DESTINATIONS
Easton
Easton is more than Talbot County’s capital. It’s the sophisticated center of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Home to museums, music venues, galleries and artists’ studios, its vibrant cultural scene draws an international crowd. Add to the mix indie boutiques, critically acclaimed restaurants, significant historic architecture, along with a roster of world-class festivals, and it’s no wonder Easton rates among America’s Top Ten Towns. A host of accommodations, including an historic hotel and a Michelin-noted inn, make lingering easy.
Oxford
Oxford with its historic homes, picket fences, tree-lined streets, and brick sidewalks is postcard perfect. A pristine small beach, waterfront restaurants, a bookstore, a general store and artisanal ice cream shop round out the offerings. Yachts, powerboats, simple skiffs and the oldest operating ferry in America ply the water—The Tred Avon to one side, Town Creek on the other — casting an air of serenity. It’s no mystery why James Michener chose this as his home base while penning his classic novel Chesapeake. Historic inns and waterfront cottages showcase the best of what Oxford has to offer.
St. Michaels
St. Michaels is a charming waterfront town that beckons visitors to boat, bike or stroll. Shops and cafes flank the main street, plus a trio of tasting rooms invites visitors to try locally crafted beer, wine and spirits. Restaurants run the gamut from crab shacks to fine dining, all with an emphasis on local bounty. St. Michaels’ jewel is the world’s leading museum dedicated to the Chesapeake Bay, and the only place where visitors can explore a rare screwpile lighthouse. Plenty of historic inns and a world-class resort with a golf course invite visitors to stay a while.
Tilghman Island
Tilghman Island is the quintessential Chesapeake Bay village, a place where tradition runs deep. Cross the drawbridge over the Knapps Narrows (the only access to the 2.7-mile island) and you are transported to a slower pace of life. For generations watermen have worked the waterways in pursuit of crabs, oysters and rockfish. Today, Tilghman Island is prime place to take a sailing charter, cruise aboard a traditional boat designed to dredge oysters known as a skipjack or sample fresh local seafood. Stay awhile at one of the quaint family run bed and breakfasts or a stylish rustic chic hotel complete with saltwater pool.
Other Waterfront Villages
Each of the quaint waterfront villages that pepper Talbot County has its own unique character. Bellevue is a sleepy community where you can pick up the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry to cross the Tred Avon River to Oxford. Trappe, a small town surrounding by fields and forests, has a launching ramp right on the banks of the Choptank River. In Tunis Mills, just across an historic bridge with rare wooden decking that crosses tranquil Leeds Creek, you’ll find one of locals’ favorite launching docks, especially for canoes and kayaks. Cordova nestled amid farmland, offers a public boat ramp with courtesy docks. Claiborne’s laidback vibe extends to its small beach where kite boarders chasing the wind and beachcombers searching for sea glass converge. A gentle river runs through Wye Mills, which today is best known for its water-powered mill that’s been in operation since 1682. Bozman, which is set on gentle Harris Creek, is an ideal place for launching kayaks and canoes. Wittman, home to many watermen for generations, has a boat ramp leading directly into the Chesapeake Bay. Neavitt, which is perched beside the Choptank River, is a magnet for crabbers. And the tiny hamlet of Sherwood is home to a full service marina, complete with a lodge and a restaurant where you can plunge your toes into the sand and savor fried oysters while soaking in a killer sunset over the Chesapeake Bay.