DAY ONE
If you are beginning your vacation in Easton, MD...

Welcome to Easton, Maryland ranked eighth in the book "The 100 Best Small Towns in America". Easton, known as "The Colonial Capital of the Eastern Shore", grew inward from the water, growing around a religious institution, Third Haven Meeting House, circa 1682; and a court of justice, Court House, circa 1711.

Be sure to visit Easton's Farmers' Market on Saturdays from 8 AM - 1 PM, or on Wednesdays from 8 AM - Noon, located on Harrison Street. The market offers the freshest local produce and many crafters offer their special wares for sale (April-December). Enjoy live music performed by local talent on Saturdays beginning at 10:30 AM.

Take a self-guided tour of the historic district of Easton offering a wide range of architectural styles from Federal period to fine Victorian (tour maps available at Easton's Welcome Center on Harrison Street or Click to download a PDF file of the historic Easton walking tour). Or, begin your tour with a stop at the Historical Society of Talbot County, 25 Washington Street. The Society offers guided tours of the circa 1805 James Neall House, a Federal style townhouse; "The Ending of Controversie", a reconstructed 17th Century structure; and a circa 1790 cabinetmaker's house and shop. The Historical Society of Talbot County maintains a museum, award-winning Federal-style gardens, a multi-purpose facility auditorium, and a unique consignment shop entitled Tharpe House Antiques. Museum opened Monday - Saturday 10 AM - 4 PM; guided tours at 11:30 AM & 1:30 PM. 410-822-0773.

Easton is also recognized as one of the "100 Best Small Arts Towns in America". You'll see part of the reason why when you visit The Academy Art Museum. Located at 106 South Street, the Academy houses a permanent collection of works by prominent 19 & 20th century artists, regularly hosts special traveling exhibits and a rotating exhibition program featuring local, regional and nationally respected artists. Open Monday - Saturday 10 AM - 4 PM and Wednesday 10 AM - 9 PM.

Easton offers a variety of dining experiences for lunch. Dine indoors or out or utilize the many carry-away facilities offered in the community for picnicking in Idlewild Park, Thompson Park, or Talbot County Courthouse Grounds.

Spend the afternoon browsing the many art galleries, boutiques, specialty, and antique shops in town or on adjoining Route 50 (Ocean Gateway Highway) Town Center shop hours Monday - Friday 10 AM - 5 PM  with extended hours on the First Friday of each month for First Friday Gallery Walk. Saturday and Sundays shop hours vary. Easton provides the most exciting opportunities for antiquing on the eastern seaboard. From elegant 18th century furniture to oriental rugs and Chinese porcelain, glass, and pottery to "country" collectibles and decoys, treasures abound for every taste and budget.

If outdoor recreation is on your agenda, Easton has two public championship golf courses within minutes of Town Center, Hog's Neck Golf Court, Old Cordova Road, 410-822-6079, offers both an 18-hole championship course and a 9-hole executive course. The Easton Club, Oxford Road, 410-820-9100, offers an 18-hole championship course and a 19th hole club house. The Easton Club also offers one of the finest championship croquet greenswards in the county. Equipment rental and information regarding clinics, tournament, and/or demonstrations available through the Pro Shop.

Public tennis courts are located at Idlewild Park, Washington and Aurora Streets, and the YMCA, 202 Peachblossom Road, 410-822-0566,  welcoming visitors to their courts.

Kayak tours and rentals are available at Eastern Shore Adventure Co., at 28290 St. Michaels Road, Easton,  410-820-8881 or e-mail info@esadventure.com.

The Country Comfort Farm, located on St. Michaels Road, offers horseback riding at its finest. The facility boasts both indoor and outdoor arenas with 70 acres for trail rides and experienced staff and equines. Advanced reservations are required and may be made via e-mail: nfaulkner@bluecrab.org or by phone, 410-745-3160.

Talbot County Department of Parks and Recreation offers two Outdoor Community Pools for swimming. The George Murphy Pool, located at 510 Port Street & Easton Bypass at Moton Park in Easton, 410-820-7306; and the Bay Hundred Community Pool at 911 S. Talbot Street in St. Michaels, 410-745-6592. The pools are open May 27th to September 5th, from Noon-7 PM. Daily admission fees are $2-$3 per person.

Pickering Creek Audubon Center offers Guided Walks on the 1st & 3rd Sundays of every month, April thru May at 2 PM, June thru August at 9 AM and September thru November at 2 PM, 410-822-4903. Canoes may also be rented at Pickering Creek with a nominal membership fee.

The Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County offers three paddling trails through a watery wildlife wonderland. Canoe/kayak rentals are available from the following outfitters: * Muddy Marsh Outfitters - 410-228-2770 * Chesapeake Water Sports - 410-228-5525 * Blackwater Paddle and Pedal Adventures (operated out of the Bucktown Village store) - 410-901-9255 * Wet Adventures - 443-521-1415 * Peake Paddle Tours - 410-829-7342. Maps and guides of the trails may be purchased at the Blackwater NWR Visitor Center or by contacting Friends of Blackwater 410-228-2677.

