Annapolis Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Annapolis Travel & Tourism, Free Annapolis Travel Guide Online
Annapolis Travel Guide: Discount & Cheap Annapolis Travel & Tourism, Free Annapolis Travel Guide Online Maryland's capital is a town steeped in history and tradition: from the Senate chamber where Congress ratified the treaty that ended the Revolutionary War to noon formation at the United States Naval Academy. Annapolis is well known for its excellent restaurants, including colonial dining rooms, taverns, and waterside seafood houses. Many of the most favored dining spots are also located in the city's hotels and restored inns. Water sports are favored in Annapolis, which is known as the sailing capital of Maryland. Windsurfing, and all forms of boating are widely available. Local sailing schools offer basic instruction, boat rentals, and sailing vacations in boats up to 43 feet in length. Popular land-based activities include biking, walking, and running. The spectacular Baltimore & Annapolis Trail stretches for 13 miles, passing through forests, farmland, urban, and suburban neighborhoods. Part of the city's unique charm lies in it's being home to two celebrated institutions of higher learning. In addition to the Naval Academy (and just a short walk away), is St. John's College. The third oldest college in the nation counts Francis Scott Key among its alumni and bases its curriculum solely on literary classics. The three-century-old capital city is a blend of perfectly preserved Colonial, Victorian and Federal architecture that gently rises along the shores of Chesapeake Bay and the Severn River. The city is centered within two circles: State Circle and Church Circle. All other streets radiate from these two points. The U.S. Naval Academy is in its own enclave, east of State Circle. City Dock is east of both circles, at the end of Main Street off Church Circle. The entire city center of Annapolis is a national Historic District. The streets of the city remain narrow, as no historic building has been sacrificed in order to widen them. The best way to see Annapolis is on foot via a walking tour. Several guided tours are available, including some led by a Colonial-era costumed guide. Annapolis has the highest concentration of Georgian-style buildings in the nation, including the homes of all four Maryland signers of the Declaration of Independence. A total of 1300 carefully preserved and restored buildings from fifteen architectural styles pre-date 1900. Many African-Americans have played important roles in Annapolis and Maryland history. Their story is told in programs and exhibits at the Banneker-Douglass Museum of Afro-American Life and History. In the City Council Chamber at City Hall, Annapolis' early history comes to life in three large murals. They show the settlement of Providence in 1649, the laying out of the capital in 1695, and the proclamation of the Annapolis City Charter in 1708. Shopping is superb at Annapolis Harbour Center. The waterfront mall is laid out in the configuration of a maritime village with some 40 shops and boutiques. Across from Harbour Center is the unique Pennsylvania Dutch Farmers Market featuring everything from fresh farm produce to homemade Amish and Mennonite delicacies. There is also a section devoted to crafts, such as homemade quilts. In a world filled with uncertainty and constant change, Annapolis stands as a beacon to visitors, as a symbol of stability and quiet strength, just as it has for over 300 years.
