I admit I have only really visited Columbia, Ellicot City and Baltimore while visiting MD. I've driving through it a lot, but not spent much time really beyond Columbia. Ellicot City I visited for a wedding and Baltimore for the same wedding as well as the aquarium for a half a day. The majority of my MD time has been near where Eileen lives though so I don't have a real feeling for MD.
I really have no good or bad to say about the state as a whole. I do know that Columbia isn't for me, but it's for minor reasons. Much like other cities near Columbus aren't for me either. I have a certain feel I go for and I have it here. I do wish specifically my city had more diversity, but the good part is the racism isn't very apparent here. The over the top Christians can bug me but they've shut up more at least in more recent years.