If the prospect of getting away for a mini vacation this summer seems
daunting, why not try a local spot that's distinctive, quirky or just
plain luscious? Southern Maryland abounds in close-to-home getaways that
are perfect for recharging the mind, body and soul.
There's nothing quite like the experience of spending the night on the
water, by the water, in a living museum or in a quaint cottage with all
the attributes of a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale - complete with
resident cats and tree-lined walks. And while cookie-cutter chain hotels
have little ability to create a travel memory, there are a number of
places in Southern Maryland that offer an alternative to the ordinary.
The Brome-Howard Inn. There is nothing ordinary about this delightful
bed and breakfast. The inn serves as a beautiful bed and breakfast as
well as an exceptional fine dining restaurant, and an outstanding venue
to host a catered affair. Dr. John Mackall Brome built the home in the
1840s in Historic St. Mary's City. In 1994, in an effort to reconstruct
the original St. Mary's City, the 19th century house was moved to its
present location off of Rosecroft Road overlooking St. Mary's River. A
year later, Lisa and Mike Kelley visited the home (which was in great
despair) and saw the potential. The couple had the talent to make it
into the romantic retreat it is today. Room amenities include:
fireplaces, private baths, featherbeds, down comforters, CD player clock
radios, TV/VCR, beverage-stocked mini refrigerators, telephones, coffee
makers and hair dryers - so you won't miss any luxuries! As a bonus you
will dine at one of Southern Maryland's finest restaurants. It's
definitely worth making the scenic ride to this lovely destination.
You'll be back again and again.
Woodlawn Historic Bed & Breakfast is another wonderful bed and breakfast
located on the southern tip of St. Mary's County a couple miles from
Route 5 in Ridge. Woodlawn is rich in history, dating back to the 18th
century. Lovingly restored over many decades, the National Trust for
Historic Preservation named Woodlawn its grand prize winner of the
"Great American Home Awards" in 1990. Originally the residence of
Leonard Calvert, the first governor of Maryland, the property boasts
original woodwork, lush damask bed linens, oriental carpets, period
furniture and artwork, and a breathtaking view of the Potomac River from
nearly every room.
With its long, wood-lined drive leading up to the 1798 neo-classical
style manor house, arriving at Woodlawn evokes images of Southern
Maryland as it may have looked hundreds of years ago and a stay promises
to transport guests back to an era of simplicity and elegance. Jim Grube,
proprietor of Woodlawn, said that guests come to the property for the
historic experience. "We allow people to step back in time while
maintaining all the comforts of modern life," he said. "There's a
special ambiance here and with a mile of waterfront and 180 acres, there
are very few chain hotels that can compete with that."
The Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa offers its guests a modern waterside
retreat complete with an indoor pool, salon and spa, whirlpool rooms,
fitness center, sauna, a full-service waterfront restaurant and access
to some of the best charter boat fishing on the Chesapeake Bay. Only a
few years old, the Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa has the feeling of
bygone days with an emphasis on the lore of fishing that has been a
fixture in this bayfront town since the turn of the century. On the
grounds, visitors can tour the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum, which
chronicles the town's early days as a destination for Washington, D.C.,
tourists who visited to escape the summer heat in the early 1900s.
Today, the resort caters to discerning guests for weddings, romantic
weekends or a day of pampering topped off by an overnight stay with a
room overlooking the Chesapeake Bay.
Boat and Breakfast. Some may prefer a floating sanctuary aboard a
private yacht. Arban Yacht Charters of Solomons has been plying the
Chesapeake Bay with guests for four years aboard La Bella Vita,
providing an exclusive B&B or "boat and breakfast" experience. With rich
mahogany and teakwood interiors, private baths and world-class service,
the 65-foot yacht was formerly owned by the CEO of Coca-Cola. Guests
enjoy all the perks of a first-class sailing vessel in three private
cabins without the work or worry of owning a yacht.
Owner John Arban said a stay aboard the yacht provides a lasting memory,
something not offered by run-of-the-mill hotels. "We provide our guests
with a great personal experience versus a commercial experience," he
said. "They are treated individually and since we only have three rooms,
we can cater to whatever they want to do. We can take them crabbing, to
dinner at a waterside restaurant on the Eastern Shore or we can just sit
at the pier and watch the boats go by."
Brictoria Cottage. For those who want to be close to the bustle, but
secluded from it at the same time, Brictoria Cottage is the answer.