Annapolis Attractions: Annapolis Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Annapolis Travel & Tourism, Free Annapolis Travel Guide Online There are also innumerable attractions close at hand in the areas near Annapolis (both Baltimore and Washington, DC are close neighbors of Annapolis.) Baltimore is easy to reach on Greyhound and MTA (#210) buses from Annapolis. By road Annapolis is only about half an hour from Washington (via US-50) or Baltimore (via I-97). Both neighboring cities have excellent public transportation. Banneker-Douglass Museum 84 Franklin St Off the south side of Church Circle 410/974-2893 Tues-Fri 10-3, Sat noon-4 Free admission. Named after two prominent local African-American residents, Benjamin Banneker and Frederick Douglass, this museum presents arts and crafts, exhibits, lectures, and films, designed to portray the historical life and cultural experiences of African-Americans in Maryland. The site was formerly the Old Mount Moriah African Methodist Episcopal Church. Charles Carroll House 107 Duke of Gloucester St Behind St. Mary's Church at Spa Creek 410/263-1737 Mar-Dec Fri noon-4, Sat 10-2, Sun noon-4; Tues-Thurs tours by appointment Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Dec 24, and Dec 25 Admission Charged. Built in 1721 and 1722, and enlarged in 1770, this is the birthplace and dwelling of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the one Roman Catholic to sign the Declaration of Independence. It sits on high ground overlooking Spa Creek, a block from City Dock. Visitors can tour the house plus the 18th-century terraced boxwood gardens and a 19th-century wine cellar. The Charles Carroll House hosts several public programs throughout the year. Recent programs have included mother-daughter high teas, an 18th-century dress workshop, a celtic music concert on the terraced lawns, and a candlelight Christmas dinner. Chesapeake Marine Tours City Dock at the foot of Main Street 410-268-7600 Reservations required A variety of cruises are offered, weather permitting, aboard one of five vessels. Day on the Bay Cruise A 7.5 hour tour on the Annapolis II, passes local landmarks including the Naval Academy, a Victorian lighthouse and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum across the bay in the restored fishing village of St. Michaels. There is a 3 hour stop for lunch and sightseeing. Annapolis Harbor Tour A 40 minute cruise of Annapolis Harbor and the Severn River. Spa Creek Tour A 40 minute cruise of Annapolis harbor, past the US Naval Academy, and the residential areas of Spa Creek. 90 Minute Cruises Tour the Severn River, Chesapeake Bay bridges, or Thomas Point Lighthouse. Discover Annapolis Tours 26 West Street 410-626-6000 Daily: April-Nov.; Rest of the year: Sat., Sun. Telephone for departure hours Closed Jan. 1, Thanksgiving Day, and Dec. 25. A one hour narrated bus tour which introduces passengers to three centuries of local history, architecture, folklore, etc. The tours pass through residential areas, the waterfront, a section of the US Naval Academy, and around the State House and the governor's house. Hammond-Harwood House two blocks west of the State House at 19 Maryland Ave, off King George Street 410/263-4683 Mon–Sat 10–4, Sun noon–4. Closed Jan 1, Thanksgiving, and Dec 25 Admission Charged Built in 1774, this house is one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the United States. The warm redbrick Palladian villa, which consists of two symmetrical wings connected by a central hall, was built in 1774 to the designs of William Buckland. It is an outstanding example of the Maryland five-part plan that connects the central main section of the house by hyphens to semioctagonal wings. Famous for its center doorway of tall Ionic columns, the interior is a showcase of decorative arts and paintings, as well as ornamentation and wood carvings. The house is named for its original owners: Mathias Hammond, a Maryland member of the Provincial Assembly, and the Harwood family, who owned the house before it became a museum. A photo exhibit documents various aspects of the house from the 1920s to the present.
Helen Avalynne Tawes Garden 580 Taylor Street at the Tawes State Office Building across from Navy Stadium Access on weekdays is through the State Office Building. Holiday access is between the Court of Appeals and the Department of Natural Resources buildings. 410-260-8189 Guided tours by reservation. A booklet is available for self-guided tours. Daily dawn-dusk. Free Admission. A five acre, barrier free botanical garden featuring representations of the state's natural environmental communities, from the forested mountains of western Maryland to the sand dunes of the Eastern Shore. Shallow ponds support wildlife such as bullfrogs, ducks, fish, songbirds, and turtles. Maryland State House State Circle 410/974-3400 Mon-Fri 9-5, Sat-Sun 10-4; tours daily 11am and 3pm Closed Jan 1, Thanksgiving, and Dec 25 Free admission Located in the center of Annapolis, this is the oldest U.S. capitol in continuous legislative use. It was built between 1772 and 1779. The building also served as the U.S. capitol from November 26, 1783, to August 13, 1784. Inside the Old Senate Chamber, George Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental armies at the end of the Revolutionary War. This