Falling for Maryland: Part II

This post covering august ideas for autumn getaways in Maryland is excerpted from my article in the September 22 edition of the Washington Post Magazine.   See Part I here.

Eastern Shore Escapes

On the Eastern Shore, St. Michaels is a beloved mecca for Washingtonians looking to escape the hustle and bustle of metropolitan life. Boat aficionados will fall for the first Annual Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival taking place at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum October 4-6. On November 2, the same facility celebrates the oyster with cooking demonstrations, harvesting displays, boat rides, and an oyster stew competition.

The Oxford-Bellevue Ferry 

While in the neighborhood, don’t miss the opportunity to ride the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry The historic craft is the oldest privately-operated ferry in the country, celebrating its 330th birthday this year.  You can walk on, drive on, or bring along a bicycle.

Elsewhere in Talbot County, Tilghman Day on October 19 explores the island’s heritage with  oyster shucking and crab picking contests, and boat races.  In Easton, the big event of the fall is The Waterfowl Festival, held at the Academy Art Museum. Taking wing between November 7-10, the time-honored Eastern Shore tradition pays homage to the annual migration of geese through wildlife-themed art and decoy auctions.

Kent County's Historical Society hosts the Chestertown House Tour and Art Walk on October 5.  It’s not your average house tour. Installation and performance art created by students from Washington College await  ticket holders in the homes of gardens of the historic district.  Art lovers can also enjoy the RiverArts Studio Tour. Running October 26-27 and November 2-3, 60 artists around the county open up their workplaces and sell art at studio prices.

Rock Hall has back-to-back weekend festivals featuring the world of shellfish. The Waterman’s Crab Feast is October 5 and the town’s annual Fall Fest celebrates the mighty oyster on October 12. Sea life of another kind is explored during Sultana Projects Downrigging Weekend, taking place in Chestertown from November 1-4. The Tall Ship and Wooden Boat Festival is the Mid-Atlantic’s largest annual gathering of ships, schooners and historic wooden boats.