Wanderlust: Annapolis, MD

I recently went to Annapolis to visit relatives who were dropping off their daughter at the United States Naval Academy for the start of Plebe Summer*.

While there are numerous things to do in Annapolis–much more than can be fit in a single afternoon–, we limited ourselves to just a few memorable activities. We began with a visit to City Dock. A staple in Annapolis and Chesapeake Bay history for at least 350 years, City Dock remains the heart of Annapolis and is home to many bay-side restaurants, incredible boat tours, and fabulous shops. Visitors can take in the numerous vessels docked in the harbor and watch as boat owners maneuver their expensive yachts in the narrow waterway known as Ego Alley.

Conveniently located just a few steps away and still within Historic Downtown Annapolis, Main Street is a lively street that houses an assortment of everything Annapolis has to offer. Lined with well-preserved historic architecture, there are plenty of shops, restaurants, and art galleries to check out.

We concluded our visit with a 40-minute narrated sightseeing cruise of the Chesapeake Bay on Watermark as they sailed around Annapolis Harbor & the Naval Academy. We learned about the history of the Naval Academy, Annapolis’ role as a historic seaport, the region’s waterways, and even caught a glimpse of the Bay Bridge.

Where To Eat

Middleton Tavern (2 Market Space, Annapolis, MD), just a block from the Naval Academy, is an ideal place to catch a bite to eat while visiting Maryland's capital. Established in 1750, the Tavern was host to the nation's most revered leaders of the American Revolution, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin. Now listed with The National Trust for Historic Preservation, Middleton Tavern serves the most mouth-watering and fresh seafood direct from the Chesapeake Bay.

For starters, our little group partook in crab dip (a blend of jumbo lump crab and cheese) served with schiacciata bread and Chesapeake Bay oysters served with a raspberry mignonette. Both were extremely well prepared yet unpretentious, typical of Tavern cuisine.

For my main entree, I had the crab cake sandwich served with fries and pickle. (Maryland is known for its crabs, after all.) I absolutely adore crab cakes so I had high expectations, and this sandwich certainly lived up to it and even exceeded it. Piled high with jumbo lump crab meat and topped with imperial sauce, the decadent concoction of succulent meat and mixture of herbs is served on a brioche roll with lettuce and a slice of tomato. The classic crab cake sandwich was stupendous!

All in all, Maryland's historic capital city provided a memorable afternoon and a perfect setting to reconnect with family and enjoy some of the best local seafood the Mid-Atlantic has to offer!

~ Louise

*Plebe Summer is a seven week-long training program required of all incoming freshmen to the Naval Academy that consists of rigorous physical and mental training. According to the Academy, the purpose of Plebe Summer is to "turn civilians into midshipmen".