City Guides: Things to do While Boating in Annapolis, Maryland
Maryland’s capital city, Annapolis, is located along the Severn River south of Baltimore and just east of Washington, D.C. Known as the America’s Sailing Capital, its proximity to the Chesapeake Bay makes it a prime destination for fans of American and maritime history, sailing and fishing and watersports along the area’s rivers, creeks and bays. Not to mention that widely popular Chesapeake Bay seafood (think: blue crabs, oysters and crab cakes with a generous scoop of Old Bay).
Photo: Visit Annapolis Facebook
Whether you’re in town for the day, sailing over from Kent Island or Cambridge or spending a long weekend at a private boat dock rental, Annapolis makes a great stop on any traveler’s itinerary. Let’s take a look at some of the things you can do while visiting Annapolis.
Historic District
Photo: Visit Annapolis Facebook
The historic district offers small gift shops, locally-owned boutiques, restaurants and art galleries surrounded by 17th-century architecture and a waterfront filled with tall ships. Visit City Dock and watch boats at the turning basin at Ego Alley, take a tour aboard the Harbor Queen or check out the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial sculpture collection, the Story Wall and the Compass Rose granite and bronze map of the world. The area hosts events such as fireworks on the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve, the Military Bowl Parade and St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show (the largest in-water boat show in the world).
Other area sites include the Hammond-Harwood House Museum, Colonial gardens at the two-acre 1765 William Paca House and Garden (previously owned by William Paca, Governor of Maryland and Declaration of Independence signer), the 1700s Maryland State House and the Romanesque-style St. Anne’s Episcopal Church. The waterfront location makes the historic district easily accessible to private boat slips along the Bay or the Severn River.
Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary
Photo: Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary Facebook
Established in 1985, Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary has one of the largest freshwater tidal wetlands on the East Coast. It’s recognized by the National Audubon Society as a Nationally Important Bird Area. Visitors can explore the 1,600 acres and 19 miles of trails through forests, meadows, fields and peaceful habitats along the Patuxent River while checking out aquatic plants, birds, fish and mammals.
Annapolis Maritime Museum and Park
Photo: Skipjack Wilma Lee (National Conference of State Historic Preservation via Facebook)
The Annapolis Maritime Museum and Park overlooks the Chesapeake Bay along Back Creek and focuses on the city’s maritime past. Museum exhibits include two 500-gallon aquariums, virtual reality and digital games and displays on boat building and how the oyster industry shaped Annapolis’ history and culture. The McNasby building is home to educational experiences, concerts, events, maritime seminars and other programs. You can also book a sightseeing tour aboard a historic skipjack, the Wilma Lee (built in 1940), which previously sailed the waters of Ocracoke, North Carolina. She’s been home in Annapolis since 2018.
Annapolis Sailing Cruises: Schooner Woodwind
Photo: Schooner Woodwind Facebook
Set off on a two-hour cruise aboard one of two 74-foot wooden schooners, the Woodwind and the Woodwind II. You’ll board at City Dock and cruise around the Chesapeake Bay while taking in views of the U.S. Naval Academy and the historic city, which is a scenic treat from the perspective of the water. Enjoy a cash bar and themed nights such as History Mondays, Beer Tasting Tuesdays and Wednesday Night Match Racing. You can also book private specialty cruises for a relaxing time after a day of exploring or hanging out at a nearby boat dock rental.
Sandy Point State Park
Photo: Sandy Point State Park (Wikimedia)
Birdwatchers, beach-goers and nature enthusiasts should pay a visit to the 786-acre Sandy Point State Park. Located on a beautiful stretch of Chesapeake Bay beachfront property, there’s a playground, lifeguard stations, a bathhouse, concession stands and a marina with boat rentals, gas docks and a boat ramp for launching and retrieving if you're trailering your boat or traveling from a private boat lift rental. There's also a small-craft launch area for kayaks and canoes. Views include the Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse and the expansive Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
Whether you’re hunting for history, fishing for rockfish, bluefish and Spanish mackerel or watching a tall ships regatta, Annapolis should be at the top of every boater’s bucket list. Let us know if we missed anything.
