Eastern Shore Tour Ideas
A destination unto itself, the CCAAR traverses the extraordinary landscapes and waterscapes of the Eastern Shore, offering an epic journey through the lifestyles and livelihoods of generations of watermen, shipbuilders and farmers who have shaped the unspoiled landscape. The CCAAR was recently elevated in status to an All-American Road, a title held by a small selection of iconic byways, including the Pacific Coast Highway.
The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center near Cambridge celebrates the famed Underground Railroad conductor. Learn about this American hero through exhibits and an audio tour of the landscape.
2022 marks 200 years since the birth of Harriet Tubman on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Tour the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center, receive an orientation, see exhibits and hear stories about this incredible individual. Next visit the Bucktown General Store, the site of her first public act of defiance. Ride along the scenic byway to the Suicide Bridge Restaurant, for an authentic Maryland crab feast; a paddlewheel boat cruise is also available. Travel to the Quaker settlement at Linchester Mill and stop off at Councell’s Produce to try out their new creamery.
Hidden in the landscape, Maryland’s Underground Railroad sites await your exploration. See where freedom fighters altered the course of history with their bravery, courage and sacrifice. Maryland’s Eastern Shore is home to over 25 Network to Freedom designated sites, through the National Park Service, including a Frederick Douglass walking tour of St. Michaels and driving tour of Talbot County.
Follow the seafood from the Chesapeake Bay to the Atlantic, with stops along the Eastern Shore to enjoy authentic experiences, focused on celebrating and savoring Maryland’s delectable seafood.
Get up close and personal with alpacas while you learn at the Painted Sky Alpaca Farm & Fiber Mill; enjoy a meal at Molly's Restaurant for some of the best food on the Eastern Shore; and experience a tour and tasting at Crow Vineyard & Winery, an award-winning tourism venue that is helping to shape a wine country of note for Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Explore the area with a guided tour of the Thoroughbred horse farms; stop off at the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal Museum; dine on a delicious meal at Chesapeake Inn, where you might see a large container ship passing through. Board the pontoon boat for a narrated cruise of the C&D Canal.
Cruise the Chester River aboard the River Packet from Chestertown and enjoy lunch at the Two Tree Restaurant.
While on Kent Island, stop into White Tiger Distillery in Stevensville for a taste of smooth and flavorful Laotian rice and rye-based whisky and spirits. Then slip on over to Blackwater Distillery to sample their award-winning Picaroon Dark Rum and Sloop Betty Vodka.
Head over to the Kentmorr Restaurant & Crab House, providing one of the finest views of the Chesapeake Bay. Next, it’s on to Blackwater Distilling, to celebrate this brash, enterprising, and fiercely independent spirit by crafting distinctive spirits that stand apart from the crowd, using organic and local ingredients. See and sample how Sloop Betty Vodka, Sloop Betty Honey Vodka, and Picaroon Maryland Rum are made.
Start the day with an interpretive tour of Pemberton Hall, built in 1741 by one of Salisbury’s founders. Next, is the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art for a guided tour of their world-famous decoy collection. Do a guided tour and scavenger hunt at the Salisbury Zoo, home to more than 100 animals including wild cats, wallabies, reptiles and Andean bears. Experience an authentic Eastern Shore crab feast at the Red Roost Restaurant, a converted chicken house. For more “Bird” entertainment, enjoy a seasonal baseball game with the Delmarva Shorebirds.
Head for Crisfield, the “Crab Capital of the World.” Begin by visiting the historical J. Millard Tawes Museum and taking a driving tour of this historic town. All aboard the Chelsea Lane Tyler for a leisure one-hour cruise to Smith Island. Upon arrival to this quaint island, you will enjoy a traditional waterman’s lunch at the Bayside Restaurant. Afterward, stroll the narrow streets or rent a golf cart, visit the Smith Island Cultural Center, and purchase a Smith Island Cake (the official state dessert) and fresh local seafood to take home.
Take a docent-led tour through a tribute of Maryland’s maritime heritage at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. You will want to visit the screw-pile Hooper Strait Lighthouse. Delectable fresh seafood awaits at the Crab Claw Restaurant, followed by a narrated tour aboard the 65-foot climate-controlled, Patriot. Be sure to allow time for exploring the many shops, boutiques and galleries in St. Michaels.
Ocean City is a crown jewel in mid-Atlantic resort travel. Always family-friendly and fun, Ocean City boasts a wide, clean beach, beautiful sunrises and soothing sunsets. Our restaurant scene is farm to table as well as traditional boardwalk fare. The Museums of Worcester County will enrich a visitors knowledge of history and traditions of this coastal, rural area. Wild ponies of Assateague Island will capture your imagination. The main streets and shopping of Berlin as well as the pub and eatery scene will refresh and revive. Ocean City and its surrounding area offer the best of the coastal resort life as well as a taste of enriching experiences.