The Inn at 202 Dover

Located in Easton, the Inn at 202 Dover (www.innat202dover.com) is a stunning, Colonial Revival mansion, built in 1874. It offers four suites, each with a decorative theme, and a Victorian guest room with its own bathroom, complete with a rain shower.

Although the spacious suites are furnished with antiques or reproductions, they also subtly combine today’s luxurious amenities, such as jet tubs, steam showers, flat-screen TVs and wireless Internet connections.

The Robert Morris Inn

The gardens at the Inn at 202 Dover pay tribute to the Victorian era and include a secret garden as well as a patio under a pergola. The Inn at 202 Dover is just a block from the downtown shops and galleries.

The Robert Morris Inn (www.robertmorrisinn.com), in Oxford, was the home of Robert Morris, a friend of George Washington who was known as the “Financier of the American Revolution.” Washington visited Morris often.

Stay in Colonial splendor – but with modern plumbing – in these 14 rooms, some of which feature handcrafted paneling. The staircase that leads to the rooms was built before 1710. The floor in the upstairs hall is Georgia white pine and the nails are handmade. Four of the rooms have fireplaces made of bricks that were used for ballast in ships coming to the Colonies.

These rooms offer water views and a chance to step back into time. It was at the Robert Morris Inn that James Michener outlined his novel “Chesapeake.”

Bottle Cottage, next to the inn, offers two modern, waterfront rooms, the only ones with televisions.

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge; photo courtesy of USFWS

The Chesapeake Bay region is a four-season destination with several vibrant towns that provide warm and inviting winter opportunities. Admiring bayside nature is also an option even in the colder months.

Millions of migratory birds flock to the area each autumn and winter as they follow the Atlantic Flyway during their seasonal flights. Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Cambridge hosts approximately 35,000 geese and 15,000 ducks each winter, along with abundant tundra swan and bald eagles. Black Walnut Point, at the tip of Tilghman Island, is a great place for spotting eagles, osprey, herons, sandpipers, terns and hawks against a magnificent bay backdrop. Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge, located in Rock Hall, is a great place for observing waterfowl, including pintails, goldeneyes, ruddy ducks, oldsquaw, canvasbacks and buffleheads.

Within small bayside towns, there are many opportunities for leisurely shopping at boutiques, antiques stores and country markets. Plus, you can visit Queenstown Premium Outlets just on the east side of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to find bargains at more than 60 stores, including Banana Republic, Coach Factory and Polo Ralph Lauren Factory.

Incorporate a little history and culture into your bay vacation by visiting one of the area’s several museums. The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is the place to learn all about the bay and the people who shape their lives around it. Meanwhile, the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum is perfect for anyone interested in trains or journeying into the past. The museum even has an annual holiday open house, giving visitors a chance to buy stocking stuffers and enjoy homemade goodies.

Holidays in St. Michaels are full of family fun. The Harbour Inn Resort hosts a holiday gala, an annual gingerbread house display/competition is held in St. Mary’s Square, Town Dock Restaurant offers a breakfast with Santa for children, and the Talbot Street Christmas parade offers marching-band music, floats, antique cars and more.

If you are looking for a warm haven from winter’s chill after a busy day of shopping and sightseeing, several comfortable accommodations have a cushiony bed ready. The 80-room Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michaels features picturesque rooms equipped with marvelous antiques and exquisite fabrics. All rooms boast fireplaces. Be sure to also check out Rock Hall’s Moonlight Bay Inn to experience the surreal tranquility and ambiance of winter usually found only in a painting.

There’s a reason Havre de Grace means “harbor of grace.” This little town at the mouth of the Susquehanna River is big in charm and personality that has developed over the last four centuries.

The town became known as Havre de Grace around 1782, when, in a letter to George Washington, Revolutionary War hero Marquis de Lafayette likened it to the French seaport, Le Havre. But the town’s history actually dates all the way back to John Smith’s exploration of the Upper Chesapeake Bay and Susquehanna River in 1608. During his journeys, Smith described the natives living here as “the most noble and heroic nation of Indians – large & warlike and for the most part seven feet tall – voices deep and hollow as coming out of a cave – stately and majestic – great warriors.”

