The Washington D.C., Baltimore and Annapolis MD metroplex is rife with its own opportunities for modern and historical entertainment, but for something older, more tactile and special while still remaining relatively close by is Solomons Island.
It’s perfect for a weekend trip – day trips are possible too, but spending the weekend ensures ample time for wandering, exploring and learning. It’s the sort of place you want to go to stretch out, forget the pace and pressures of a more urban experience (while keeping the urban amenities close at hand) and see this corner of the world in a different way than what you’re accustomed to.
Prime fossil beds appeal to the amateur paleontologist in all of us, and the Solomons Island area has those in droves. If those hold no appeal for you the smaller scale of Solomons Island coupled with the big draws they are able to produce – acts such as Bonnie Raitt, Chicago and Little Feat might. There are restaurants and shopping and wonderful bike paths and a Riverwalk to explore. Boating is big with the Patuxent River being outside practically every door, but the odds of squeezing everything you’d like to do in one weekend or ten is much, much bigger.
When we travel, and oh do we travel, we like to get the bulk of the driving out of the way first. Traveling is part of the fun, indeed and since there really shouldn’t be a rush there are a lot of options on the way down from Annapolis to either stop and browse or pick out some favorites to hit on the way back home.
With the kids, with the girl or boyfriend, with your spouse or with nothing but your walking shoes on the Calvert Marine Museum shouldn’t be missed. It’s the farthest point south on our little weekend excursion and sums up the area very nicely.
The museum was founded in 1970 but moved to its current nine-acre site in 1975. Apart from the main exhibition hall the museum catalogues life in Maryland beginning in the Miocene era (23.8 million years ago until 5.3 million years ago) up until the era of the Drum Point lighthouse, built in 1883. That is a lot of ground to cover, to be sure, but the Calvert Marine Museum tackles it by applying three themes: paleontology, marine and estuary biology — and maritime history.
Through those themes a sense of history is explored and discovered. The War of 1812, for example, takes on a new life when not examined by itself, but in the larger context of what else was happening in this area during that time. Biology, in the sense of biodiversity can also be explored from examining the bones of what came before as well as walking about on the outside Marsh Walk to see what is living there right now.
Because there is so much to do in the sprawling museum facility, and if your trip lasts more than a couple of hours a hotel room is a wise choice. It’s really up to the traveler when to make their own pit stops – it’s something we don’t feel qualified in speaking to. But, if you’re visiting for a day or two the Holiday Inn Solomons Conference Center and Marina – it’s located near the museum and other Solomons attractions such as the Annmarie Gardens or St. Mary’s City. It’s a waterfront hotel with a Jr. Olympic sized pool, fitness center and full service restaurant. It’s perfect for either gearing up for or cooling down from a long day exploring the Calvert Marine Museum.
Once you bone up on your Maryland fossil history and what you’re looking for it’s about time to put those skills to use at the nearby Calvert Cliffs State Park. Now, officials at the park ask, very nicely, that fossil discoveries larger than your hand be left where they are or reported to a park official. Smaller than your hand – fair game, but no wheelbarrows allowed. Apart from the fossil hunting there are 13 miles of hiking trails to explore, and with the leaves finally changing colors they should make for some spectacular views.
On the way back north there’s the Breezy Point Beach and campground. There is also fossil hunting to be had here – shark teeth are both popular and relatively common. While it’s no longer swimming season a day at the beach can still be both relaxing and enjoyable. Picnic areas, a volleyball court and one-half mile of beach are the perfect way station after a few miles’ drive.
But if you’re following our sage wisdom on this weekender’s route leave yourself enough time to finish off the trip at the Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa. It’s minutes from Breezy Point but light years away. Two marinas offer charter fishing right on the Chesapeake Bay, a full-service salon and spa offer plenty for those who might want to skip the fishing altogether and a sprawling view of the Chesapeake Bay ties it all together. Men’s and Women’s sauna plus a game room stocked with non-violent games to keep the kids busy should they come along can cap off (or start out) any weekend or day trip. It’s as great a starting point as an ending point and it’s only about a half-hour from Annapolis.
Mix, match, take or leave – it matters and it doesn’t. Solomons Island is but a few minutes but seems like worlds away from the pace and tempo of Maryland’s busier places. Annapolis, Baltimore and Washington D.C. are all well with reach of these undoubtedly Maryland resorts and day trip destinations.
Maryland truly is a place for vacationers to stay for a weekend or a day trip. Plan your trip before the colder weather comes and see what amenities are available just a few minutes south from the major metropolitan areas. It’s true Maryland is steeped in a deep and rich history but if you keep only to the places where the population is counted in the millions there are a lot of missed opportunities to see how other parts of the state live and have existed within their own take on history. Miss them, and you’re missing out.
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