Annapolis, MD
DA
Y
5
Discover the “Sailing Capital of the USA” –
lovely Annapolis. The vibe is laid-back, the
scenery is awe-inspiring and the local fare is seasoned with
the fl avours of the Chesapeake Bay. At the centre of the city,
overlooking the town’s web of streets, the Maryland State
House was completed in 1779 and soon after served as an
early capitol of the US. It remains the oldest state house still
in legislative use. The narrow streets feature historic homes
and restored buildings such as the Hammond Harwood
House, showcasing architecture from the 18th and 19th
centuries. The waterfront harbour in Annapolis allows for
ship watching and harbour cruises and the lively cafés
and shops of Market House are an inviting place to relax.
The grey stone US Naval Academy has more than 4,000
midshipmen training to become Naval Offi cers. Guided tours
of the Academy are available for the public.
1 night Annapolis, MD.
Chesapeake and the
DA
YS
6 & 7
Eastern Shore, MD
Take the next two days to explore Maryland’s
Eastern Shore. Visit the beautiful Chesapeake harbour town
of St. Michaels – called “The Town that fooled the British”
because locals hung lanterns in the trees during the War of
1812 and the British cannons overshot the houses. Here, you
can feast on the local specialty – crab – whilst overlooking
the picturesque harbour. Browse through the town with its
antique shops, ice cream parlours and cafés and simply sit
back and enjoy the town’s delightful ambiance.
Southwest of St. Michaels is Tilghman Island, home port for
many of the Chesapeake Bay’s remaining skipjack sailboats.
Nearby is Oxford, once a major port and shipbuilding centre.
You can get to Oxford by taking the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry,
the longest cable-free ferry in the US. The 1684 port town of
Cambridge has many historic homes, buildings and museums
with agricultural, maritime, industrial and Native American
displays. The Brannock Maritime Museum houses exhibits
on Maryland’s “Oyster Navy” and Chesapeake Bay history.
Outside of Cambridge, the Dorchester Heritage Museum
has exhibits on aviation, archaeology and local history, and
the Richardson Museum focuses on the Bay’s long heritage
of wooden boat building. The Blackwater National Wildlife
Refuge is an important nesting and feeding area for wild
geese, osprey, swans, owls, muskrats, rare Delmarva fox
squirrels and bald eagles. South Dorchester County has been
called the “Cape Cod of the South” for its quaint waterman’s
villages and ferry bridge.
2 nights Eastern Shore, MD.
46 www.capitalregionusa.org
CRU09 pp44-47 Cruising.indd 46 6/11/08 12:11:22
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