It is time to make Harford County, Maryland one of the first places that come to mind when you think of a sports destination along the east coast. With top-notch youth sports facilities, the renowned Ripken Experience for travel baseball teams, and a variety of group-friendly dining options and experiences, Harford County is the perfect place to turn a day at the ball field into a memorable weekend getaway with a variety of exciting attractions for everyone.
The state-of-the-art sports facilities in Harford County are designed to accommodate a variety of sports. Cedar Lane Regional Park is Harford's premier recreation facility, with a 110-acre multi-sport recreational complex for local and regional use. The Harford Sports Performance Center is the premier indoor sports facility that features indoor soccer and lacrosse turf fields, eight batting cages, three pitching tunnels, and a gym equipped with strength and conditioning equipment. The center also offers private and group lessons, team training, leagues, camps, and clinics. Both facilities are well-maintained and provide athletes with the opportunity to improve and perform their best. Coming in 2024, Coppermine Fieldhouse will call Harford County home with the opening of their brand new eight turf fields for youth sporting events.
Harford County is home to the Ripken Experience, which is the youth baseball complex in Aberdeen, named after baseball legends and Harford County natives, Cal Ripken Sr., Cal Ripken Jr., and brother Bill Ripken. The Ripken Experience offers a big-league experience for younger athletes looking to make lifelong memories playing like the pros. The complex features nine replica fields, each modeled after a different iconic stadium, including Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, and Camden Yards. The Ripken Experience hosts various tournaments, camps throughout the year, and attracts teams from all over the country. Teams that come to play at the Ripken Experience are treated to an immersive baseball experience that includes walk-up music for batters, game announcers, and a championship game under the lights. It is simple and convenient for families to stay overnight in Harford County after their game. Both the Courtyard Aberdeen at Ripken Stadium and the Residence Inn by Marriott are only a short walk to and from the complex. Families can take a short drive into town for a large variety of group-friendly restaurants for families and even team dinners.
If you are looking to learn a bit more about the history of baseball in Harford County, then you are in luck. Harford is one of the three destinations part of the Baseball Round-Tripper, a baseball-themed triple play that encourages visitors to follow the path of the Susquehanna River, which passes through three of the most baseball-centric places in America: Cooperstown, New York, the Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania, and Harford County, Maryland. Attractions guests are encouraged to stop at in Harford County include the Ernest Burke Statue in Havre de Grace. Burke was one of the best pitchers in the Negro Leagues who played for the Baltimore Elite Giants. From there, guests can travel about twenty minutes to see an Aberdeen IronBirds game at Ripken Stadium, which neighbors the Ripken Experience. To wrap-up the experience, guests can get a baseball-themed meal at the BallPark Restaurant, which has baseball memorabilia lining the walls.
In addition to dining, there are plenty of other group-friendly experiences to be had in Harford County during your stay. A go-to experience is taking a tour to the top of the Concord Point Lighthouse in Havre de Grace, which is the second oldest lighthouse in the state of Maryland that offers stunning views of the Chesapeake Bay, followed by waterfront dining at Tidewater Grille, which is just a brief walk away. For outdoor enthusiasts, there are plenty of opportunities for hiking, kayaking, and fishing at any of our parks, such as Rocks State Park, which is one of the four state parks and eight-nine county parks just in Harford County alone. Cool off with a team bonding activity at Ultimate Watersports, followed by a refreshing and creamy ice cream cone or sundae from one of our cow-to-cone creameries, or choose from hundreds of flavors and topping combinations when Harford’s snowball stands begin opening. Harford even has an Ice Cream Trail and a Snowball Trail, so you can aim to eventually stop at every location during each of your visits.
Harford County is a vibrant and welcoming community that prides itself on its history, culture, natural beauty, entertainment, sports, and attractions. You will find that when you come and visit Harford County, there is something to offer everyone. Make the most of your next trip to Harford County when you travel here for sports and check out VisitHarford.com to learn even more about the different experiences, events, and attractions there are to experience.
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