Chesapeake Cruising Advice

AboveBlue

AboveBlue

Member
Nov 13, 2014
39
NJ
Boat Info
2003 Sea Ray 480 MY, Parker Center Con
Engines
Cummings QSM11
Well we got the new boat, we're getting her all dressed up and she needs somewhere to go. Looking to those of you familiar with cruising the Chesapeake for some tips "local knowledge" on the best marinas and destinations on the bay. Ultimately, we will end up at our home base in NJ, since we are at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore now we would like to take full advantage of cruising the bay before heading back home. We like to hit the main attractions like St Michaels and Annapolis plus other ideas from fellow cruisers.
 
Congrats! We too are from NJ. We closed on our 470 DA last November and promptly winterized in Kent Narrows until the spring thaw but spent the month of April (4 weekends) cruising around before leaving for our home port in NJ first week of May. We returned in July for a 2 week vacation which made 2014 our 3rd consecutive summer vacation cruising the Chesapeake. That said, I don't know the Chesapeake like a local but here's my two cents. We love Annapolis and St. Michaels too of course. By far those are my favorites in that order. We did Baltimore first time ever in July and liked that. Had to stay there 3 nights due to weather at the marina where the Rusty Scupper is...forget the name. In St. Michaels the Inn at Perry Cabin will slip your boat for free at their dock if you stay with them and they do have electric, just not water. Until recently they had not invested much in their dock, but new owners and new dockmaster are making good changes. Other favorites are Osprey Point Marina in Rock Hall (beautiful Inn and Restaurant there and well run, just like the marina), the Hyatt at Cambridge is unique, Herrington Harbor South also very unique, Tilghman on the Chesapeake on east side of Knapps Narrows inlet is a spectacularly quiet and beautiful spot (Knapps Narrows Inlet is shallow on both east and west approaches so I'd follow a local), Zhaniser's on Solomons Island, Oxford is beautiful, run up the Wye River (no restaurants or marinas, but nice cruise). This year we ran all the way down to the Tides Inn in Irvington, VA. It's a haul, but we were pleasantly surprised when we got there. Oh, we cruised by Jellyfish Joel's in Great Oak Landing but it was a zoo and we promptly left. Kent Narrows is an OK stop too. Mears Pt or Wells Cove are probably best marinas there. Caveat, not sure about any of these places during winter. I've only been to most in the full swing of summer. Where is your home NJ port?
 
I have to agree with JamesT who gave you some very good places to go. I have been to some of them and found them all to be very good place to go. If you go to St.Michael's and you should, go in town to Ava's restaurant. The food, wine and atmosphere is a boaters delight. While your there go to the St. Michael's winery, again right in town and not far from Ava's. St. Mike's is one of my favorite places to go. Just to walk around town or sit on my boat in any of the slips is lots of fun and really not that wild. When I haven't gone there by boat we drive. We stayed at the Inn at Perry Cabin. Very nice. We were there for our first anniversary. When they found out they upgraded our room and sent some nice things to eat and drink. Overall, lots to do there.
On the upper part of the bay where I keep my boat (Bush River) there are some nice places to go. Fairlee's Creek is nice but can become very loud and crazy. All depends on the holiday and fuel prices. Up from there is the Sassafrass River. At the head of the river are two restaurants. The Granary (just reopened name may have changed) and the Kitty Night House. Lots of slips for over nights or just stopping by to eat. Last year I went and was along side a 110 Yacht. So they can take some nice boats.
Back to the bay - you have Havre de Grace on the Western shore which is quite nice and has some very good restaurants. Cruise up the North East River to the town of North East and again a day of walking around town and eating.

Hope this helps a little.
Joe
 
Joe, Ava's is my wife's fave restaurant in St. Mike's!!!! Everyone says the same!!!
 
I just remembered my signature photo is me in front of the Inn at Perry Cabin (IPC) in St. Michaels. I had to walk a long distance to get that shot!! It would have been a shorter swim but those July jellyfish are brutal!!! BTW, boats our size will not fit any of the slips there, it's T-head only so definitely call ahead. Fishing boats dock at the T-head but the dockmaster can relocate them quickly if he knows you're coming.
 
Thanks James and Joe for all the great info, that's the kind of in site I need you can't always find in the guides or chart books. Nothing better than info from someone who's been there. Its been 15 years since I cruised the Chesapeake so I'm sure there has been a change or two. Boat pic's look great. James, we summer in the Bay Head/Pt. Pleasant area, Canal Pt. Marina. right at the top of Barnegat Bay.

Nick D
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AboveBlue said:
Well we got the new boat, we're getting her all dressed up and she needs somewhere to go. Looking to those of you familiar with cruising the Chesapeake for some tips "local knowledge" on the best marinas and destinations on the bay. Ultimately, we will end up at our home base in NJ, since we are at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore now we would like to take full advantage of cruising the bay before heading back home. We like to hit the main attractions like St Michaels and Annapolis plus other ideas from fellow cruisers.
Click to expand...

Looking from Pier Five Hotel are you the 4th boat in stern to and this past weekend you were starboard to a Marlow?
 
No Dave, that is not me, I did see the boat you're talking about though. Funny you mentioned it, we stayed at the Pier 5 when we surveyed the boat and I looked across to that marina I couldn't tell from my vantage point if it was a 390 or 480. We had dinner at the Rusty Scupper I recall there are some pretty nice boats in that marina of all shapes and sizes.
 
JamesT said:
Joe, Ava's is my wife's fave restaurant in St. Mike's!!!! Everyone says the same!!!
Click to expand...

James, ours too. The first time we went there was for our anniversay. We started at the winery, then the new brewery and as we walked by Ava's I said I need to eat something. My wife reminded me we had reservations at some place near the Inn with a number for it's name. I said fine just a lite bite. We walked in and a guy just got his order. I asked him what he got - Meatball Sliders. I said we will have an order of those and a bottle of Malbec. The best Meatball sliders ever. Then we went to the other restaurant to eat about an hour or so later. We should have stayed at Ava's.
As for your picture - I have looked at that and kept thinking the area looks familiar. The Inn.
 
208 Talbot street, one of the best restaurants in St Michaels. Oxford is a nice stop. Several great restaurants, a great dock bar, and the best ice cream on the eastern shore. The municipal marina in Cambridge is nice with a short walk downtown with several great restaurants, bars, and a brewpub. The "High Spot" in Cambridge is great.
 
If you are looking to stop in the Upper Bay at a smaller destination, Havre de Grace is more accessible compared to North East and you can walk to some nice restaurants, coffee shops, a nice wine bar, etc. Tidewater marina is close to town and can accommodate larger boats. A few places in walking distance to the marina: Laurrapin Grille has the best food in town, IMO, while MacGregor's is a good spot for lunch and Tidewater Grille offers waterfront dining. If you like wine, The Vineyard has a great selection and dinner options, mostly small plates. Concord Point Coffee is on the main drag where you will find some antique and specialty shops.
 
Great suggestions here so far. Also, consider Still Pond on the eastern shore as a gunkhole spot too. We did a CSR raft up there some years ago and had 20+ boats in there. Consider a stop over in Chesapeake City on the C&D on the way to New Jersey. That is the last bastion of civilization before you hit Cape May. There a couple of interesting restaurants in there and the town is kinda cool to walk.

Have fun!
 
We enjoy the Hyatt while in Cambridge. They I think still have their sunset on the bay package buy 2 nights get the third free for a $1.50 a ft... Missed it last year hoping to get back there this year with the family....
 
Yes, if you have kiddies, or if you like to play golf, the Hyatt is worth a stop for a few days!
 
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