Washington, DC is a city surrounded by exciting destinations easily accessible by car. Dorchester County, a seaside community on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, is one of them. A two-hour drive from the city center of our Nation’s capital, you will find a place with colonial architecture, bald eagles, osprey nests, craft beer and lots of good ‘ol Maryland crab. Recently, I packed up Bianca, my X1, picked up my friend Kat, and took a midweek trip to this beautiful place. All about our adventure:
As you leave the noise of the city, you step into a world which seems much further away than two hours. My friend and fellow blogger Kat from SpicyCandyDC and I arrived to our B&B, Lodgecliffe, to the smiling face of Juli, one of our innkeepers. She took us to our room, which had a beautiful view of the Choptank River. We dropped off our bags and headed to lunch at Old Salty’s on Hooper’s Island, a traditional Chesapeake fishing village. Without hesitation, we ordered crab in many ways: steamed crab cake, fried soft shell crab, and a fried crab cake. I can still remember the light buttery flavor of the steamed crab cake. No wonder Old Salty’s is regarded by many as offering the best crab cake in Maryland.
From there, we headed to Hooper’s Island Oyster Aquaculture, an oyster farm. The owner, John Shockley, was a second generation waterman (Maryland word for fisherman). His son, a Marine Biologist, has also joined the team as they develop unique sustainable ways to raise oysters year-round, making the company a three-generation endeavor. We had the opportunity to tour the farm and see all the steps taken for deliciously plump Maryland oysters. Dining Traveler Tip: tours of the facilities are available, make sure to book ahead!
It was a gorgeous summer day in Dorchester County. It was sunny with a perfect breeze coming from the bay. On our way back to Cambridge, we stopped several times to spot birds: ospreys guarding their nests, elegant blue herons, and the majestic bald eagle. Witnessing nature at its best reaffirms one of the things I love about living in the United States: its diversity. You can go from a city as busy as Washington, DC to this sanctuary of nature in just a short drive.
Back in Cambridge, we headed to RAR Brewery. There, we met JT Merryweather, one of the co-owners of RAR. It was inspiring to see how his passion for craft beer turned into a beloved local business. He and his business partner, Chris Brohan, built the business from scratch and brew all their beers in house. From IPAs to jalapeno infused beers, there is something for every taste at RAR. Dining Traveler Tip: pick up a growler of your favorite brew (you get to keep the cool bottle) for $17.
We headed back to Lodgecliffe to decompress from an intense day. The view of the Choptank River from the beautiful turn-of-the-20th century home was very serene, the perfect way to unwind. We truly felt at home with Juli and her mom, who also bakes delicious shortbread cookies. More about our stay at Lodgecliffe coming soon on the blog!
We worked up an appetite from the busy day and headed to The High Spot Gastropub. Pretty much everyone we talked to in Dorchester County raved about this place. We had to see it for ourselves. We were sold! Chef Patrick Fanning spoiled us with a culinary tour of their delicious menu which truly reflects the spirit of Dorchester county. From the fried oysters of Hooper’s Island to the grilled peach salad, the chef has a passion for all things local. The famous duck fat burger lives to its hype with a thick, succulent patty. Wash it down with RAR beer served on tap for the full Cambridge, MD effect.
We decided to go for a walk after indulging in such delicious food. We walked from the restaurant to the Choptank Lighthouse where we witnessed an amazing view of the river as dusk settled in. The sky was an indescribable hue of blues and purples. The perfect setting to end the day.
The following morning, we headed to Blackwater Paddle and Pedal, for a guided kayak tour of the Blackwater area. Susan, the company’s owner, led the tour and shared interesting facts of Dorchester County as we paddled along the vegetated waters. A short yet strong woman, Susan’s eyes light up as she talked about the history of her business and how she and her husband, who were born and raised in the area, have built a life there. We witnessed bald eagles and ospreys as we glided through the waters. As we listened to Susan’s story, we were inspired by the passion she exudes in what she does. Dining Traveler Tip: head to Blackwater Kayak and Pedal during the fall if you are a bird lover. Susan says the best sights are between October and November.
We concluded our trip with lunch at Ocean Odyssey, another local favorite. When we told Susan we were headed there, she was very excited for us. An active morning of kayaking called for a large lunch! No trip to Maryland is complete without steamed crabs with a nice coat of old bay followed by delicious fish tacos. As we shared our blueberry trifle, Kat and I both agreed that this is a trip that needs to be repeated. Dorchester County is truly an American gem, not only for its natural beauty but for the hospitality and passion the people of the county possess. My plan is to return in the fall to go bird watching with the Dutchman. Hopefully we will get to see more eagles!
This lovely trip was hosted by Dorchester County tourism. As always, opinions are my own.
