Photo by dK.i Photography CONTENTS 3 Getting Here 4 Events GETTING HERE 5 Itineraries Dunkirk AIRPORTS MILEAGE 6 Communities Owings Baltimore/Washington Washington D.C. ...................36 miles During your visit to our relaxing waterside community, we 8 Arts & Culture North Beach International Thurgood Annapolis, MD ...................... 29 miles hope you take time to fully experience the Chesapeake Bay 8 Antiques & Collectibles Marshall Airport (BWI) Baltimore, MD ....................... 53 miles lifestyle. We promise an unforgettable experience and wish 9 Maritime & Local History Located south of Baltimore Chesapeake Beach Richmond, VA .........................111 miles you happy discoveries as you “catch our drift” and experience 10 Hiking, Trails & Parks Drive Time: 1 hour Philadelphia, PA ...................150 miles all the great things Calvert County has to offer. 11 Fun For Families Pittsburgh, PA ..................... 270 miles 12 Get on the Water Reagan National New York, NY .......................230 miles Calvert County Board of County Commissioners 14 Marinas Airport (DCA) 15 Beaches Located in Washington, D.C. 16 Foodie Scene Drive Time: 1 hour LOCAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION 18 Sweet Treats 19 Breweries & Wineries Dulles International (IAD) Enterprise Rent-A-Car: 410-414-2500 Huntingtown 20 Lodging Located in Northern Virginia Public Bus Service: 410-535-4510 21 Wedding Venues Drive Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes Checker Taxi: 240-508-2001 Smart Ride Inc.: 410-535-6932 CONNECT WITH US GROUP TOURS Facebook.com/VisitCalvertCounty For information on a variety of group tours and events, visit ChooseCalvert.com. @VisitCalvertCounty Find us on Youtube This guide has been compiled on behalf of the Calvert County Board of County Commissioners Prince Frederick to assist you while visiting Calvert County. It is for informational purposes only. The listings do not constitute a recommendation of facilities, accommodations or services. While every effort has been Baltimore made to assure accuracy, the county and staff are not liable for damages arising out of errors or omissions. For the most up-to-date information on Calvert County, visit ChooseCalvert.com. Annapolis Port Republic Washington D.C. National Harbor Ocean City St. Leonard St. Mary’s 30 miles MAP KEY 60 miles However long you have to enjoy a break in Calvert County, make Winery sure you fit in some of the highlights! Brewery Lusby 1. Hunt for fossils, shark teeth, shells and sea glass at the beach. Golf Course 2. Shop a farmers market or roadside stand for local produce. 3. Visit an art gallery showcasing local talent. Captain John Smith Trail Site 4. Spend an afternoon fishing or crabbing. 5. Paddle the Chesapeake Bay or Patuxent River. Star-Spangled Banner Trail Site 6. Wander through antique shops and unique boutiques. 7. Sample local wines and ales at various wineries and breweries. Hospital Solomons 8. Take a step back in time at a museum or tour a historic lighthouse. Urgent Care 9. Attend one of our many free events and festivals. Photo by David Krankowski 10. Experience the area’s eclectic cuisine at a waterfront café or restaurant. Visitor Information Center 2 Visit ChooseCalvert.com | 3 There is so much to see and do in Calvert County, it can be Calvert County never has a shortage of things to do, hard knowing where to start. Here are some ideas to inspire regardless of the season. Whether you're into the arts, you and help make the most of your time here. But don't feel music, history, food or shopping, there's a unique limited to just 72 hours; we'd love for you to stay longer. experience waiting for you. For a complete listing of events, visit ChooseCalvert.com/calendar. SPRING Photo by Angel Beil • Taste of Solomons • Stars & Stripes Festival • Discovering Archaeology Day • Children’s Day on the Farm • Fairy & Gnome Festival • Patuxent River Wade-In • Celtic Festival & • African American DAY 1: NORTH COUNTY DAY 3: OUTDOOR FUN A Highland Gathering Community Day Nestled on the Chesapeake Bay’s western shore, the neighboring towns of The towering cliffs of the Chesapeake Bay at Calvert Cliffs State Park are • Spring Striped Bass • End Hunger Dragon Boat North Beach and Chesapeake Beach epitomize the “land of pleasant living.” etched with imprints of creatures from many eons ago when this area was Tournament Festival Start at the seven-block waterfront in North Beach offering a public fishing pier, covered by an ancient sea. Find prehistoric shark teeth on the beach and relax • Antique & Flea Faire • DrinkMaryland boardwalk and bike path. At the Bayside History Museum, learn about the as your children play on the recycled tire playground. Head over to Jefferson • North Beach House & • North Beach American bayside communities through vintage signs, restaurant menus and objects Patterson Park & Museum situated on 560 acres along the Patuxent River Garden Tour Film Festival found along the shoreline. Take a leisurely stroll down the boardwalk, browse and St. Leonard Creek. Explore the visitor