Northern Chesapeake Bay Planning

[Gimme Time]

Ladies & Gentlemen,



We will be returning South through the C&D Canal stopping at Chesapeake Inn & Marina on August 8th weather/Seas permitting from a 21 day trip up through the Long Island Sound to Newport, RI with two other boats.

They will be heading back to the southern bay area where we boat from. My wife & I’d like to spend another week to ten days in the Northern part of the bay experiencing the area and any events that we might be able to partake in.

If you would provide your recommended routing from the C&D Canal to favorite stops, marinas, towns and activities it would be greatly appreciated since you know the area. Not looking for waypoints or anything like that just where & why for what event that might be taken place during our travels.
Having traveled The Great Loop May 2015 to May 2016, we love “Docktales & Cocktails” for meet & greats! If you or your group are planning and outing, raft up that we could attend we’d love to meet & explore the area with ya.
If you or your group would like to hear about the Southern Bay areas or The Great Loop trip of a life time, we'd be willing to share info and pictures if desired. This truly is a trip of a lifetime that we were fortunate to have been able to do.
We’ve stayed in Baltimore, St. Michel’s, Annapolis and HHS a couple of times and plan to hit Baltimore for at least two nights during our trip south this time as well.
Let me know your thoughts as we’re open to most anything.

AJ

 

[endless seas]

Stop by Mears Point Marina in Kent Narrows plenty to do and see.

 

[importmonkey]

Ladies & Gentlemen,



We will be returning South through the C&D Canal stopping at Chesapeake Inn & Marina on August 8th weather/Seas permitting from a 21 day trip up through the Long Island Sound to Newport, RI with two other boats.

They will be heading back to the southern bay area where we boat from. My wife & I’d like to spend another week to ten days in the Northern part of the bay experiencing the area and any events that we might be able to partake in.

If you would provide your recommended routing from the C&D Canal to favorite stops, marinas, towns and activities it would be greatly appreciated since you know the area. Not looking for waypoints or anything like that just where & why for what event that might be taken place during our travels.
Having traveled The Great Loop May 2015 to May 2016, we love “Docktales & Cocktails” for meet & greats! If you or your group are planning and outing, raft up that we could attend we’d love to meet & explore the area with ya.
If you or your group would like to hear about the Southern Bay areas or The Great Loop trip of a life time, we'd be willing to share info and pictures if desired. This truly is a trip of a lifetime that we were fortunate to have been able to do.
We’ve stayed in Baltimore, St. Michel’s, Annapolis and HHS a couple of times and plan to hit Baltimore for at least two nights during our trip south this time as well.
Let me know your thoughts as we’re open to most anything.

AJ

If you need a place to stay, Long Beach Marina has had a LOT of work done to 'er. Good location to start from to hit everything north of Kent Narrows. Sunset is right next door with great food. Other cool areas would be Rock Hall, Tolchester, Button Beach, etc.

 

[Joel_MD]

Wow, that sounds like a fun trip! Last summer the admiral and I took delivery of our boat on Long Island and brought it home to the Kent Narrows area. I've been boating in the Northern Bay for about 14 years; mostly between Baltimore and the West River, a bit south of Annapolis.

If you're stopping at Cape May I highly suggest Utsch's Marina and dining at the Lobster House.

The Baltimore Inner Harbor is nice to visit by boat. On the far west side there is a seawall where you can tie up and the harbormaster comes by in a golf cart to "welcome" you and you pay a small fee to stay for a few hours. If you want something more secure or want to stay the night, there is a marina owned by the city next to the Rusty Scupper restaurant that has nice piers. Alternately, if you want to be closer to Fells Point/Harbor East, the Harbor East Marina is very nice. Lots of nice restaurants and shops within walking distance.

One of my favorite places is Rock Hall, Maryland. It's a quaint little town that's easy to get to by boat but no so convenient by car. Rock Hall Landing is my go-to marina there. Nice pool and facilities. Their wi-fi sucks though; last summer I was there and trying to mix business with pleasure, which didn't work very well. Rock Hall is pretty sleepy during the week but comes alive during the weekend. The town is about a ten minute walk or there is a trolley service that operates on demand.