Photo By Lydia Willig

In keeping with Havre de Grace’s reputation for “great warriors,” a local hero emerged during the War of 1812, also known as America’s Second War of Independence. When British Rear Admiral George Cockburn’s troops attacked, Lieutenant John O’Neill single-handedly manned a cannon to help defend the town. O’Neill’s efforts proved futile, and he was taken prisoner for a short time, but to show its thanks, Havre de Grace made O’Neill and his descendants the hereditary keepers of the Concord Point Lighthouse, which has been fully restored and still stands as the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in Maryland. Visitors will find it at the end of a boardwalk promenade linked to Tydings Park.

During the Civil War, Havre de Grace served as a safe haven for many free African Americans, and was one of seven sites used for the recruiting of “U.S. Colored Troops.”

With the upcoming 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, as well as the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the city is hard at work to prepare many commemorative events and exhibitions. On October 8, Harford County Executive David Craig presents his talk, “Terrorism on the Home Front 19^th Century Style,” to begin Havre de Grace’s tribute to the War of 1812. On October 29, the Heritage Museums of Havre de Grace host a free Community History Day to kick off the “War of 1812: Havre de Grace Under Fire” commemoration. Then, during the weekend of November 12, the waterfront Lock House Museum hosts a “Pirates By The Bay” program, exploring the history of piracy on the Chesapeake Bay.

More local history can be learned at the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum, which houses a brilliant collection of Chesapeake Bay waterfowl decoys, and the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum, where the story is told of life on the water.

A team of passionate volunteers has turned what started out as a simple idea into a concrete reality.

Digital rendering of what the Choptank Lighthouse will look like upon completion.

Lighthouse lovers, residents and other supporters are working to build a replica of the Choptank River Lighthouse, located 21 steps from Pier A at the Cambridge marina. Constructed using existing plans gathered from the National Archives, the new structure will be visible from the Choptank River Bridge and the nearby city.

Resembling a small hexagon-shaped cottage supported by large iron legs growing out of the river, the original beacon was a familiar and beloved sight for sailors in the Chesapeake region. Erected in 1871, the lighthouse was often passed by steamboats sailing from Baltimore and stopping for produce, passengers and delectable seafood.  It was destroyed by an ice floe almost 50 years later and replaced by a spare lighthouse found in Cape Charles, Va. The structure was removed in 1964 as part of the U.S. Coast Guard modernization program.

To pay for the lighthouse replica, volunteers have raised close to $600,000, only 10 percent short of their final goal. During a Lighthouse Launch Ceremony in late August, nearly 100 people gathered to look on as contractors began the process of driving seven, 70-foot long screwpiles into the Choptank River.

After completion – possibly as early as summer 2012 – the structure will be gifted to the City of Cambridge and used as the City Dockmaster’s Office, a Boaters’ Welcome/Information Center and a lighthouse museum. The museum will educate visitors about the area’s maritime heritage of boat-building, sailing, crabbing and catching oysters and other seafood. The welcome center will offer insight into local businesses and attractions, with opportunities to learn about one of the oldest colonial cities in the state.

It is estimated that the lighthouse could draw 20,000 to 30,000 visitors a year.

For information about contributing to the construction of the Choptank River Lighthouse Replica, visit the Choptank River Lighthouse Society website.

What do alpacas, outhouses and draft horses have in common? They all attract curious tourists who come to Caroline County for some good, old-fashioned, farm-based entertainment.

Though it lacks bay frontage like many of its neighboring counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Caroline County is a unique and charming area touched by the Choptank River. Capitalizing on a couple of assets – namely its great agritourism and nature-based tourism opportunities – Caroline has no shortage of extraordinary farms that are well worth a visit. Here are three precious properties you can fit into an afternoon or weekend:

Outstanding Dreams alpacas.

Outstanding Dreams Farm in Preston gives visitors the chance to get up-close-and-personal with the soft warmth of Alpaca fibers. The farm offers alpaca sales, breeding, boarding, tours and a farm store.

Alpacas are cute and furry four-legged creatures closely related to llamas and camels. Their fleece comes in 22 natural colors and is used for yarn, hats, gloves, scarves and toys, all of which are found in the Outstanding Dreams fiber store. While approaching these mammals, beware of their spit – Alpacas sometimes spit at each other over issues of food or dominance and at humans during rare occasions of extreme stress.