was also the place in which the Treaty of Paris was signed in which England acknowledged the independence of their former colonies in this country. The dome of the building is made of cypress beams and is held together by wooden pegs. The State House contains exhibits that depict life in Annapolis in colonial times. There are free 30-minute guided tours at 11am and 3pm that emanate from the visitor center on the first floor. Also on the grounds of the State House is the cottage-sized Old Treasury Building, built in 1735 to hold colonial Maryland's currency reserves. William Paca House and Garden 186 Prince George St 410/263-5553 Mar-Dec Mon-Sat 10-4, Sun noon-4; Jan-Feb Fri-Sat 10-4, Sun noon-4. Closed Thanksgiving, Dec 24, and Dec 25 Admission Charged to tour house and to tour garden. A combination package covering both the house and the garden is available. Among the great historic residences in Annapolis is this former home of William Paca, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a governor of Maryland during the Revolutionary period. Built between 1763 and 1765, and restored by Historic Annapolis from 1965 to 1976, it is a five-part structure, with a central block, hyphens (much smaller sections each consisting of a hallway and small rooms) and wings. It contains a total of 37 rooms. Behind the Paca estate is a two acre garden consisting of five elegant terraces, a fish-shaped pond, a Chinese Chippendale bridge, a summer house, and a wilderness garden. Tobacco Prise House 4 Pinkney St (by appointment) 410/267-7619 This pastel 18th century building is a colonial tobacco warehouse that now presents tours explaining the handling and storage of tobacco leaves. Shiplap House 18 Pinkney St Mon–Fri 2–4 Admission free Built in 1715 as a tavern, this building now is now a small museum of Annapolis history, with an herb garden in the rear containing assorted medicinal plants grown in colonial times. St. Anne's Church (Episcopal) Church Circle 410-267-9333 Daily 8-6 Free Admission The third church on the site since the parish was founded in 1692. King William III presented the communion silver in 1695. The St. Anne's Memorial Window by Tiffany & Co. won first prize for ecclesiastical art at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. St. John's College 60 College Avenue King George Street The school was chartered in 1784 and offered a traditional liberal arts education until 1937 when it adopted a curriculum based on a study of the classics. Francis Scott Key was one of its students. The Elizabeth Meyers Mitchell Gallery on campus displays changing exhibits during the academic year. The gallery is open Tues.-Sat. noon-5. U.S. Naval Academy* 52 King George St 410/263-6933 (see note below) Founded in 1845, this national historic site is the U.S. Navy's undergraduate professional college, spread over 338 acres along the Chesapeake Bay and Severn River on the eastern edge of town. Among the attractions on the academy grounds are the chapel and crypt of John Paul Jones and the U.S. Naval Academy Museum in Preble Hall, which contains collections of nautical relics, paintings, ship models, and other historic items. At noon formation (held in Tecumseh Court at 12:05pm Monday through Friday), all the midshipmen line up and are accounted for before marching in for the noon meal. Commissioning Week, usually the week of the last Wednesday in May, is a colorful time of full-dress parades. * Unfortunately, at this time, US Naval Academy public tours have been suspended and the grounds closed to all pedestrians and vehicles without US Defense Department identification and authorization. London Town House and Gardens 839 Londontown Rd Edgewater Take Rte. 50 to Rte. 655 (exit 22), then take Rte. 2 south, over the South River Bridge. Turn left on Mayo Rd., then left on Londontown Rd 410/222-1919 Mar-Nov Tues-Sat 10-4, Sun noon-4 house tours by appointment Admission Charged Just south of Annapolis, across the South River is the 1760s Georgian home of William Brown. This is the only remaining structure from what was once a bustling trade town called London Town that rivaled Annapolis in size and importance. The London Town Foundation, in conjunction with Anne Arundel County, has begun the archaeological task of unearthing the 23 acres around the William Brown House and rebuilding the lost town. Meanwhile, the house is open to visitors. The 8-acre woodland gardens, and the dig sites are also open to the public on a limited schedule. On the third Saturday of each month from March through October, when archaeologists are on-site, visitors can participate in the digging, as well as tour the gardens and the house. The foundation's goal is to educate the public regarding about the social history of the town and the history of the times. Education about the process of restoration and excavation is included in their aims. Schooner Woodwind (410) 263-7837 Pusser's Landing at the Annapolis Marriott Waterfront Hotel 800 Comprise Street Tues-Sun. 11,1:30, and 4. Mon. at 6:30, from May 1-end of Sept. Call for Fall schedule. A replica of classic early 20th century yachts, this 48 passenger vessel is outfitted with mahogany woodwork and gleaming chrome. Two hour cruises cover a tour of the Annapolis harbor, waterfront views of the US Naval Academy, and a trip up the Severn River.