Annapolis can be fun to visit by boat. There is a great view of the Naval Academy from the water. The city recently spent millions of dollars rebuilding the seawalls and piers in Ego Alley. I believe the harbormaster's transient slips are first come-first served, and you can pay by the hour if you just want to stay for a few hours. A water taxi can take you across to Eastport where there are some terrific restaurants, such as Chart House, Ruth's Chris, Carroll's Creek, and Lewnes' Steakhouse. The Annapolis Yacht Club had a fire a year ago and their temporary clubhouse is located in a restaurant next to Ego Alley. It's one of the best yacht clubs in the country, but they're a bit picky about reciprocity with other YCs so you may want to call ahead if you're interested.

Mears Point in the Kent Narrows is a nice place to spend the night. They have a huge pool and there are at least five restaurants within walking distance. They have the biggest gym I've ever seen at a marina. There is also a six mile paved hiking/biking path called the Cross Island Trail that spans Kent Island.

One of my favorite places to go for lunch is Thursday's Steak and Crabs on the West River. They have a lot of boat slips, plus a nice outdoor bar and covered seating area that's dog-friendly. Steamed crabs and other Maryland food is on the menu.

Feel free to PM me and I'll give you my phone number if you have any questions.

 

[rpk718]

If you like to drop the hook , Swan Creek across from Osprey Point Marina is a great spot. Osprey Point Marina is very nice also, floating docks, Pool, Pool bar/grill, restaurant, bike rental, about a mile and a half walk to the town of Rock Hall. They also have a B&B if you need/want a night ashore.
Rick
Chessie Girl
2002 360DA

 

[Gimme Time]

Many thanks for all the tips & info, feel free to keep them coming!

 

[Yochach!]

Wow! that sounds like a very fun trip!. I frequent Chesapeake Inn quite often in the season as I am out of Philadelphia. I did a week last august and stayed a night a the Inn and I can highly recommend having breakfast in the morning at this little diner in town " I forget the name". Also we stayed 2 nights at Bohemia Bay Yacht Harbor and at $1.00 a foot for a transient it was a no brainer. They have a wonderful facility with a pool and very clean bath houses.

I see that you have visited HHS, that is an amazing marina also. That is actually where I purchased my boat from and if it wasn't a 3 hour drive for me I would stay there.

 

[quality time]

Rock Hall, Tilghman Island, Oxford or the Hyatt in Cambridge. Herrington Harbor North is also nice.

 

[Converse48]

Ditto on Rock Hall. Try to stay at Rock Hall Landing (on the Harbor) if possible. Go to Waterman's and Harbor Shack at least once each. Consider chartering a fishing boat for a half day for some Rock (striped bass) fishing. Captain Fletch is the best.

Ditto on Mears in Kent Narrows. It's my (new) home marina, would love to hear loop stories. We're thinking about it, but I fear I might get bored in the muddy-ass, stump filled rivers. Would love to discuss.

When in Baltimore, consider Baltimore Marine Center in Canton for a night as well. The only "real" pool in Baltimore, and Canton Square can be fun for adults. Kids like it OK too, but it is mostly bars/restaurants.

Ditto on Annapolis. You can make a reservation for a wall slip in ego alley, they just charge you twice as much as "first come" slip. Still about the same as a regular marina. For me, the wall in Ego Alley is the only way to go. The Mears in Annapolis is nice, but a good hike from town.

HHS is also nice. As is the Hyatt in Cambridge, but I would only do the Hyatt if you have kids, if you like to golf, or if you/the Admiral like to spa. People who aren't into those things come away disappointed (in my experience).

Solomon's is a must, but now we're talking the Big Boy Bay, and you probably already know that.

Have fun!

 

[Jack380AC]

Not much to add; all good advice here so far. Just keep us up to date on this thread so we can meet up with you as you pass through.

