The James Monroe Birthplace Park & Museum honors the nation’ s fifth president with a visitor center and a replica of his birthplace home.( Open weekends in summer.) A 74-acre park with commemorative walking trails is open year-round. The small but worthwhile Museum at Colonial Beach chronicles the town’ s history with vintage photos and artifacts, including its“ Playground on the Potomac” era from the last century.( Open weekends early April to mid-December.)
OVERNIGHT OPTIONS
Located in Colonial Beach, the Riverview Inn is a standout with its bold turquoise and red color scheme and classic neon sign. Each of its 21 rooms has a unique theme. For a more intimate stay, consider the Colonial Beach Bed and Breakfast Inn, a 1900s Victorian home with five guestrooms. Plus, it has a heated pool and a retro arcade room.
WINING & DINING
Three wineries are within a 20-minute drive from town. Colonial Beach also features two breweries, including Ice House Brewery & Kitchen on Monroe Bay. Dockside Restaurant & Tiki Bar offers nightly specials, live music on weekends, and has a small private beach. Lenny’ s Restaurant has been a local favorite for breakfast and lunch for many years.
SANDY POINT STATE PARK, MD.
Distance from IAD: 82 miles; from DCA: 42 miles
THE SCENE
This 786-acre park on Chesapeake Bay is the largest and most popular beach in the bay. That’ s partly because it’ s located just 15 minutes from Annapolis at the western end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. It’ s wellequipped with visitor amenities, including picnic pavilions, a bathhouse, a concession stand, a marina store, and a playground.
Many visitors find joy simply in claiming a cozy spot on the sandy, mile-long beach, where they can enjoy a stunning view of the iconic Bay Bridge and watch sailboats drift across the water. Swimming is permitted in designated areas, with friendly lifeguards on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day to ensure everyone’ s safety. Plus, at the southern end of the park, there’ s a charming small craft launch area perfect for kayakers and canoers looking to explore the water.
For a refreshing change of scenery, consider taking a leisurely walk through Corcoran Woods on the northwest side of the park. Spanning 215 acres, it offers lovely dedicated hiking trails that are perfect for exploring and enjoying nature.
DON’ T MISS
The brick-red Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse stands in shallow waters just off the park’ s shores. Built in 1883, this three-story structure guided ships until 2019. The area around Chesapeake Bay was once a hotspot for tobacco farming. A relic of that bygone era is the 1815 Sandy Point Mansion, also known as the Farmhouse. According to the Maryland Historic Trust, it’ s“ an excellent example of the home of a relatively affluent Maryland farmer in the early 19th century.” Although it’ s not open to the public, you can still see it from the main park road.
OVERNIGHT OPTIONS
While there’ s no lodging inside the park, nearby Annapolis offers many choices, from historic inns to typical chain hotels. 1313 West is the newest of four luxury boutique hotels, including the popular Flag House Inn. Housed in a 19th-century farmhouse, the inn has an equestrian theme with seven guestrooms named after famous racehorses. A guests-only bar called the Jockey Club Lounge is available. On the other side of the Bay Bridge is Kent Island, a small community with lodging options at various price points. For a splurge, consider the 77-room Inn at Chesapeake Bay Beach Club, which features a spa, complimentary bicycles, and two dipping pools.
WINING AND DINING
Cantler’ s Waterside Inn on Mill Creek in Annapolis is a local favorite for Maryland’ s famous blue crabs, steamed to order and served on brown butcher paper. Diners crack the hard-shelled crabs with wooden mallets and pick out the tasty morsels. It’ s a messy experience, but the results are delicious. Vin 909 Winecafe in Annapolis’ s Eastport neighborhood features seasonal menus with a wide range of dishes, from house-made potstickers to black bean Mexicali sliders. The pizza is a standout, with 10 varieties topped with options like house-made wild boar meatballs. The deep wine list offers over 40 labels.
INFORMATION
Park reservations are needed on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Admission costs $ 4 per person on weekdays and $ 5 per person on weekends.
ST. MICHAELS, MD.
Distance from IAD: 110 miles; from DCA: 83 miles
THE SCENE
This charming village on Maryland’ s Eastern Shore is so picturesque it could easily be a Hollywood movie set. Movies like‘ Wedding Crashers’ and‘ Failure to Launch’ were filmed here. Celebrated for its Chesapeake Bay waterman culture and rich shipbuilding history, the town takes pride in its maritime roots. At the same time, its peaceful shores are welcoming a new wave of retirees, adding to the charming character of the area.
It’ s located on the Miles River, which flows into Chesapeake Bay and St. Michaels Harbor. Shipbuilding peaked around 1820. By the 1970s, the town’ s economy shifted toward tourism. Many 19th-century buildings have been turned into bed and breakfasts and shops. Talbot Street, the main street, is lined with unique shops. At FatFace, you’ ll find clothing with a British flair. Brackish Life offers Chesapeake Baythemed clothing and gifts. The Preppy Redneck sells eclectic novelties. AH Home features décor that promises to change your life. You could spend hours just exploring the shops.
But the real draw here is the water. Muskrat Park on the Miles River is a perfect spot to watch boats passing by. Or rent a kayak or paddleboard from Shore Pedal and Paddle( with free hotel delivery) to explore the calm waters of San Domingo Creek. You can also take a tour on the H. M. Krentz, a working 1955 skipjack that’ s the Chesapeake Bay’ s traditional oyster dredging vessel. Or hop on a day cruise on a classic sailboat. Sail Selina offers themed cruises on Selina II, a sleek, gaff-rigged boat from the Gatsby era. Patriot Cruises runs narrated historical tours on a larger boat.
For meanderings on dry land, Canton Farm Nature Preserve offers wildlife observation areas covering 40 acres. Keep an eye out for foxes, white-tailed deer, and wild turkeys. The St. Michaels Nature Trail is a 1.3-mile path that crosses San Domingo Creek via a covered bridge.
FLYWASHINGTON. COM 48 SUMMER 2025