Now that Memorial Day Weekend is upon us, beach season officially begins. Imagine my surprise, then, when I read a newspaper’s list of the 10 Best Beaches and it omitted one of my favorites.
It had the usual candidates – France’s Nice, Spain’s Costa del Sol, Mexico’s Acapulco and one in the United States, California’s Malibu, if memory serves – but nowhere did the list mention Sandy Point State Park, in Annapolis.
Part of the Maryland park system, Sandy Point is located at the western end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. As you come across the bridge heading to Annapolis, you can spot the park to your right. It’s hardly a secret. On a hot summer weekend, thousands of visitors enjoy this 786-acre park and its array of activities.
The beach area, called South Beach, stretches along the northwestern shore of the Chesapeake Bay. If you don’t own a boat, you can watch them sail majestically under the bridge. A snack shop and bathrooms are nearby. Situated behind the beach is a grassy, shaded area with picnic tables and grills.
That’s not all, though. In another area away from the beach, the park offers two hiking trails, a boat launch, canoeing, kayaking and windsurfing. Rowboats and motorboats can be rented during the summer. Want to try your hand at fishing or crabbing? A marina store sells bait, tackle and licenses.
Admission is charged per person or per vehicle. In the summer, the fee is $4 per person for Maryland residents (slightly higher for non-Marylanders) or $3 per vehicle (slightly higher on weekends and holidays) A new pet policy allows pets in certain areas of the park.
So don’t let lists deter you. As somebody famously said, “Life’s a beach.†And there’s one right in Annapolis.
Sandy Point State Park’s official address is 1100 East College Parkway, Annapolis. The park’s main telephone number is 410-974-2149. The marina’s telephone number is 410-974-2772; for reservations, call 1-888-432-2267. Or visit the Web site at http://dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/southern/sandpoint.html.
By Barbara Pash
Leave A Comment