The farm raises Huacaya Alpacas, which are covered with a soft, uniform fleece. Other than their slight spitting issue, these animals can be a joy to observe or raise. The owners of Outstanding Dreams, Phil and Vicki Liske insist that after visiting this farm you will fall in love with the irresistible alpaca just like they have.

From alpacas to outhouses … Preston-based Shore Good Farm has the usual chicken coops and cultivated fields, as well as relics from farming’s past, but it is also known for creating custom-designed outhouses.

Highlighting Caroline County’s agrarian history with opportunities to view antiques and artifacts, the farm welcomes families and bus tours. But despite featuring one of the largest recorded collections of Eastern Shore memorabilia, Shore Good should not be considered a museum, according to owner Jack Stieff. Stieff believes his farm is more of a well-rounded, hands-on, recreational experience.

Shore Good allows guests to pick their own blackberries, raspberries and wild flowers, and children can collect brown eggs from the chicken coops while parents partake in the art of oyster shucking. The farm also includes a peanut-roasting operation, offering 15 varieties of signature peanuts. What could be better than enjoying roasted peanuts while watching the creation of a custom outhouse?

Clydesdales at Hidden Acres.

Just a few miles away from Preston is Denton, home to Hidden Acres. This 32-acre farm maintains poultry houses and is the residence of five true-bred Clydesdales and one American Quarter Horse. Hidden Acres also offers a collection of horse-drawn carriages – from a sparkling, pearl “Cinderella Carriage” with maroon velvet interior, to a “Black sleigh” resembling something that should be pulled by reindeer and packed with gifts! These vehicles are available for rent and are used to escort guests during tours, which are held in both fall and spring.

After petting alpacas and then eating peanuts among vintage outhouses, a leisurely carriage ride sounds like a terrific way to end a day of agritourism in Caroline County.

King Henry VIII welcomes all merry-seekers to Revel Grove, Oxfordshire, England (by way of Crownsville, Maryland!), to participate in days full of fun and excitement.

For more than 30 seasons, the Maryland Renaissance Festival has been receiving thousands of guests a year, many coming from outside Maryland to enjoy the unique outdoor entertainment.

Here’s one testimonial from the festval website, www.rennfest.com:

Photo by: Michael Scribner

‘. . . We always enjoy ourselves, and it’s worth flying 1,500 miles!’
- Gareth J., Dorset, UK

As the website goes on to say, for many people, the festival is a family tradition that now spans a generation.

“Enter the gates of Revel Grove and leave the hectic pace of the 21st century behind. Slow down. Stroll along beautiful wooded paths. Quaff an ale and relax in a pub. Shop for unique, handcrafted gifts. Let the kids play in a free children’s area – complete with a beautiful pirate ship.

“You won’t find any video games here! No mind-numbing, computer-generated special effects. The magic, pageantry, songs and laughter are all real.”

Take a step back in time as you enter the gates. Costumes, on various weekends, range from pirates to ninjas, wenches to witches, faeries to dragons. You might even spot a Stormtrooper or two.

Photo by: Arin Shortz

Start your own tradition here; join those who come year after year.

How to start? Dig through your closet. Find that long skirt you haven’t worn in years, it’s time to bring it out. Then, find a loose, light top; it doesn’t have to match the skirt. Find a pair of sandals and you’re all set. Or, you can look up a costume on line and buy it or borrow the idea to make your own.

Costumes are optional of course. But they help add to the experience while you nosh on a turkey leg, grab a pint at the pub or watch one of the many shows, ranging from jousting and comedy to music and dance.

If you need a place to spend the night, there are several hotels in the city of Annapolis only 10 minutes away from the Festival.

Come join in the magic, fun and adventure to start your own family tradition at the Maryland Renaissance Festival.

The Crew

The rush of wind, a clutter of boats. This seems like the right place to be.

The stars in our eyes, no clouds in the skies, never want to leave.

*****

Held in early August, the Maryland Governor’s Cup is a 70-mile, overnight sailboat race from Annapolis to St. Mary’s College of Maryland that, unfortunately, is slowly dying. Rumor has it that this year will be the last.

Photo by: Arin Shortz

This was my fourth year in the race with my father, Chuck Shortz, and his J105 Singularity. Singularity is a very well-known boat to all racers and many pleasure boaters in Maryland because she is in the Sailing Hall of Fame for winning and placing in many races.

