Fall 2019

The Hooper Strait Lighthouse lit the way for passing boats. Photo by Dee Litten Whited

Fishing is a popular activity along the Shore.

The Wheatlands is one of the oldest mansion along the shore. Photo by Dee Litten Whited

View from the bridge to Tilghman Island. Photo by Dee Litten Whited

2019. If you visit before late 2021, when it’s targeted for launch, you can watch crafts people working on the ship. Many boats of all sizes are continually being restored or built at CBMM. Get in on the fun and take one of the workshops that give visitors hands-on experience while attending classes. I especially enjoyed visiting Waterman’s Warf and Oystering on the Chesapeake that showed me some of what my friend Charles and his family experience working on and in the Chesapeake Bay. Before you leave, peruse the lovely gift shop. THE PATRIOT A highlight was seeing St. Michaels from the broad Miles River. We boarded the red-white-and-blue The Patriot , a replica of a 1930’s steam ship. Sit downstairs in air conditioning or atop for a breezy bird’s-eye view. Captain Charles Klotzbucher was very welcoming and even invited me to steer the large boat. Fortunately, I’d learned my lesson and, 50-plus years later, I managed not to crash. The highlight, though, was the narration by boat owner John Marrah giving us a wealth of information about the historic mansions and amazing wildlife. We saw two locations used in filming the movie The Wedding

Crashers . Some seasons of the year you may see deer swimming in the river or dolphin playing alongside the boat. We were fortunate to pass several osprey nests with nestlings. And, when we got hungry, we visited the extensive snack bar. A cool glass of wine or cocktail is a great accompaniment. The most impressive mansion we saw was the oldest mansion, The Wheatlands, which was built in 1720. “It was a major wheat producer for Washington’s Continental Army and was owned during that period by Major Gen. Perry Benson,” said John. “He was a hero of the Maryland Militia during the Revolutionary War and was an organizer of the defense of St. Michaels during the War of 1812.” Knowing it was our last sunset before heading home, my husband and I drove to nearby Tilghman Island to see the sunset over the Chesapeake Bay. We were not disappointed. Basking in the beautiful light, we agreed that a few days was not enough to explore this gem of the Eastern Shore. We’ll be back.

FOR MORE INFORMATION www.stmichaelsmd.com/ • www.fws.gov/refuge/blackwater/ www.cbmm.org/ • www.patriotcruises.com/

ST. MICHAELS, MARYLAND

COAST TO COAST FALL MAGAZINE 2019

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