SOUTHERN MARYLAND Unspoiled woodlands meet rolling farmland on the banks of the Chesapeake Bay here, in the birthplace of Maryland. Enjoy scenic drives, the bounty of local watermen and farmers and the hospitality of Southern Maryland in this quintessential tidewater wonderland. Eat & Drink Time for Happy Hour at the Beach The mood is conversational where wine enthusiasts gather for personalized daily tastings and retail sales of a variety of Old and New World varietals at Bay Wine & Spirits, located just off the boardwalk in North Beach. Dine & Unwind at The Front Porch The Front Porch inside the Sterling House hosts an intimate, relaxed eatery that serves up Southern coastal cuisine in historic downtown Leonardtown. Local burgers, fried chicken dinners, pork belly BLTs, more than 40 wines, boutique beers and traditional cocktails are just some of the offerings found within this quaint building dating back to the 1850s. CHARLES La Plata CALVERT Prince Frederick Savor Fresh Seafood on the Water Zahniser’s Dry Dock marina-side restaurant is always a class act, from the tasty Maryland crab soup to the peaceful water views. Enjoy the view of sailboats and yachts in Solomons Harbor while dining on fresh fish and sinfully rich deserts. ST. MARY’S See & Do Visit the State’s First Capital Way back in 1633, colonists set sail on the Ark and Dove from the Isle of Wight before landing at Old Point Comfort and establishing the colony that Leonardtown would later become Maryland’s first capital. Learn all about the early days in Historic St. Mary’s City and the Historic Village of Port Tobacco, formerly the state’s second-largest seaport. drawn from the back of boats in motion, or use weighted lines to bottom-fish for white perch and croaker. Stroll through Classic Bay Scenery Take a leisurely self-guided tour on the Chesapeake Beach Railway Trail, a mile-long coastline boardwalk through the Town of Chesapeake Beach that begins at the Railway Museum and concludes at Bayfront Park. Classic bay scenery and all sorts of wildlife and waterfowl from ospreys to crabs can be spotted along the way. Hang with Otters at the Marine Museum The Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons explains and interprets the physical history of Southern Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay with a hands-on, interactive experience and popular river otter exhibit. The museum’s annual Sharkfest takes place on the second Saturday in July, and riverboat cruises depart daily from the museum’s own dock. Choose a Boat from the Fishing Fleet The “Charter Boat Row” at the Chesapeake Beach Resort & Spa has been referred to as the “charter fishing capital of Maryland” since 1946. You can reel in rockfish, blue fish and Spanish mackerel on trolling tours with baited lines and lures Touch Down at NAS Pax River Learn ongoing naval aviation history and how the U.S. Navy established its flight test center at Patuxent River Naval Air Station Museum in Lexington Park. Artifacts, photographs, film and memorabilia tell the story. View two dozen naval aircraft on display and test an F-14 Tomcat flight simulator. Patuxent River Naval Air Station Museum, Lexington Park 90 ✥ VISITMARYLAND.ORG | 1-877-333-4455
Maryland Official Visitors Guide 2019 Maryland Official Visitors Guide: Page 90
