Watermen hard at work.
Chesapeake Bay oysters ready to shuck and enjoy.
Oysters and crabs are abundant at local restaurants.
The Crab Claw is popular in St. Michaels.
rivers and offers spectacular views of both sunrise and sunset. ST. MICHAELS St. Michaels is a treasure on Maryland's popular Eastern Shore, about halfway between the Susquehanna source and the Atlantic mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. This vintage harbor port, whose origins date from the birth of the colonies, is nestled on the beautiful Miles River. Our excitement was sated as we craned our necks at the colorful shops, art galleries, restaurants, and crab shacks that we passed while slowly driving down Talbot Street, the main street, to catch the sunset. At twilight, our stomachs convinced us to stop at one of the local eateries. Talbot Street businesses usually have parking in the rear for automobiles. RVers can find ample parking in one of the public lots with easy-to-walk-to destinations. This tiny town has a long history. In the mid-1600s, a trading post was erected on the site for area tobacco farmers and trappers, but it wasn’t until 1778 that a British land agent, James Braddock, purchased 20 acres and deeded 58 lots. This created St. Mary’s Square— the historic center of St. Michaels. To this day, this charming seaside resort town reflects its colonial past, as many of the area’s homes date from the late 1700s
to the late 1800s. See some of these by taking the St. Michaels Historical Walking Tour at www.stmichaelsmd. com/st.-michaels-historical-walking-tour. During the War of 1812, St. Michaels gained its name as “the town that fooled the British.” It’s been reported that the residents of St. Michaels, having been forewarned that British barges were positioned on the waters to attack with cannon fire, hoisted lanterns into the trees above the city. This first successful “blackout” fooled the British into overshooting the town’s houses and shipyards. In addition to the walking tour, there are many other ways to traverse the area. If you want to soak up the sun, hit the trails, or get out on the water, you won’t be disappointed. In addition to four beautiful parks and miles of trails for biking, St. Michaels’ seemingly endless shoreline offers visitors a chance to get a duck’s eye view. Rent a standup paddleboard, a kayak, a canoe, even a boat or a jet ski. “Something we can talk about is our “trifecta of booze” since we have award-winning Lyon Distilling, Eastern Shore Brewing, and St. Michaels Winery all in the Historic Mill andwithinwalkingdistance toour accommodations,” says Kimberly Weller, communications manager of St.
ST. MICHAELS, MARYLAND
COAST TO COAST FALL MAGAZINE 2019
30
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online