Annapolis Events: Annapolis Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Annapolis Travel & Tourism, Free Annapolis Travel Guide Online Events April Annapolis Spring Boat Show 410-268-8828 Third weekend in April annually Staged along the waterfront, this is the region's largest boat show. New and used powerboats, sailboats, plus boating, fishing and water sports equipment are featured along with boating events. May Annapolis Waterfront Festival First weekend in May 410-268-8828 More than 100 artisans and crafters display their work along the waterfront. A flotilla of historic tall ships are featured. There are also boat races, sailing lessons, and performances by musical groups. August Kunte Kinte Heritage Festival 2nd weekend in August. 410-349-0338 African-American achievements in Maryland are the focus of this two day festival of arts, crafts, fine food and music. October US Sailboat and Powerboat Show 2nd weekend in October. 410-268-8828 Based at the City Dock, this event showcases new sailboats and boating products from leading manufacturers around the world. Arts and Entertainment Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts 801 Chase Street 410-263-5544 Performances by the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Annapolis Chamber Orchestra, Annapolis Chorale, and the Ballet Theater of Annapolis are presented here. Naval Academy Summer Serenade 410-203-1262 This is a summer concert series featuring weekly performances by the US Naval Academy Band. Concerts are held weekly at the City Dock. Concerts feature the Next Wave; the Electric Brigade, and the full concert band. Concerts are free. Bring your own seating. Annapolis Summer Garden Theater 143 Comprise Street at Main Street (across from City Dock) 410-268-0212 Musical and theater performances every summer. telephone for schedule. Chesapeake Music Hall 339 Busch's Frontage Road 410-626-7515 Year round program of Broadway style musicals and comedies, as welll as Murder Mystery Dinner Theater, country line dancing and jazz nights. Colonial Players Theater 108 East Street 410-268-7373 Year round theater in a 180 seat theaterin the round setting. Five plays per year. Telephone for schedule. Annapolis Facts: Annapolis Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Annapolis Travel & Tourism, Free Annapolis Travel Guide Online Population: 33,187 Elevation: 16 feet Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time (same time as New York City). Daylight saving time: April-October. Weather: Average Temperatures: | Month | High | Low | | January | 44F | 25F | | February | 46F | 26F | | March | 54F | 33F | | April | 66F | 43F | | May | 76F | 53F | | June | 84F | 61F | | July | 87F | 66F | | August | 85F | 65F | | September | 79F | 58F | | October | 68F | 46F | | November | 57F | 34F | | December | 46F | 26F | When to Go Spring and Fall are ideal times to visit the capital region of Maryland. Seeing Annapolis from the water is a highlight of any visit. This is especially enjoyable in summer. Most attractions are open from April through October. Holidays New Year's Day Jan. 1 Martin Luther King, Jr., Day 3rd Mon. in Jan. President's Day 3rd Mon. in Feb. Memorial Day last Mon. in May; Independence Day July 4 Labor Day 1st Mon. in Sept. Thanksgiving Day 4th Thurs. in Nov. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dec. 24 and 25 New Year's Eve Dec. 31. Business Hours Banks are usually open weekdays 9 to 3 and some Saturday mornings. Post offices hours are usually from 8 to 5 weekdays and often on Saturday mornings. Shops in urban and suburban areas, particularly in indoor and small malls, typically open at 9 or 10 daily and stay open until anywhere from 6 to 10 PM on weekdays and Saturdays, and from noon until 5 or 6 on Sundays. Hours vary greatly, so call ahead when in doubt. Customs & Duties Arriving in the United States For information, contact the
U.S. Customs Service (inquiries, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20229, 202/354-1000. Electricity The U.S. electrical standard is 110 volts/60 cycles AC. International visitors traveling with dual-voltage appliances will not need a converter, but they will need a plug adapter. The standard U.S. electrical outlet takes a plug of two flat pins set parallel to one another. Emergencies Ambulance ( 911). Fire ( 911). Police ( 911). Area Code: The area codes in Annapolis are 410 and 443. Hospitals: Anne Arundel Medical Center is at Franklin and Cathedral streets (410/267-1000). Newspapers/Magazines: The local daily newspaper is the Annapolis Capital. The Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post are also widely available. The leading monthly magazine is Annapolis. Police: For non emergency police assistance, dial 311. For emergencies, dial 911 Post Office: T he main branch is at Church Circle and North West Street(410/263-9292). Open Monday through Friday from 8am to 6pm, Saturday from 8am to noon. Taxes: The local sales tax is 5%; the local hotel tax is an additional 7%. Transit Information: Call the Annapolis Department of Parking and Transportation (410/263-7964 on weekdays and 410/263-7994 on weekends). Getting There By Plane : Annapolis is served by
Baltimore-Washington International Airport (
800/I-FLY-BWI or 410/859-7111), located approximately 20 miles northwest of the city. Minibus transfer services between the airport and the major hotels of Annapolis and the Naval Academy are operated by
BWI Shuttle Express/Supershuttle (410/859-0800). Reservations are required at least 2 hours in advance. Transfer by taxi is more costly, but is direct with no stops. Contact
BWI Taxi Service at 410/859-1100. By Car From Baltimore and points north, take I-695 (the Baltimore beltway) to I-97 south and U.S. Route 50 east. Rowe Boulevard from U.S. Route 50 will take you into the city. From Washington, D.C., take U.S. Route 50 east off the Washington beltway (I-495) to Rowe Boulevard. It is best to walk the historic district because parking is difficult. You can also park at the Navy/Marine Corps Stadium (off Rowe Boulevard at Taylor Avenue) and ride the shuttle into the historic district. Shuttles depart every 15 minutes and run daily from May to mid-October from 6:30am to 8pm. From mid-October to May, they run Monday through Friday from 6:30am to 7pm. The shuttle is free on weekends and has a nominal cost during the week. By Bus Greyhound (
800/231-2222: offers service from the eastern seaboard. Buses depart from and arrive at the Navy/Marine Corps Stadium on Rowe Boulevard. Baltimore MTA (
410/539-5000) provides weekday service to and from Baltimore; buses stop at College Avenue by the State Buildings and the Navy/Marine Corps Stadium.
