2020-12-17 04:02:55
There are few places on Earth that make as perfect a getaway as Maryland’s iconic Eastern Shore. The region is made up of a patchwork quilt of small towns inextricably linked by the magnificent backdrop of the Chesapeake Bay. SEAFOOD SPLENDOR You really can’t talk about Chesapeake Country without talking about seafood. After all, it’s located on both the Great Chesapeake Bay Loop and Maryland’s legendary Crab & Oyster Trail. Enjoy crabs prepared more ways than you can imagine at the seafood capitals of Rock Hall, Tilghman Island, Kent Narrows, Deale, and more. And that’s not even mentioning those salty-sweet Chesapeake oysters, decadent rockfish, and that oh-so-sweet Eastern Shore corn and “maters.” TOP TO BOTTOM To explore the full byway, start in Chesapeake City, where the C&D Canal Museum captures the history of the 165-year-old Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. Swimmers and anglers love Crystal Beach, a summer town on the Elk River. Get back to nature in Grasonville at the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center before stretching your legs on the Cross Island Trail at Kent Island. Make sure to stop at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in oh-so-charming St. Michaels for a deep dive into the fascinating, living story of the Chesapeake. @sugarantelope Find a fishing charter and see the bay from the water. Board a real, working skipjack for a sailing cruise off Tilghman Island, or drive right on board the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry, in operation since 1683. And while you’re on the water, keep an eye out for the region’s signature lighthouses. Head south to Crisfield on Labor Day for the annual National Hard Crab Derby—yes, they actually race crabs—and kayak or canoe at Janes Island State Park. You’ll also want to ferry over to Smith Island to see Chesapeake watermen’s heritage in action. Find more things to do along the Chesapeake Country Byway at: visitmaryland.org/scenic-byways/chesapeake-country
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