Maryland Official Visitors Guide - 2020 Maryland Official Visitors Guide
Great Chesapeake Bay Loop
Rona Kobell 2019-12-19 01:04:24
One beautiful body of water framed by two shores, each dotted with charming towns and natural wonder waiting to be explored
The Chesapeake Bay is one of North America’s greatest treasures. Stretching 200 miles from the Atlantic Ocean to the Susquehanna in the North, this breathtaking expanse has so much to offer that it’s hard to know where to begin. But, it might be best to start near one of its most famous landmarks, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
EASTERN SHORE
Annapolis is just a few minutes by car to the nearly five-mile feat of engineering wonder. It is the perfect place to start your adventure. While you are in town, make sure to grab a coffee at 49 West and drink it outside; it’s great people watching. Take a tour of the historic State Capitol, stroll through the brick-paved streets lined with shops and watch the sailboats on the Severn. And, don’t be surprised if you run into a few U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen in uniform. As you head out of Annapolis, consider a stop at Sandy Point State Park for idyllic views of the Eastern Shore and Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
Across the bridge, Kent Narrows is full of waterfront restaurants, and the burgeoning community is home to the Cross Island Trail, a great place to bike along the water and through the tidal marshes.
Easton and Cambridge are the biggest towns in the mid-shore. Easton offers live music at the Avalon Theater, the Academy Art Museum, beautiful blooming flowers in spring and great local shops and galleries. The Tidewater Inn is at the heart of it all, with each room featuring photography that celebrates the Chesapeake Bay. Cambridge boasts several museums, including the Richardson Maritime Museum and the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center. To learn more about her legacy, just travel about 20 minutes to Church Creek to the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center.
In addition to some charming bed and breakfasts, visitors to Cambridge often enjoy a stay at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina, which offers boat rentals and paddling, the spectacular River Marsh Golf Club with its famous Chesapeake vistas and a “kid’s club” for the younger members of the group.
If you like birds, Wye Island is a great place to stroll, try your hand at crabbing and watch the skies. Pickering Creek Audubon Center offers guided activities and an extensive network of trails. Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is a birding hub and great in the late winter for observing tundra swans and Canada geese.
Continuing along Route 50, you'll want to make stops at two celebrated waterfront towns. St. Michaels is home to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and one of the most charming downtowns you'll find. From there, you can hop on the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry and cross the Tred Avon River to Oxford. A small town, with a population of less than 1,000, Oxford is big on charm, offering a tour of picket fences painted by local artists. But don't stop there, Tilghman island awaits. This watermen’s community offers delicious seafood and amazing views of the Chesapeake and its tributaries. The Phillips Wharf Environmental Center is a great place to get up close and personal with bay creatures, including horseshoe crabs and turtles. Down the street, don’t miss lunch at The Characters Bridge restaurant. If the soft shell crab sandwich is on the menu, get it.
From Tilghman, head east toward Salisbury. Instead of continuing on the highway, take a detour onto Business 50 to 349 and wind through to the scenic town of Whitehaven (population: 43). Spend the night in the beautifully restored Whitehaven Hotel, or just pop in for an afternoon stroll and a ferry ride across the Wicomico on the three-car ferry. It’s free, and it runs year-round.
After crossing the river, you’ll be in Somerset County and a short drive from Crisfield, the crab capital of the world. Crisfield comes by the boast honestly; after all, it was built on oyster shells. Go for a quick swim at the beach at Jane's Island State Park or let the little ones have some fun at Park's recreation area while you wait for the ferry to Smith Island, one of the Chesapeake's inhabited offshore islands. You can go for an afternoon and get the ferry back at 3:30pm, or stay overnight at the Smith Island Inn and enjoy a hearty morning breakfast before a church service (all are welcome) or a bird tour of the nearby pelican rookery. Local resident Tim Marshall also takes visitors on tours to hunt for artifacts and arrowheads. He has a small museum with a large collection of his own.