Tucked in the woods on the Charles and St. Mary's County border in
Charlotte Hall, Brictoria is a woodland oasis with all the comforts of
home. Cottage keepers Bob and Sharon Fastnaught have created a forest
retreat that brings to mind scenes from a fairyland story, complete with
cats and a cobblestone-bordered shade garden. The house was originally
built for Sharon Fastnaught's parents. "It's extremely private and a
complete house with kitchen, living area, loft and bedroom. I just love
it here; in fact, I never want to leave and that's the type of
experience we want to create for our guests."
Camping. For those who prefer a back-to-nature getaway, there are a
number of campgrounds and parks scattered throughout Southern Maryland.
Small-wood State Park in Charles County, Breezy Point in Calvert County
and Point Lookout in St. Mary's County offer outdoor camping experiences
from spring through fall.
Camp Merryelande Cottages - a former Catholic school girls' camp turned
swingers' club turned family campground in 1984 - is a 25-acre site that
includes valet tents, private camping areas and small rental cottages,
all perched on the shores of the Potomac River. A valet tent is a large,
four-person tent that is semi-permanently set up for you by the staff at
the campgrounds. They are staked in and mounted on a slightly raised
surface and stay up throughout the season so people can just show up and
"move in." They also come with air beds.
With a fishing pier, kayak rentals and the camaraderie of a camp
community, this beachfront campground on St. George Island in St. Mary's
County is an economical way to truly get away from it all. "There's
nothing quite like falling asleep to the sound of the waves. And on a
clear night, the stars are amazing out here," said Camp Merryelande
caretaker Brian Donnelly.
LOCAL GETAWAYS!
Calvert County
Arban Yacht Charters, Solomons
443-404-1559 or
www.arbanyachtcharters.com
Back Creek Inn Bed & Breakfast, Solomons
410-326-2022 or
www.backcreekinnbnb.com
Blue Heron Bed & Breakfast, Solomons
410-326-2707 or
www.blueheronbandb.com
Breezy Point Cabins, Chesapeake Beach
410-535-0259 or
www.breezypointmarina.com
Chesapeake Beach Resort & Spa, Chesapeake Beach
866-312-5596 or
www.chesapeakebeachresortspa.com
The Cliff House, Prince Frederick
410-535-4839 or
www.bbonline.com/md/cliffhouse
Locust Inn Rooms, Solomons
410-326-9817 or www.mdinns.com
Matoaka Beach Cabins, St. Leonard
410-586-0269 or
www.matoakabeachcabins.com
Open Gates Farm Bed & Breakfast, Huntingtown
301-812-0209 or
www.opengatesfarm.com
Solomons Victorian Inn, Solomons
410-326-4811 or
www.solomonsvictorianinn.com
Charles County
Aqua-Land Campgrounds, Newburg, 301-259-2575
Brictoria Cottage, Charlotte Hall
301-884-8699 or
www.brictoriacottage.com
Goose Bay Marina & Campgrounds, Welcome
301-934-3812 or
www.goosebaymarina.com
Linden, La Plata, 301-934-9003
Part of Plenty, La Plata
800-520-0708 or
www.partofplenty.com
Shady Oaks of Serenity, Bryantown, 301-932-8864
Smallwood State Park, Marbury, 301-743-7613 or
www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/southern/smallwood.html
St. Mary's County
Bard's Field Bed & Breakfast, Ridge, 301-872-5989
Brome-Howard Inn, St. Mary's City
301-866-0656 or
www.bromehowardinn.com
Camp Merryelande Vacation Cottages, St. George Island, 800-382-1073 or
www.campmd.com
Colton's Shipping Point Farm, Avenue
301-769-4359 or
www.ColtonShippingPointFarm.com
La Grande RV and Camping Resort, Leonardtown
301-475-8550 or
www.lagranderesort.com
Nekadesh Farm Bed & Breakfast, Colton's Point
301-769-4333 or
www.nekadeshfarm.com
Point Lookout State Park, Scotland, 301-872-5688 or
www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/southern/pointlookout.html
St. Mary's Yachting Center & Campground, Drayden
301-994-2288 or www.stmyc.com
St. Michael's Manor Bed & Breakfast, Scotland
301-872-4025 or
www.stmichaels-manor.com
Take It Easy Campground, Callaway, 301-994-0494 or
www.takeiteasycampground.com
The Victorian Candle, Hollywood
301-373-8800 or
www.victorian-candle.com
Woodlawn Bed & Breakfast, Ridge
301-872-0555 or
www.woodlawn-farm.com |