The last Governor’s Cup I raced in was four years ago. The race starts at 6pm, and last year we completed the race around 4 in the morning. That race was the fastest Governor’s Cup we have ever raced.

This year, it took us until about 8am to complete the race, which was intense from beginning to end. The wind was around 16-18 knots the entire race, but it was coming from the south, the direction we were heading, so it took longer to finish than it should have. The race started with most of the boats crowded around each other in a small space. Eventually all of the boats spread out. The race then ended with a lot of the boats clumped together again.

We placed 11th out of 26, beating a few faster boats. Considering the conditions, we did quite well.

Singularity

For pictures of this year’s race, go to www.photoboatgallery.net/govcup2011.

During the race, there is plenty to admire along the route. The night sky is amazing when looked upon from the middle of the Chesapeake Bay. You can see thousands of stars stretched out above you. You can even see the Milky Way.

If you are ever interested in trying your hand at racing, I suggest you sign up for at least one overnight race. It is an experience you will never forget.

*****

It’s nights like these, that make us see, things we’d never believe.

Till the morning comes, the brilliant breeze, that washes us to sea.

Photo by Graham Scott-Taylor

The holidays here have all the small-town charm you’d expect from a location famed for its shops, boutiques, winery, brewery, intimate lodging and exceptional Chesapeake seafood. A little bit of snow completes the Courier & Ives scene.

Plus, there’s “Christmas in St. Michaels” – an annual event that takes place during the second weekend in December. It features house tours, a parade, an old-fashioned Eastern Shore dinner (including Maryland fried oysters!) inside the Union United Methodist Church Parish Hall, a Holiday Gala at the Harbourtowne Resort, breakfast with Santa (for children ages 3-8) at the Town Dock Restaurant and a gingerbread house competition hosted by the Woman’s Club of St. Michaels in St. Mary’s Square.

“Christmas in St. Michaels” even has its own ornament! The sailboat-themed 2011 ornament – number 8 in a collector’s series that dates back to 2004 – has been on sale since July.

In celebration of the event’s 25th anniversary this year, “Christmas in St. Michaels” is also releasing “The Santa Diaries – Memories of a Small Town Christmas,” a collection of letters to Santa and recollections of life-long area residents. The book will be available for purchase and signing by Santa and Mrs.  Claus at Bob Pascal’s St. Michaels Harbour Inn, Marina & Spa.

Learn more about the event, the ornament, the book and the many local beneficiaries of “Christmas in St. Michaels” by calling 410.745.0745 or visiting http://christmasinstmichaels.org.

After a day of exploring, retire to one of the many hotels, inns and B&Bs in Annapolis. House rentals are also an option for larger parties or those looking for an extended stay.

Photo by Arin Shortz

True water lovers can even enjoy a nice night on a comfortable boat. Companies such as Schooner Woodwind Cruises offer overnight accommodations.  Be sure to reserve your spot early, as space is limited on the boats.

Head away from City Dock in any direction and find yourself at one of the many B&Bs or hotels. If you’re up for a quick stay overnight, venture up Ego Alley to find Chick & Ruth’s. This little deli also has a B&B directly above it. To rent a room at the Scotlaur Inn, head into the deli and ask around.

If you are looking for something a little more luxurious, make your way toward the Eastport bridge and visit the Annapolis Marriot Waterfront.

CNN and other news operations have been all abuzz about two bee hives installed on the roof of the Westin Annapolis. While helping to preserve the globally depleted honey bee population, the hotel is also harvesting the honey and serving it as part of signature and specialty dishes in the hotel’s restaurant.

Nearby, Loews Annapolis recently became the first hotel in the mid-Atlantic region to install charging stations for guests who arrive in electric cars or use the hotel’s free “zero emission” electric shuttles to access the downtown area.

Annapolis boasts a vibrant cultural scene, with numerous art galleries, live performances and fun entertainment.

Photo by Arin Shortz

The Annapolis Gallery Association is a collection of 20 downtown art galleries featuring a variety of styles and techniques.

The Ballet Theater of Maryland, the Annapolis Opera, the Children’s Theater of Annapolis and the Annapolis Summer Garden Theater offer year-round shows that are sure to impress.

For contemporary concerts, Rams Head Tavern on West Street welcomes performers such as Toad the Wet Sprocket, Kindred the Family Soul and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Rams Head occasionally wanders outside the world of music to include comedy acts such as  Tim Meadows.