Roots & Tides
Explore the timeless traditions and deep maritime roots of Western Shore towns along the Chesapeake Bay. Go sailing, bird watching, museum hopping or just relax on a sandy beach.
Roots & Tides
Roots & Tides
Explore the timeless traditions and deep maritime roots of Western Shore towns along the Chesapeake Bay. Go sailing, bird watching, museum hopping or just relax on a sandy beach.
Explore the timeless traditions and deep maritime roots of Western Shore towns along the Chesapeake Bay. Go sailing, bird watching, museum hopping or just relax on a sandy beach.
The recreational opportunities are plentiful with each golden Chesapeake Bay day. Enjoy a relaxing beach getaway, navigate the bay’s waters, visit a heritage site or savor a delicious seafood meal. From bayside towns to fishing communities, this byway showcases the history and culture of this region.
Annapolis to Fairhaven
Including MD 2, MD 253, MD 468, MD 256 & MD 423
Begin in Annapolis, where there are more 18th-century buildings than any other city in America. Visit the Maryland State House, which served as the nation’s capital in 1783, and the Banneker-Douglass Museum to learn about the area’s African-American heritage. Also available are guided walking tours of the U.S. Naval Academy, featuring glimpses of a midshipman’s life and a history that dates back to Revolutionary War hero John Paul Jones.
Of course, no trip to “America’s Sailing Capital” is complete without a fishing excursion or relaxing charter boat ride. Take a sailing cruise on the Schooner Woodwind where Chesapeake Storyteller Capt. Jennifer Kaye will point out wildlife seen along the way. Or try a cruise from Watermark Journey to discover the Chesapeake's heritage. Finish up with a delicious seafood dinner or unwind at a local pub.
Head south into Edgewater and tour Historic London Town and Gardens, where archaeological digs have unearthed artifacts dating back to the 18th century. Gardens and reconstructed colonial buildings are also located on the 23-acre property.
Many sites along this byway are part of the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network, which connects visitors to history, culture and recreation along the bay and its tributaries. One official gateway is the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, which encompasses 2,800 acres of forest, cropland, pasture, freshwater wetlands, tidal marshes and estuaries. Family-oriented activities include hiking, kayaking and guided canoe tours.
Check for powerboat and sailboat rentals in Edgewater, or continue south and charter a ketch in the 360-year-old Quaker settlement of Galesville. Nearby is another Chesapeake Bay Gateway, a restored waterman’s cottage in Shady Side known as the Captain Salem Avery Museum.
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Fairhaven to Breezy Point Beach
Including MD 423, MD 261 & MD 263
For a quiet, relaxing beach vacation, head south into Rose Haven, North Beach or Chesapeake Beach. Enjoy ports, marinas, museums, restaurants, antiques shops and bed and breakfasts while admiring the waterfront views. The resort community of Chesapeake Beach is also the location of a water park with slides, fountains and waterfalls.
The sandy, half-mile-long Breezy Point Beach is great for picnicking, swimming, fishing and crabbing. From here you can head south to Plum Point, or turn inland to connect with the Star-Spangled Banner Byway.
Trip Tips
Take to the water along the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, which covers nearly 3,000 miles of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Never far from a friendly shore, the trail is easily accessible and marked by "smart buoys" that communicate historical and environmental information.
Continue south to Prince Frederick, site of Running Hare Vineyard and Battle Creek Cypress Swamp sanctuary, where a boardwalk trail provides an up-close look at centuries-old cypress trees. Nearby, explore 15 miles of trails on a preserve owned by the American Chestnut Land Trust.
Maryland Lore
The Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum is housed in an 1898 railway station and contains exhibits about the old Victorian resort and amusement park that operated there.