 

[Converse48]

Also, if you like anchorages with nothing but bald eagles and nature, try Still Pond (I prefer the "inside" but getting back there is a bit of a local knowledge thing involving tree branches).

And if you like anchorages with nothing but silicone and alcohol, try Jelly Fish Joel's in Fairlee Creek. Also an interesting entrance, although well marked. Just keep reminding your self that green is to port on entry and yes, you are supposed to get that close to the beach. There's is yet another Mears Marina (Great Oak) in Fairlee too, and Jelly Fish Joels is only at the mouth of the creek, there is plenty of serenity further back.

 

[rcmafgny]

+1 for Utsch Marina and Lobster house. Both are a must. Marina very tricky to get in, but owners are great and walking distance to Lobster House.

Very interested in this string and either this summer or next, we will be heading to the Northern Chesapeake!

Wow, that sounds like a fun trip! Last summer the admiral and I took delivery of our boat on Long Island and brought it home to the Kent Narrows area. I've been boating in the Northern Bay for about 14 years; mostly between Baltimore and the West River, a bit south of Annapolis.

If you're stopping at Cape May I highly suggest Utsch's Marina and dining at the Lobster House.

The Baltimore Inner Harbor is nice to visit by boat. On the far west side there is a seawall where you can tie up and the harbormaster comes by in a golf cart to "welcome" you and you pay a small fee to stay for a few hours. If you want something more secure or want to stay the night, there is a marina owned by the city next to the Rusty Scupper restaurant that has nice piers. Alternately, if you want to be closer to Fells Point/Harbor East, the Harbor East Marina is very nice. Lots of nice restaurants and shops within walking distance.

One of my favorite places is Rock Hall, Maryland. It's a quaint little town that's easy to get to by boat but no so convenient by car. Rock Hall Landing is my go-to marina there. Nice pool and facilities. Their wi-fi sucks though; last summer I was there and trying to mix business with pleasure, which didn't work very well. Rock Hall is pretty sleepy during the week but comes alive during the weekend. The town is about a ten minute walk or there is a trolley service that operates on demand.

Annapolis can be fun to visit by boat. There is a great view of the Naval Academy from the water. The city recently spent millions of dollars rebuilding the seawalls and piers in Ego Alley. I believe the harbormaster's transient slips are first come-first served, and you can pay by the hour if you just want to stay for a few hours. A water taxi can take you across to Eastport where there are some terrific restaurants, such as Chart House, Ruth's Chris, Carroll's Creek, and Lewnes' Steakhouse. The Annapolis Yacht Club had a fire a year ago and their temporary clubhouse is located in a restaurant next to Ego Alley. It's one of the best yacht clubs in the country, but they're a bit picky about reciprocity with other YCs so you may want to call ahead if you're interested.

Mears Point in the Kent Narrows is a nice place to spend the night. They have a huge pool and there are at least five restaurants within walking distance. They have the biggest gym I've ever seen at a marina. There is also a six mile paved hiking/biking path called the Cross Island Trail that spans Kent Island.

One of my favorite places to go for lunch is Thursday's Steak and Crabs on the West River. They have a lot of boat slips, plus a nice outdoor bar and covered seating area that's dog-friendly. Steamed crabs and other Maryland food is on the menu.

Feel free to PM me and I'll give you my phone number if you have any questions.

 

[Loose Cannon]

The breakfast place is called Bohemia Café and is walking distance from Chesapeake Inn.

Wow! that sounds like a very fun trip!. I frequent Chesapeake Inn quite often in the season as I am out of Philadelphia. I did a week last august and stayed a night a the Inn and I can highly recommend having breakfast in the morning at this little diner in town " I forget the name". Also we stayed 2 nights at Bohemia Bay Yacht Harbor and at $1.00 a foot for a transient it was a no brainer. They have a wonderful facility with a pool and very clean bath houses.

I see that you have visited HHS, that is an amazing marina also. That is actually where I purchased my boat from and if it wasn't a 3 hour drive for me I would stay there.