BEACHES & WATERWAYS Leave the Shores Behind If you’ve only explored Maryland from the land, you haven’t seen the half of it. WATERSPORT WONDERLAND Left: Wednesday Night Races in Annapolis Right: White-water rafting on the Youghiogheny River S PHOTO: ACCOKEEK FOUNDATION; GARRETT COUNTY BY CHRIS LANDERS Set on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, crisscrossed by rivers and streams, and centered on the mighty Chesapeake Bay, watersport adventures abound in Maryland. Retrace history by boat, paddle through tranquil marshes or raging rapids, or just kick back and enjoy the ride. check out Mallow’s Bay, the sunken home of nearly 230 World War I-era ships. The Choptank and Tuckahoe Rivers Trail on the Eastern Shore includes Frederick Douglass’ birth place. The Monocacy Scenic River Water Trail covers 41 miles through Civil War sites. Water trails also cover the Middle and Upper Potomac River and C&O Canal. Western Maryland’s New Germany State Park offers kayaks, paddleboats and rowboats to explore the 13-acre lake’s diverse wildlife habitat. The Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail traces his journey along the Chesapeake, or for an urban adventure, launch your kayak in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. rent at National Harbor and offers stand up paddleboard yoga classes. Paddle or Pedal in North Beach and Chesapeake Beach covers all the bases with kayak, canoe, paddleboard and sailboat rentals. From Riley’s Lock at the mouth of Seneca Creek, Active Nature offers paddleboard classes, as well as moonlight tours led by veteran paddlers. Sailboat or Motor Boat? Annapolis, Edgewater and Deale all have charter outfits that offer boat rentals with or without a captain. Tilghman Island Marina on the Eastern Shore has a fleet of pontoon and sailboats at hand, along with personal watercraft. Out west, area businesses on Deep Creek Lake rent pontoon and ski boats, and in Southern Maryland Solomon’s Boat Rental can set you up with a powerboat. White Water Ahead For rafters, the Youghiogheny River’s Class IV and V rapids offer some of the best white water in the world. The Savage River in Garrett County has been home to white-water world championships and Olympic trials, and several times a year the Army Corps of Engineers schedules dam releases for white-water recreation. For a slower ride, tubing is available on Antietam Creek and the Gunpowder River. ✥ History on the Water If you’re interested in traveling lighter (and a little slower), a kayak may be in order. In St. Mary’s County, choose from numerous water trails covering the Potomac and Patuxent rivers. In nearby Charles County, Paddle the Day Away Paddlers head out to sea (or bay) on rented boards up and down the Coastal Highway in Ocean City. SUP Annapolis offers lessons and rentals on the Severn River. Boating in DC has paddleboards, kayaks and canoes for Resources Public boat launch facilities (by county) dnr.maryland.gov/Boating/Pages/water-access/ boatramps.aspx DESTINATION MARYLAND ✥ 45
Maryland Official Visitors Guide 2017: Page 45
