chesapeake country (Continued from page 49) Cross Island Trail extends for six miles from Terrapin Nature Park to the Kent Narrows. Mid-Shore Section from Wye Mills to Vienna INCLUDING US 50, MD 331 & MD 313 James Michener wrote an outline for his novel Chesapeake in an Oxford tavern that won his heart with its succulent crab cakes. MARYLAND LORE: Celebrated author This area, with its bayside beauty and more than 350 years of history, inspired James Michener to write the epic novel Chesapeake . In Easton, the restored, art deco Avalon Theatre hosts nationally known performing artists, while crafters display their wares at nearby specialty shops. You can also tour a winery, get a taste of the dining scene or enjoy outdoor activities ranging from hiking and canoeing to championship golf. St. Michaels, a former shipbuilding center now popular among pleasure boaters, features the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum with its working boatyard and restored 1879 lighthouse. A short drive away is Tilghman Island, which o ers skipjack cruises and fi ne local cuisine. Head to Bellevue, where a historic ferry crosses the Tred Avon River to reach Oxford, another boating town with its own museum. Also in the area are the Colonially captivating town of East New Market and the tiny fi shing village of Secretary. The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Scenic Byway begins further south in Cambridge, which has an active arts scene and a large maritime museum. Natural splendor is found at sites such as the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, which hosts the East Coast’s largest nesting population of bald eagles. Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, minor-league baseball and a zoo. In Whitehaven, a rural village below Salisbury, the historic Whitehaven Ferry runs on the Wicomico River. Then, in Princess Anne, the 200-year-old, neoclassical Teackle Mansion rests among 300 Federal-style and Victorian structures. West of town, Deal Island Wildlife Management Area is one of the state’s fi nest places to view ducks and geese. One of the southernmost spots in Maryland is Crisfi eld, famous for its local seafood, peaceful water trails and annual Hard Crab Derby. Cruises and ferries run from here to nearby Smith Island. West of town, Deal Island Wildlife Management Area is home to the Annual Skipjack Races and Island Fest, and is one of the state's fi nest places to view waterfowl. ■ Lower Eastern Shore Section from Vienna to Crisfi eld INCLUDING MD 313 & MD 413 From Vienna, known for its rich Nanticoke River and Chesapeake Bay legacy, this byway has two travel options. One travels north to Federalsburg, where the scenic creek from the Idylwild Wildlife Management Area winds through town. The other heads east toward the urban center of the region, Salisbury. History and culture mingle with a pedestrian-friendly shopping plaza, the TRIP TIPS Though 419 miles in its entirety, this byway can be divided into Upper Eastern Shore, mid-shore and lower-shore sections for daylong excursions. Bring your bike or kayak, and also take advantage of bed-and-breakfast accommodations in charming shore towns. 50 | maryland scenic byways
MD Scenic Byways Digital Guide: Page 50