and exhibit center, children’s • Solomons Maritime Festival gift shops, art galleries and antiques. Stop for lunch at a locally owned discovery room and re-created eastern woodland Native American village. restaurant, scope out some wildlife at Wetlands Overlook Park and the Learn about archaeology through a “behind-the-scenes” tour of the Maryland sculpture-filledSunrise Garden and finish up with some sweet treats. Archaeological Conservation Laboratory. Continue on to Battle Creek SUMMER Cypress Swamp Sanctuary where a boardwalk trail winds through one of the • Sharkfest! • ArtsFest Next, head to Chesapeake Beach where you can step back in time at the northernmost stands of bald cypress trees in North America. Learn more in • Screwpile Lighthouse • Taste the Beaches Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum to learn about the railroad and the nature center and see some wildlife up close. Finish your day with a locally Challenge • Calvert County amusement park history of this town. Continue the fun with the kids at the made wine or freshly brewed beer from one of Calvert County’s six wineries or • Solomons Island Dragon Watermen’s Festival Chesapeake Beach Water Park, then head out on a charter boat from the seven breweries. Several restaurants in close-by Prince Frederick offer local Boat Festival • July 4th Fireworks “Charter Boat Capital of Maryland” to catch some big ones on the bay. For pairings and some wineries and breweries are even open to the public for tours. dinner, crack a few crabs at one of several restaurant options and catch a • Calvert County Jousting • Movies on the Beach Tournament waterside concert at the Rod ‘N’ Reel bandstand. Contemplate the magnificent Chesapeake Bay from Memorial Park while the sun sets on your perfect day. FALL Photo by Angel Beil • Calvert County Fair • Harvest Taste of Solomons DAY 2: SOUTH COUNTY • Patuxent River • American Indian Where the Patuxent River meets the Chesapeake Bay, you will find Solomons Appreciation Day Heritage Day Island, a place of uncommon charm and unspoiled beauty. Visit the Calvert Marine Museum or Chesapeake Biological Lab Visitor Center to trace the rich • Lower Marlboro • Halloween in the Garden Freedom Day maritime history and diversity of the Chesapeake Bay. Climb through the hatch at Drum Point Lighthouse or check out Cove Point Lighthouse, the oldest continuously working lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay. A short cruise on the WINTER museum’s historic “bugeye” boat, the Wm. B. Tennison, gives an unforgettable • Valentine Maker’s Market • Lighted Boat Parade view of the soaring Thomas Johnson Bridge. Next, head to Annmarie Sculpture • Holiday Light Contest: • North Beach Christmas on Garden & Arts Center featuring art inside and out. Many sculptures lining the Brightest Beacon on the Bay the Beach wooded path are on loan from the Smithsonian Institution. At the arts center, • Annmarie Garden in Lights • Polar Bear Plunge view changing exhibits or be creative in the artLAB. Finish your day at a • Solomons Christmas Walk • Restaurant Week waterside restaurant. From steaks to seafood, there’s something for everyone in this quaint town. 4 Visit ChooseCalvert.com | 5 Here are a few of Calvert County's unique towns, just waiting to be exlplored. You can share your own Calvert County Owings Owings is at the northern end of Calvert County. Originally the area was snapshots with us on Instagram. St. Leonard North Beach known as Friendship, but was renamed Owings in order to tell it apart from St. Leonard is at the southern end of Calvert County and moved to its current VisitCalvertCounty. Tag #ExploreCalvert. The town of North Beach is nestled at the northern end of Calvert County on neighboring West Friendship. The name was a tribute to Harry P. Owings, a location around 1902. Some sources have its first location near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. North Beach has much to offer visitors with a boardwalk, one-time member of the state legislature and local farmer. Owings is mostly St. Leonard Creek on what is now Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum, yet it a fishing pier, a public beach, numerous exciting family-friendly events, a residential but is also home to several interesting businesses and beautiful was originally established as a town at the head of the creek. St. Leonard is nature park, restaurants, art galleries, shops and the Bayside History Museum. back roads worth exploring. currently home to several small shops and businesses. Chesapeake Beach The town of Chesapeake Beach is located at the northern end of Calvert County. Its history is quite interesting as it began as the dream of developers Huntingtown Lusby in the late 19th century. From 1900 until 1935, a train brought visitors from Huntingtown is at the northern end of Calvert County. The town center was Lusby is at the southern end of Calvert County. The original location of Washington, D.C. to enjoy a mile-long boardwalk, roller coaster built over originally founded at the head of tide on Hunting Creek.