Indoor health and fitness centers offer a broad range of fitness and state of the art cardiovascular equipment. These include Cross Court Athletic Club, S. Washington Street, 410-822-1515, and the YMCA, 202 Peachblossom Road, 410-822-0566.

After lunch, travel to Oxford. Oxford is an oasis of tranquility. Spend an afternoon in Town Park or on the beach area of The Strand. Take time to review Oxford's 300 year history in the Oxford Museum located in the recreated Federal Customs House at 101 South Morris Street. You may also wish to cross the Tred Avon River on the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry. The oldest family-run ferry in the nation, it holds just twelve cars on its10 minute cruise across the picturesque, peaceful river. After crossing the Tred Avon River, continue on Bellevue Road and stop in at the Gallery By The River offering a look see of the on-going production of hand-woven tapestry, crafted silver and mixed media textiles. Continue on to Royal Oak to Oak Creek Sales, a must explore type of "junk to treasurer shop". The shop is reminiscent of the hunt and peck, with "treasures" everywhere you look. 

You can enjoy dinner in Oxford with either fine dinning or casual fare or return to Easton for the evening. Oxford's Tred Avon Players, 410-226-0061, stage four productions throughout the season and the Oxford Community Center's calendar offers a variety of activities. In Easton, restaurants abound from the casual pub to gourmet dining, offering a variety of ambience to suit every taste. Evening entertainment includes the Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, 410-822-7299, which offers numerous productions throughout the year. Take in a current run movie at Easton's Premier Cinema, located in the Tred Avon Square Shopping Center, Marlboro Avenue, 410-822-9950.

DAY TWO
Start your day at Bishop's House, or one of the many take away restaurants located throughout Easton. Continue onto St. Michaels (via Route 33), a welcome port on the Miles River. The town is filled with colonial charm and atmosphere. Its main street offers a variety of antique stores and specialty shops that demand to be examined. If you are visiting St. Michaels on a Saturday (May through November), be sure to visit the FRESHFARM Market in Muskrat Park, Green and Willow Streets.  Regional growers selling produce and plant offerings including heritage and native species, as well as farm-made products like soap, cheese, and jam. Weekly activities include "Chef at Market" cooking demonstrations and presentations. The FRESHFARM Market is open from 8:30 AM to Noon.

Explore the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, the only museum dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of the entire Bay and its people. Offering nine exhibit buildings and 18 waterfront acres, you'll learn about the history and the technology that shaped the Chesapeake region. Take in the memorable panoramic view the sailing vessels and pleasure boats in the harbor from the balcony of the 1879 Hooper Straight Light House, located on the grounds of the Maritime Museum.

After visiting the museum stop by for a taste of wine at St. Michaels Winery, 605 S. Talbot Street, #6, 410-745-0808. Open Monday through Friday Noon - 6 PM, Saturday Noon - 7 PM, and Sunday Noon - 4 PM. Private tour of the winemaking space by appointment.

Next stop, a waterside view of Talbot County onboard the Patriot, a 65 foot steel vessel. You will learn the history of the area with a historical narration. The Patriot cruises the Miles River, a beautiful arm of the Chesapeake Bay, on at least three cruises a day. Or, you may wish to enjoy an eco-tour aboard the Princess Royale, which provides an opportunity to meet local watermen and watch their harvesting techniques for the famous Maryland Blue Crabs. If the wind is right, we recommend an afternoon sail or sunset cruise onboard the H. M. Krentz, a 1955 Skipjack, which departs from the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, (boarding passes purchased at the gate), or the Selina II, a circa 1926 catboat, 410-726-9400. The Selina II also offers special Moonlight Sailing cruises for romance under the full moon. 

Waterside dinning available in St. Michaels is perfect for sampling Eastern Shore cuisine and watching the brilliant sunsets over the Miles River.

DAY THREE
Continue on a short drive from St. Michaels to Dogwood Harbor on Tilghman Island for sailing onboard the Rebecca S. Ruark, an 1886 Skipjack, 410-829-3976, which is a National Register property. You will cross the busiest drawbridge in the country at Knapps Narrows, servicing the many work and pleasure boats that pass through the Narrows. Kayaks, canoes, and bicycles may be rented at Tilghman Island Marina, 410-886-2500, for exploring the Island's shoreline.  Harrison's Sportfishing Center, 410-886-2121, is noted for its charter boat fishing excursions leaving early in the AM and providing a full day of activity. If discovery of lighthouses are on your agenda, Chesapeake Lights, 410-886-2215, offers three different tours ranging from 3 hours to full day trips aboard M/V Sharps Island, a former U.S. Navy special operations vessel.

