When I was 18, if someone had told me I would still be living basically right where I started long ago, I wouldn’t have believed it. But here I am! Okay, I’m technically ten miles from where I grew up, but it’s pretty darn close.
Annapolis is one of those places that is special. Most people visit the historic downtown area and walk on Main Street and believe that is the whole of the town, but there is so much more to offer and to enjoy.
One of my favorite things to do is to get up early and enjoy the sunrise over the town when it isn’t too crowded – to walk on the historic streets and look at the beautiful homes and get my cup of coffee from Brown Mustache on Maryland Avenue, which is sort of like a speakeasy coffee shop with a window down an alley at the back of Old Fox Booksellers.
Other pleasures (some pre-pandemic) include walking my
dog on the U.S. Naval Academy grounds which takes you down to the Severn River, exploring some of the unique shops and art galleries on Main Street, West Street and Maryland Avenue and enjoying wine in the harbor on a boat while the sun is setting. If you don’t have a friend with a boat, you can check out the Woodwind which offers evening sails seasonally and was featured in the movie the Wedding Crashers.
But the things that I truly appreciate aren’t on the well-traveled paths of most visitors. Quiet Waters Park is located not far from our home and is situated between the South River and Harness Creek. It’s a beautiful spot to enjoy with trails winding through forests and grassy fields and places to picnic with gorgeous water vistas. Prior to the global pandemic, this was a place where you could enjoy outdoor free concerts in the Summer and ice skating with hot chocolate in the Winter. Most locals take their dogs to the dog beach or to the dog parks and it’s a place where you can actually find morel mushrooms in the Spring if you look hard enough!
I enjoy sitting at some of the restaurants located by the water and having a well-earned cocktail on a Thursday or Friday evening after work along with some well-prepared seafood. Life is idyllic in these parts and there is a reason so many of us have been willing to take on tough commutes to places near and far.
Restaurants
Vin 909 – this is probably one of my favorite spots in Annapolis. The staff are phenomenal, the food is fantastic and the setting is lovely. I usually start with the charcuterie and cheese platter and enjoy one of the seasonal salads with a pizza, preferably the Spotted Pig which includes wild boar meatballs. Wine is offered by the glass at different price points to keep the check reasonable. Everyone should not leave without having the butterscotch pudding. I can’t resist it and neither will you!
Level – If you like an expertly made cocktail with only
the finest ingredients used and unusual foams, this is the place for you. Probably one of my favorite drinks, always on the constantly rotating seasonal menu, is the Angels and Demons, with St. Germain, Tequila and a spicy habanero pepper blend. But there are also a number of good small plates including brussels sprouts, paella, tuna tartare and pork belly tacos.
Flamant – this is one of those establishments that transports you to Europe. Everything about it reminds me of my travels to Brussels when I used to work there. It is no surprise that the chef hails from Belgium and makes some amazing Belgian frites, when they are available. I had a very pleasant fall evening here once enjoying dessert outside by the firepit, but the charming interior is also lovely and with the pandemic, they have a beautiful outdoor patio with heaters. A must stop if you are interested in fine dining while visiting.
The Point – I almost don’t want to mention this place, because it is my vacation getaway from home, but as it is one of my favorite spots in the world, I must share it with you dear readers. The Point sits in a marina located a few miles outside of Annapolis in Arnold, not far from my hometown. Sitting on the Magothy River, one almost feels the stress slip away. And the food is phenomenal too! This is the place to get a great crab cake, hard shell crabs (when in season in an “R” month), and a beefsteak tomato salad that is to die for. Surprisingly for a restaurant focused on seafood, they also make one of the best burgers in town with great fries.
Galway Bay – I have read that Annapolis is 25% Irish and given the turnout in a normal year for the St. Patrick’s Day parade I can believe it. Of the four Irish bars and restaurants in town, this is the best and most reminiscent of Ireland. The food and libations are terrific and the setting on Maryland Avenue is lovely with plenty of outdoor seating and live music. My husband John enjoys the curry fries, but they also make a really good hot crab dip and the shepherds pie is warm and delightful on a winter’s day. I give high marks to anyplace that serves a good hot toddy. Try it out next time you are in town!
Davis Pub – this is a place I have been visiting since I was a young woman, working at restaurants in Annapolis. It’s considered to be one of the few “dive” bars in the maritime town but given all of the attention lavished on both humans and furry friends (who have their own menu!), it seems about as far away from a dive as you can get. This is simple fare prepared well with an across the street view of the water. Try the crab pretzel or crab dip for your appetizer! It’s friendly and fun and I highly recommend it for an outing.
