Southern Maryland Summer Activity Guide
In Southern Maryland, history and culture merge on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. With so many things to do and see, there will never be a reason to say “I’m Bored!” this summer. We have put together a list of the top eight things to see in the region. It is an excellent Southern Maryland Summer Activity guide for you to refer to all season long. So, pack a cooler with a picnic lunch, load the camp chairs and beach blanket in the car, gather the family, and get ready for some fun in Southern Maryland!
1. Running Hare Vineyard
A lovely mélange of Tuscany and Napa tucked away in Southern Maryland and only a short drive from Washington DC, Running Hare Vineyard is located on 300 acres in Calvert County, Maryland. From the moment you enter the vineyard, you will be transported to the gentle hills of France, bask in the beauty of Tuscany and feel the vibe of Napa. The unique setting offers a tasting pavilion with a stunning view of the ever-growing vines. They encourage visitors to bring a picnic basket and blanket and enjoy sipping wine and nibbling on snacks in the vineyard. They are open on weekends, and prices are reasonable. The tasting/admission fee only $7 from Fridays to Sundays, and $10 on select Saturdays, which includes a tasting and live music. Check out their Calendar of Special Events for more information.
2. Cove Point Lighthouse
The Cove Point Lighthouse is a beautifully restored and re-purposed active lighthouse and keeper’s home that sits on a seven-acre point of land in one of the narrowest parts of the Chesapeake Bay. The gorgeous keeper’s house can be rented as a vacation home or for your next special event or wedding. The grounds are also open to the public during the summer months to enjoy a view of the Calvert Cliffs, explore the base of the lighthouse tower, and learn about the history of the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay.
The lighthouse grounds and Visitor Center are open to the public from 1:00 – 4:00 PM: every day, June – August, and on weekends and holidays in May and September. The beacon is now controlled from Baltimore.
3. Drum Point Lighthouse
This cottage-type lighthouse is the one of only three remaining of the forty-five that once served throughout the Chesapeake Bay. When it was decommissioned in 1962, the Drum Point Lighthouse fell into disrepair. It was moved in 1975 to its present site and restored complete furnishings of the early 20th Century. It is also a primary attraction listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum features extensive logbook records that have survived from 1883, which are preserved National Archives.
4. Calvert Marine Museum
This museum has a little bit of something for everyone! Perfect for history buffs, dinosaur lovers, or anyone interested in the abundant nature of the Chesapeake. Visit the Exhibition Building to touch 20-million-year-old fossils discovered at Calvert Cliffs. Or, learn how humans (Native Americans and European settlers) shaped and changed this Chesapeake over time. The Calvert Marine Museum has an outstanding small boat collection, plus take a ride on the Wm. B. Tennison, a log-built bugeye. Take a little walk to the Lore Oyster House, which is a restored oyster processing plant. For a hands-on experience Touch a horseshoe crab or Diamond Back Terrapin. Additionally, you can stroll the marsh walk and look for water snakes, great blue heron, osprey, and hermit crabs all in their natural environment. There is something for everyone!
5. Calvert Cliffs State Park
A must experience destination when in Southern Maryland, Calvert Cliffs State Park features everything from hiking trails to fossil hunting! Bring your fishing gear or let the kiddo play on the recycled tire playground. The park includes freshwater and tidal marshland plus 13 miles of hiking trails. Fossil hunting is allowed at the open beach area at the end of the Red Trail, which is about a 2-mile flat hike. Folks have found over 600 specials of fossils dating from 10-20 million years ago! For safety, please know that fossil hunting is illegal under the cliffs, due to the dangerous conditions there. The beach here is also open for regular beach activities such as swimming and picnicking.
6. Chesapeake Beach Railway Trail
Open since 2011; the Chesapeake Beach Railway Trail is a boardwalk trail accessed from behind the Chesapeake Beach Water Park. It extends westward along the shore of Fishing Creek. Stroll along reading the informative signs pointing out the marsh plants, animals and other features of the water and marshland. This is an entirely handicapped-accessible trail, and offers a pet-friendly path all open from dawn until dusk for pedestrians and those on bicycles.
7. Annmarie Garden
A favorite sport for art and nature lovers alike, Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center is located in scenic Solomons, Maryland. It features a sculpture garden with a 1/4 mile walking path meandering through the woods past various sculpture. The pieces include over thirty works on loan from the Smithsonian Institution and the National Gallery of Art. Experience the fabulous Arts Building which consists of exhibition space, gift shop, and a sunny patio. Check out Annmarie Gardens’ schedule of events for a variety of popular annual festivals, family activities, and creative public programs. It also features a Studio School with classes for all ages and abilities. This is indeed a place where nature and art melt together!
8. Chesapeake Beach Water Park
Typically Open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, the Chesapeake Beach Water Park is fun for the whole family! The park features the usual thrilling slides, lazy river and kiddie pools. It also offers an entire calendar of special events all summer long. Sign the kids up for a fun-filled camp, or spend a lazy day enjoying the amenities. Either way, it is sure to be a memorable one! No outside food is allowed. However, each person is allowed to bring in a reusable water bottle.
Here at Sneade’s Ace Home Center we love our local community. It is our pleasure to provide the products and advice to our customers. We put together this Southern Maryland Summer Activity guide in hopes you take advantage of all that the Chesapeake has to offer this season. Check out our selection of outdoor accessories, everything from camp chairs, to beach blankets, tumblers and coolers, and so much more… perfect for backyard fun and road trips!
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