O ROAD TRIPS: THE GREAT CHESAPEAKE BAY ur kids had never seen an eagle, so we began our road trip at Conowingo Dam on the Susquehanna River just a few miles from the Chesapeake headwaters. “We can’t see an eagle,” my 4-year-old said from the back seat as we pulled up to the overlook. “Eagles only live on TV.” But before we’d even gotten out of the car, a massive bald eagle crested the art deco dam, and our kids’ jaws dropped. It was the perfect start to an unforgettable adventure. a true Maryland feast. If you’ve never had real Maryland steamed crabs, you owe yourself the trip. And don’t be afraid—locals love helping the uninitiated navigate this Maryland seafood adventure. In St. Michaels, my wife spent the day strolling from boutique to boutique, while I took the kids out for a sail on the skipjack H.M. Krentz . I drifted off to the song of the Chesapeake Bay—the whipping of sailcloth in the strong breeze, waves lapping at the hull, seabirds calling in our wake, the laughter of my sons—and wondered again, “Why have I never been here before?” From the dam, we followed the river south past towering purple wisteria and crossed the crown of the Chesapeake Bay into Maryland’s famous Eastern Shore. Golden farm fields spread out to broad water vistas and warm, welcoming towns dotted the landscape. We spent our afternoon strolling the charming streets of Colonial Chestertown. Then after ice cream, we pulled the kayaks off the roof and launched right from the town center, and not for the last time on this trip, I wondered, “Why have I never been here before?” We ate dockside at Waterman’s Inn in nearby Rock Hall. Herons fished in the shallows behind the pier, and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge peeked over the distant horizon. We sipped fresh-squeezed Orange Crushes—the unofficial cocktail of the Chesapeake—and ordered the legendary steamed crabs: Bright red, fresh from the pot, and crusted with Waterman’s mouthwatering, secret crab seasoning. Our boys pinched each other with the claws, while my wife and I picked our way through OUR FIRST MARYLAND STEAMED CRABS CASTING LINES & ISLAND HOPPING The next morning, we took a half-day fishing charter aboard the Tuna the Tide out of Kent Narrows. Captain Mark has been doing this for 40 years and knows the bay better than the fish do. He pulled us in over a school of rockfish, and as the lines danced with fish after fish, my wife landed her 22-pound rockfish. I didn’t catch anything, but I did get Captain Mark’s amazing rockfish ceviche recipe. PHOTO: CBMM DOWNLOAD THE BLIPPAR APP FOR ROAD TRIP VIDEO EXPERIENCE Get an Inside Look at the Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway Take your time experiencing the special beauty of this tidewater region with its pristine waterways and vibrant historic waterfront villages. 12 ✥ VISITMARYLAND.ORG | 1-877-333-4455
Maryland Official Visitors Guide 2019 Maryland Official Visitors Guide: Page 12