Dillon's Bus Service (
800/827-3490 or 410/647-2321) offers weekday direct service to and from Washington, D.C., with buses stopping at the Navy/Marine Corps Stadium, Harry S. Truman Park, and several other places downtown. Getting Around By Shuttle : For visitors and local residents, the Annapolis Department of Parking and Transportation (410/263-7964 on weekdays and 410/263-7994 on weekends) operates a shuttle-bus service between the historic/business district and the parking area of the Navy/Marine Corps Stadium. Shuttles operate May to mid-October daily from 6:30am to 8pm; mid-October to May, Monday through Friday from 6:30am to 7pm. Shuttles depart approximately every 15 minutes. By Water Taxi Annapolis has regular water taxi service in the summer months, operating from the City Dock to restaurants and other destinations along Spa and Back Creeks. It also functions as a regular taxi, and can be reserved for individual pick-up. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 9:30am to midnight, Friday from 9:30am to 1am, Saturday from 9am to 1am, and Sunday from 9am to midnight. By Car Parking : Much of he charm of Annapolis is its 18th-century style. Midtown Annapolis is very compact, with narrow streets; and parking in the historic district is limited. There is a park-and-ride lot accessible to public transportation. By Bus From Monday through Saturday, Annapolis Transit also runs commuter bus service from the historic district to other parts of the city such as the Annapolis Mall or Eastport. Buses run every half hour, starting at 5:30am and continuing to 7pm. Annapolis Kids Activities: Annapolis Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Annapolis Travel & Tourism, Free Annapolis Travel Guide OnlineChesapeake Marine Tours City Dock at the foot of Main Street 410-268-7600 Reservations required A variety of cruises are offered, weather permitting, aboard one of five vessels. Day on the Bay Cruise A 7.5 hour tour on the Annapolis II, passes local landmarks including the Naval Academy, a Victorian lighthouse and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum across the bay in the restored fishing village of St. Michaels. There is a 3 hour stop for lunch and sightseeing. Annapolis Harbor Tour A 40 minute cruise of Annapolis Harbor and the Severn River. Spa Creek Tour A 40 minute cruise of Annapolis harbor, past the US Naval Academy, and the residential areas of Spa Creek. 90 Minute Cruises Tour the Severn River, Chesapeake Bay bridges, or Thomas Point Lighthouse. Discover Annapolis Tours 26 West Street 410-626-6000 Daily: April-Nov.; Rest of the year: Sat., Sun. Telephone for departure hours Closed Jan. 1, Thanksgiving Day, and Dec. 25. A one hour narrated bus tour which introduces passengers to three centuries of local history, architecture, folklore, etc. The tours pass through residential areas, the waterfront, a section of the US Naval Academy, and around the State House and the governor's house. Hammond-Harwood House two blocks west of the State House at 19 Maryland Ave, off King George Street 410/263-4683 Mon–Sat 10–4, Sun noon–4. Closed Jan 1, Thanksgiving, and Dec 25 Admission Charged Built in 1774, this house is one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the United States. The warm redbrick Palladian villa, which consists of two symmetrical wings connected by a central hall, was built in 1774 to the designs of William Buckland. It is an outstanding example of the Maryland five-part plan that connects the central main section of the house by hyphens to semioctagonal wings. Famous for its center doorway of tall Ionic columns, the interior is a showcase of decorative arts and paintings, as well as ornamentation and wood carvings. The house is named for its original owners: Mathias Hammond, a Maryland member of the Provincial Assembly, and the Harwood family, who owned the house before it became a museum. A photo exhibit documents various aspects of the house from the 1920s to the present. Helen Avalynne Tawes Garden 580 Taylor Street at the Tawes State Office Building across from Navy Stadium Access on weekdays is through the State Office Building. Holiday access is between the Court of Appeals and the Department of Natural Resources buildings. 410-260-8189 Guided tours by reservation. A booklet is available for self-guided tours. Daily dawn-dusk. Free Admission. A five acre, barrier free botanical garden featuring representations of the state's natural environmental communities, from the forested mountains of western Maryland to the sand dunes of the Eastern Shore. Shallow ponds support wildlife such as bullfrogs, ducks, fish, songbirds, and turtles. Maryland State House State Circle 410/974-3400 Mon-Fri 9-5, Sat-Sun 10-4; tours daily 11am and 3pm Closed Jan 1, Thanksgiving, and Dec 25 Free admission Located in the center of Annapolis, this is the oldest U.S. capitol in continuous legislative use. It was built between 1772 and 1779. The building also served as the U.S. capitol from November 26, 1783, to August 13, 1784. Inside the Old Senate Chamber, George Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental armies at the end of the Revolutionary War. This was also the place in which the Treaty of Paris was signed in which England acknowledged the independence of their former colonies in this country. The dome of the building is made of cypress beams and is held together by wooden pegs. The State House contains exhibits that depict life in Annapolis in colonial times. There are free 30-minute guided tours at 11am and 3pm that emanate from the visitor center on the first floor. Also on the grounds of the State House is the cottage-sized Old Treasury Building, built in 1735 to hold colonial Maryland's currency reserves. 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