One of the most scenic towns in the Mid-Atlantic region is Annapolis, the state capital of Maryland and home to the U.S. Naval Academy. This beautiful 350-year-old port city drips with history and can keep a visitor busy for a weekend or a week.
While Annapolis is a city encompassing eight square miles, it’s the harbor area you’ll find most enjoyable. The areas in/around the harbor are exceptionally walkable and easy to navigate. Study the downtown map and three features become apparent. First, there’s the City Dock, a small inlet off of the larger harbor area surrounded by shops and restaurants. Then, there are two circles, one being the State Circle which houses the Maryland state capitol building and the other is the Church Circle, home to St. Anne’s church with colonial roots.
Main Street nearly connects the three, with charming brick streets flowing downhill from the circles to City Dock. Like most streets in the historic downtown, Main Street is bustling with dozens of shops, restaurants, and pubs that can keep you endlessly busy.
Located only one block off of the upper end of Main Street, State Circle is home to the Maryland State House. Constructed in 1772 and first used by the Continental Congress in 1783, it’s the oldest continuously-used capitol building in the country. Congress signed the Treaty of Paris in this building in 1784, officially ending the American Revolution. Briefly afterward, it also served as the new nation’s capitol.
The Maryland State House received National Historic Landmark designation in 1960. It is currently home to the Maryland Governor, Lt. Governor and the Maryland General Assembly. The Visitors' Center is open daily for self-guided tours.
State circle also connects to Maryland Avenue, one of the most historic streets in town, home to even more shops, cafes, and museums.
At the top of Main Street and surrounded by this circle is St. Anne’s church. The Anglican Church was the first church in Annapolis, founded in 1692. Today’s beautiful building dates from 1858. Self-guided tours are available to learn about the church’s important history.
What was once a working waterfront is now one of the main tourist draws in town. City Dock is often referred to as "Ego Alley" for boaters who flaunt their expensive craft in the small port. Enjoy shopping, dining, and people watching along the three sides of the harbor and the beautiful waterfront along the forth.
Enjoy alfresco dining by picking up a to-go order at the Market House or any of the nearby restaurants and enjoy your meal at one of the many benches lining the waterfront.
Blue Angels [Photo/United States Navy]
No trip to Annapolis is complete without enjoying time on the water. Susan Seifried, VP for Communications at Visit Annapolis says, “We always recommend visitors get out on the water.” After all, Annapolis is “America’s sailing capital.” Being adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay is certainly an influence; Annapolis and the surrounding county have the highest per-capita registration of boats in the country. It’s also home to two of the world’s largest in-water boat shows - the U.S. Powerboat Show, and the U.S. Sailboat Show.
There are plenty of options to take a boat ride while in town. Everything from short boat tours to private charters is available. Two of the more popular are Watermark Cruises which offers trips as short as 45-minutes and The Schooner Woodwind which offers sunset sails, multi-day cruises, and private tours. For those who are Hollywood nostalgia fans, Ms. Siefried mentioned, “The Woodwind was featured in the movie The Wedding Crashers.”
History in Annapolis is easy to find. The city boasts more 18th century buildings than anywhere else in the United States, including the homes of all four Maryland signers of the Declaration of Independence. Two of the important homes to see are:
Located on Prince George Street, one block east of the state house, this restored Georgian Mansion was once home to William Paca, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and a Revolutionary governor for Maryland. Guided tours are available.
This national historic landmark is located at the bottom of Duke of Gloucester Street, which runs off of Church Circle. It was the home of Charles Carroll, the first Attorney General of Maryland who settled in Annapolis in 1706. Guided tours are available.
A must-see while in town is the United States Naval Academy located adjacent to City Dock, and Ms. Seifried echoes that saying, “We always tell visitors they need to go to the Naval Academy.” The Academy has been training Navy and Marine Corps officers since 1845. The naval midshipmen in their white uniforms are an iconic presence in town.
Visitors can tour the campus on their own or take a guided tour. Either way, be sure to see noon formation, the Naval Academy Chapel, the Naval Academy Museum, and the crypt of Revolutionary War naval commander John Paul Jones. If you are lucky enough to time your visit during Naval Academy Commissioning week (graduation week), you can enjoy the fly-overs of the famed Navy Blue Angels which put on an air show right over the waterways.
The Naval Academy sea wall is a great place to enjoy the waterfront, including “watching Wednesday night sailboat races in the summer,” Ms. Seifried noted.
There is an endless array of restaurants in Annapolis. Two of them, Reynolds Tavern and Middleton's Tavern, have been serving guests since the colonial era and were regularly visited by the country’s founding fathers.
Experiencing Maryland seafood is a must, particularly a Maryland-style crab cake. One of the best spots in town to get one is Chick and Ruth’s Deli, an unassuming diner about midway up Main Street. Chick and Ruth’s is famous for more than its food; each morning the staff, local legislators, and patrons stop to salute the flag and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Michelle Zavatsky, author of Kids Love Maryland says, “It’s an Annapolis tradition that dates back more than three decades.” If you’re lucky, you may find yourself dining next to a state legislator or the governor himself.
Other famous restaurants in town include Buddy’s Crabs & Ribs on Main Street; Rams Head Tavern on West Street, west of Church Circle; Carrol’s Creek Café in the Eastport area, a nice walk over the nearby Spa Creek drawbridge; and, the Chart House, an upscale establishment also in Eastport.
Downtown Annapolis is a shopping Mecca. Nearly every street is lined with specialty stores and boutiques, many of which emphasize Chesapeake style. You can find everything from an Annapolis or Naval Academy sweatshirt to art showcasing Chesapeake life, to nautical decor, jewelry and antiques.
A view down the busy Main Street looking south to the harbor. [Photo/William Flood]
With all that there is to love in Annapolis, there is a caveat for RV travelers - that is, while there is plenty of lodging in Annapolis, RV camping options in the area are very limited. The three in closest proximity are:
If you are active or retired military, this is a convenient option right near town. There are 14 sites with 30-amp and water hookups. The park can accommodate up to a 50-foot vehicle; one space is a pull-through. The reservations officer confirmed, “A current or former member of any branch of the service is welcome to reserve a space.”
About 15 minutes from Annapolis, this is the area’s best overall RV camping option. Owner Bob McGinnis describes the park as a “quiet little country campground 20 minutes from everything.” That includes Annapolis, Baltimore, and DC (for which they have a shuttle). The 50-acre park has over 100 sites with full hookup and either 30 or 50 amp electric service. The park is big-rig friendly and can accommodate up to 70-feet. The park offers a general store, swimming pool, bike rentals, Wi-Fi, and a dog park. For the kids, there are flashlight lollipop hunts, outdoor movies, and poolside ice cream socials.
If you don’t mind driving your RV over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, this option is a reasonable 45-minute drive east of Annapolis. The park offers 54 sites, 33 with electric hookups. No water hook-ups are available but potable water located at each loop.
Boating and fishing are available in Tuckahoe Creek which borders most of the property or the park’s 60-acre lake. The park also offers 20-miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails.
Annapolis’ quaint brick streets and circles were laid out in the 18th-century and can be difficult to navigate in a large RV. If you have a secondary vehicle with you, it’s advisable to visit town in that. If you are in your RV, consider parking at the Navy/Marine Corp stadium at the west edge of the historic district, and explore from there. It’s about a 15-minute walk to arrive at the historic area.