Or, head from Whitehaven straight to Deal Island, which boasts some of the most beautiful views on the Shore and a wildlife management area that is home to a large number of swans and herons.
SOUTHERN MARYLAND
From Annapolis, instead of heading east to the beach, you can head south to…the beach. Just under half an hour from Annapolis in Calvert County, North Beach has beautiful beaches to stroll and Chesapeake Beach is the charter fishing capital of Maryland. Further down, Solomons Island is a lovely spot for an afternoon; watch the sailboats in the Patuxent River or take a cruise of your own as part of the tour that leaves the Calvert Marine Museum. The museum will walk you through all the amazing finds in the cliffs and sands in this paleontology center, and you can check out Calvert Cliffs State Park for your own fossil and shark teeth hunting expedition. Head to Courtney's in Ridge for authentic seafood, then cruise into Point Lookout State Park for excellent fishing, hiking, swimming and civil war history.
EXPERIENCE A DIFFERENT SIDE OF BAY CULTURE ON THE WESTERN SHORE
Start in Fells Point. Once the epicenter of Baltimore's maritime culture, it is now the perfect place to stroll down cobblestone, waterfront streets as you browse eclectic shops and restaurants. Make a weekend of it and stay at the Sagamore Pendry, recognized as a top boutique hotel.
From there, head north on Interstate 95 for a Bay experience all its own. As you enter the town of Havre de Grace, you’ll be charmed by Rochamebeau Plaza with its unique shops and restaurants. Don’t miss Bomboys Candy where you can indulge your sweet tooth. For a view you won’t soon forget, take time to stroll along the Havre De Grace promenade which spans the Concord Point Lighthouse to the City Marina.
Make your next stop North East. Located at the head of the Bay, this town boasts a quintessential Main Street and is home to scenic hiking trails along the beaches, marshlands and wooded bluffs at Elk Neck State Park.
Continue heading northeast to Chesapeake City. This quaint town, population of just under 700, is located on a working canal. Learn more about the canal at the local museum, and enjoy a cone at the Canal Creamery and Sweet Shoppe before hitting U.S. 213 and the northern Shore.
Centreville and Chestertown make wonderful weekend getaways. Chestertown, home to Washington College, hosts festivals throughout the year centered around its maritime history including its annual Wenches and Pirates Fantasy Weekend. Grab a room at the White Swan Tavern and spend a weekend strolling the streets in a town where parts have remained unchanged for centuries. End your day with an unforgettable sunset at Tolchester Marina.
Folks on the Shore know how to party all year round. Here are four Chesapeake festivals that you won’t want to miss:
The National Folk Festival taking place in September 2020 in Salisbury is America’s largest and longest-running festival celebrating arts, culture, music and more. This free event brings together more than 350 artisans to showcase their cultural traditions in the form of dance, food, storytelling and performance, to name a few. Bring the family and celebrate the roots of America.
Don't miss Easton's Waterfowl Festival in November. Art, conservation and culture come together at this event celebrating the heritage of the Eastern Shore’s famous fliers and the men and women who hunt them, carve them, paint them and consume them. The festival fans out over the picturesque town. Book a room early and don’t miss the fun.
For nearly 55 years, the Rotary Club of Lexington Park has hosted the U.S. Oyster Festival in St. Mary’s. Bring the whole family for oyster shucking and cook-off competitions. The competition is serious—a former National Oyster Shucking Champion is now moving on to compete in the Galway, Ireland International Competition. Cheer on this year’s contestants and enjoy a weekend of live music, craft beer and fun. It’s all for a good cause, as a portion of the proceeds go to area non-profits and academic scholarships.
Say goodbye to winter and hello to spring at the Annapolis Sock Burning and Oyster Festival. This annual tradition happens each year on the spring equinox. Barefoot guests celebrate with live music, fresh oysters and cocktails. Don’t miss your chance to welcome spring. Purchase tickets in advance, as they sell out every year!
Maryland scenic driving tours are designed to take travelers to new experiences throughout the state. Find out more at VisitMaryland.org/scenic-byways.
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