Waterside dinning available on Tilghman Island is perfect for sampling Eastern Shore cuisine and watching the brilliant sunsets over the bay.

DAY FOUR
A diverse inventory of over 600 species of native shrubs, trees, wildflowers, grasses, and ferns is offer by the Adkins Arboretum located in Ridgely, Maryland. Visitors to the Arboretum can choose self-guided walks on four miles of paths through a variety of habitats or docent-guided walks through forested and meadow paths landscaped with native gardens. Special events are also scheduled, phone 410-634-2847 for these activities. 

Pickering Creek Audubon Center offers Guided Walks on the 1st & 3rd Sundays of every month, April thru May at 2 PM, June thru August at 9 AM, and September thru November at 2 PM, 410-822-4903. Canoes may also be rented at Pickering Creek with a nominal membership fee.

If rest and relaxation is the center piece of your day, indulge in a therapeutic massage or facial at one of the many spas in the area. Advance reservations are required. The following are just a few located in Easton either a few blocks from Town Center to within one mile: Massage Works Associates, 8675 A-5 Brooks Drive, 410-820-4240; Relaxation Station, 8695 Commerce Drive, 410-822-2055; and Time to Feel New Massage Therapy, 111 West Street, 410-770-4447. Or Talbot Massage, 443-298-0998, will come to you! An in room massage and facial may be the answer. Advanced reservation required. We recommend that the reservation be made two weeks in advance of your visit.  

The first licensed winery on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Little Ashby Vineyards, 410-819-8850, is open for tours and tastings by appointment only. Located on the banks of the Miles River surrounded by water on three sides, the winery benefits from a serene setting with spectacular sunsets. 

DAY FIVE
Explore the countryside on bicycles. Complimentary bicycle use is available for our guests, or bicycles may be rented at various locations (Oxford Meers Yacht Haven, Oxford, 410-226-5450 or Wheel Doctor, St. Michaels, 410-745-6676 or 410-886-2218) throughout the county for half and full day rentals. The local near flat to flat terrain is very popular with first time as well as experienced cyclists. Routes may be chosen ranging from 10 to 60 miles through the scenic and picturesque area. The most frequently traveled bike route is the Tred Avon Circle (35 miles) which provides a full day adventure. The Tred Avon Circle takes you through the quaint historic town of Oxford, across the Tred Avon River on the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry; through the village of Royal Oak on to St. Michaels, the home of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and back across Oak Creek to Easton. 

Another recommended cycling route is the Cross Island Trail on Kent Island in Queen Anne's County. The round trip 12 mile trail begins at the Chesapeake Exploration Center, Exit 41 off of Ocean Gateway Highway (Route 50). A trail map published by the Queen Anne's Department of Parks and Recreation may be obtained at the Center. The bike trail proceeds to the end of Kent Island and returns back to the Center, with most of the trail having a paved surface with a small beach (sand & packed stone) section. Spectacular views of the Chesapeake Bay & the "Bay Bridge". 

DAY SIX
The Bishop's House location on the Eastern Shore of Maryland provides visitors with a central point from which to explore the Delmarva Peninsula and other points of interest within a reasonable drive.

Chestertown, Maryland - approximately 45 minutes drive. Located on the banks of the Chester River, the historic town of Chestertown is the country seat of Kent County. Once a thriving port of entry for colonial settlers, has court records dating back to the 1640's. Chestertown features many restored 18th century homes, lovely churches, and interesting shops and art galleries. Self-guided walking tours and driving tours of the county are available at the visitors center at 100 North Cross Street. Washington College, the tenth oldest college in the United States, was founded in 1782 in Chestertown. A 3,000 acre wildlife and agricultural area, Chesapeake Farms Wildlife Habitat is located 8 miles east of Chestertown.

Dixon's Furniture Auction, Crumpton, Maryland - approximately 45 minutes drive. Buying & Selling Event held every Wednesday with the inside auction beginning at 8 AM & the outside auction starting at 9 AM. "An Experience You'll Never Forget".

Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge - approximately 1 hour & 15 min. drive.

Annapolis - State Capitol , Naval Academy, and Harbor, approximately 40 minutes drive. 

Baltimore - Inner Harbor, Aquarium, Museums, art galleries, shops, boutiques, unique restaurants all within approximately 1 & 1/2 hours drive. 

Washington DC - Nation's Capital, approximately 1 & 1/2 hours drive. 

Winterthur Museum & Country Estate - A great American country estate offering a variety of tours, exhibitions, American antiques, and glorious landscaped woodlands and gardens, approximately 2 hour drive. 

Longwood Gardens - Premier horticultural display garden, approximately 2 hour drive. 

Assateague Island - Consists of three major public areas: Assateague Island National Seashore, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, and Assateague State Park, approximately 2 & 1/2 hours drive.

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