand the regional history.

The region is also the location of the Capital of the United States which makes it the center of the political realm of the country. There are more historical and political attractions in Washington DC than can possibly be visited in a single trip to the city.

Two places in the Mid-Atlantic Region that I enjoyed most are the National Mall and the Great Falls. The National Mall is probably at the top of the list for most people to see and the Great Falls is probably unknown to many visitors.

On my first visit to Washington DC, I went straight to the National Mall. There was so much that I wanted to see and I didn’t want to miss anything. My expectations were very high and that normally mean I will be disappointed but I was completely impressed by everything that I saw. Each monument was spectacular and at the end of my visit, I felt proud of the capital city of my country.

On my second trip to Washington DC my goals were totally different. I wanted to see places that were not inside the city but in the surrounding area. When doing my research for the trip I came across the Great Falls. I was surprised that such an impressive waterfall was so close to the city. The waterfalls were fantastic and the park was also wonderful. Visiting Great Falls made for a relaxing and enjoyable day in nature.

The Mid-Atlantic Region is packed with top notch places to experience. There is so much to see that most people only visit the place recommended by travel services. Don’t limit your travels to just the top recommended places, ditch the crowds and make your own experiences.

Places to See

(Click on the photo below for more information on each topic.)

Maryland

New York

Washington DC