Annapolis, MD

Address:Annapolis, Maryland

Once the temporary capital of the United States, Annapolis, Maryland retains a historic feel and deep American roots. After the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783, it was in the Maryland State House in Annapolis that General Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. Though the city is rife with American history, it is not just a history buff's vacation spot. This thriving bay-side town is a great place to learn to sail, or enjoy biking and other activities in and around the beautiful Chesapeake Bay and the Severn River. Only 35 miles east of bustling Washington, DC, Annapolis's history and charm offer many points of interest slightly removed from the busy metropolis.

With three centuries of history in Annapolis, there is plenty to see and experience. More than 1,500 Colonial buildings are scattered along the narrow brick streets and alleys of the downtown National Historic District, an area best seen on foot. Enjoy the stroll down scenic Prince George's Street as you view striking homes, all marked with information about the period and style. Tours of the downtown district are offered from the visitor center. Three homes in the area that belonged to signers of the Declaration of Independence are open to the public for touring: The William Paca House & Garden, built between 1763 and 1765, offers a glimpse of life during Annapolis's "Golden Age." The Chase-Lloyd House, built in 1774, and the Charles Carroll House, built in 1722, feature amazing 18th-century architecture. The Hammond-Harwood House is a classic Georgian home that houses one of Maryland's finest fine-arts collections.

Constructed in 1772, the Maryland State House is the oldest U.S. building still in legislative use. The State House is topped by the largest wooden dome in the U.S. that is built entirely without nails. Stop by on your own or take a free tour.

African Americans were very influential in Annapolis for centuries, and the Banneker-Douglas Museum focuses on African-American residents of the Chesapeake region from 1633 to the Civil Rights Movement. Named after two prominent local residents, astronomer/inventor Benjamin Banneker and abolitionist Frederick Douglass, the museum collection includes artifacts and photographs about black life in Maryland, African and African American art, historical documents, and rare books. Guided tours of the free museum are offered. Fans of the television series Roots will especially appreciate the Kunta-Kinte Alex Haley memorial sculpture, situated on the edge of the Chesapeake Bay. The display memorializes Haley and his African ancestor Kunta Kinte, and recalls the place where enslaved Africans arrived in the New World.

You may also want to tour the home of Clara Barton, founder of the Red Cross. Tours of this National Historic Site begin on the hour. The guides are great with kids, always keeping their interest. After your visit to Clara Barton's home, pop across the parking lot to Glen Echo Park, where you can picnic or ride on the hand-carved Dentzel carousel, built in 1921.

Annapolis is the home of the U.S. Naval Academy. Visitors can tour the grounds, see a midshipman's room, and tour Bancroft Hall, the largest dorm in the world. Look for exhibits on USNA graduates in space, including the Freedom 7 space capsule flown by alum Alan Shepard. Security is tight, so guided tours, available at the visitors' center, are the only way to get around. If you are there during noon formation, watch the midshipmen line up in front of Bancroft Hall before marching in for the midday meal. The third week of May is Commissioning Week, a colorful time of full-dress parades, parties and a demonstration by the famed Blue Angels. Plan well in advance for accommodations.

With Chesapeake Bay and Severn River at the base of the city, water activities are popular in Annapolis. Learn to sail or enjoy a schooner or sea kayak cruise. Just outside the city there are several parks and paths for biking. Nature lovers will be interested in the C&O Canal Museum at Great Falls of the Potomac-on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal. The museum's boardwalk runs through woods to a bridge overlooking the Great Falls.

Annapolis nightlife includes several bars with live music on weekends, and a thriving cultural scene. Every night you can enjoy either the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Annapolis Opera, the Annapolis Chorale or the Ballet Theater of Maryland, as well as national touring productions, or take in a play at one of the two community theatre venues. During the summer, Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre presents three shows on its stage, visible from the City Dock. All shows put on by King Williams Players, the student theatre group at St. John's College, are free and open to the public.

There are plenty of opportunities for shopping, including Historic Savage Mill, a restored 1822 cotton mill with antiques shops, galleries and boutiques, and the Annapolis Harbour Center, laid out like a maritime village complete with a lighthouse, eateries and shops. Opposite Annapolis Harbour Center is the Pennsylvania Dutch Farmers Market run by Amish and Mennonite families. The market is closed on Sundays. Those interested in mainstream shopping should go to Westfield Annapolis, a mega mall with 240 stores, 25 eateries and a kid's club.

Dining options in Annapolis include Colonial dining rooms, taverns/brewpubs, bistros and waterside seafood houses. Many choice spots are in the city's hotels and inns. For families and those in a hurry, there are a wide selection of fast-food and family-style eateries clustered near the Annapolis Shopping Plaza downtown.

Annapolis offers a mix of big hotels, historic inns and bed-and-breakfasts. Accommodations in the historic district are convenient but pricey. A number of more affordable chain hotels are located out on Route 50, a 15-minute ride to the historic district. Some provide shuttle service to downtown and Eastport.

A user-friendly bus system makes getting around town simple. Many bus stops display both the map and Color-Clocks indicating which color buses will stop there and when. Annapolis is located at the mouth of the Severn River, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay, 26 miles south of Baltimore and about 35 miles east of Washington D.C.