Boatyard Bar and Grill – this is probably one of the most popular restaurants in town for both locals and visitors alike and there is a good reason: great food, a fun atmosphere and an emphasis on what draws everyone to Annapolis in the first place: sailing! I’m not embarrassed to say that this is probably our family’s most visited restaurant – at least twice a month. They offer breakfast, lunch and dinner all prepared well. I can highly recommend the crab cake which is the best within city limits – no contest. They also make great rockfish specials topped with lump crab meat and served on fried green tomatoes. But everyone loves the spinach and artichoke crab dip, the fried oysters, mussels and the nachos. They have a huge menu with something for everyone. It’s a place to take your friends who are picky eaters!
Eastport Kitchen – this is a local’s hangout located in Eastport that has probably some of the best French Fries around. These beg for malt vinegar. They also make nice sized salads and great sandwiches, including my sons’ personal favorite, the Binky, which comes on sourdough bread with avocado, fresh roasted turkey and sriracha mayo. I enjoy the foghorn, which is a curried chicken salad sandwich on multi-grain bread. Many people believe this establishment makes the best burger within city limits. You be the judge! The staff is friendly and service is very efficient.
Reynolds Tavern – I adore this place. It has been around for centuries and is still going strong and always adapting. My favorite thing without question is the afternoon tea, which pore pandemic could be taken in the parlour, but now can be enjoyed in the beautiful garden patio. I am a big fan of the combination of the savory tea sandwiches and the sweet scones with clotted cream and jam. It’s a place I love to take my boys to over the holidays and they love it!
Recommendations
1. Stroll Annapolis off hours when others are at home and take in the pretty as a postcard atmosphere. Probably my favorite time of year is Autumn when the boat shows are concluded and days remain before Halloween. The locals make everything so festive and beautiful. I also adore May Day when all of the businesses and residents hang beautiful flower baskets and each is more elaborate than the next.
2. Get out on the water. Even if you just hop on one of the water taxis that dot Spa Creek, try to get out on the water and see a new perspective of the area and some of the most beautiful homes you have ever laid your eyes on. It’s fun to also pick up a crab net if you are able to go wading and try your luck at snagging a jimmy. Look around the piers, where they tend to congregate and you might just get lucky!
3. As a native Marylander, I would be remiss if I didn’t recommend trying crabs just once. It’s a tradition to enjoy a crab feast in the Summer with all of the fixings. This includes beer (a light lager is refreshing and perfect), Silver Queen corn on the cob fresh from the Eastern Shore, fresh tomatoes in season with sea salt (and basil for my Italian family), potato salad and cole slaw. Usually, if you are having more people, we would have crab dip to start and maybe oysters on the half shell if we were being fancy. All crabs should be steamed in beer with Old Bay seasoning for the authentic experience. The best crab houses in the Annapolis area are Cantler’s (very touristy, but still fun) and Mike’s Crab House. If you are lucky enough to be invited by friends, the best way to enjoy them is outside on a beautiful day with newspaper on the table!
4. Visit the U.S. Naval Academy. Pre-COVID-19, this was probably the most important tourist sight in Annapolis and one that I can’t recommend enough. There is history in every corner from a visit to John Paul Jones’ crypt to exploring the campus with one of the largest dormitories in the world, Bancroft Hall. Important men have walked these grounds from former President Jimmy Carter to Sen. John McCain, who is buried on the grounds. For every Annapolitan, this is a place of importance and we revere the people who are able to complete one of the most demanding educational experiences in the U.S. If you are here in May in a normal time, you might just see the Blue Angels flying over town in honor of the graduating seniors. It’s scary and exhilarating to watch these men fly over our fair town.
5. Go to the Eastern Shore. More than any other time in recent years, I found myself drawn to the Eastern Shore which lies only a few miles from my hometown over the Bay Bridge. I visited Chestertown, Rock Hall, St. Michael’s, Easton, and Oxford and enjoyed every minute of it. I also picked blueberries at a farm in Sudlersville and traveled to Ocean City for an overnight. There is a different way of life across the Bay and you will be charmed by the pretty towns and the warm and inviting atmosphere.
6. Check out the Historic Taverns and Homes. Have an oyster shooter at Middleton’s Tavern, which is one of the oldest operating businesses in the state of Maryland. Visit the William Paca House and Garden, the Charles Carroll House and view the exterior of the Samuel Chase House. These men were three of the four signers of the Declaration of Independence from Maryland. The Carroll family was very important in Catholicism and the Carroll House actually sits on the grounds of my church, St. Mary’s. John Carroll, his cousin, founded Georgetown University in Washington, DC.
Commenti