Taking It to the Road - Southern Maryland This Is Living Magazine

Taking It to the Road

Story by Danita Boonchaisri and Photography by Ed Mann

With sweeping views, miles of open road, historical sights, and waterside restaurants and parks, Southern Maryland's roadways provide never-ending opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Whether your cycling is pedal- or gas-powered, adventure awaits.

Just four miles outside Prince Frederick on Dares Beach Road, the scenery quickly changes from shopping centers and office buildings to a rural landscape of barns, cornfields, horse farms and fence-lined pastures. For Dave Lane, owner of Patuxent Adventure Center in Solomons, scenes like these are best observed on bicycles.

Lane recommends a 16-mile trek that begins in the heart of Prince Frederick and ends at the Chesapeake Bay. With winding roads and lighter, slower vehicle traffic, he calls it a perfect escape. "I like trips where you can get off the main road and find nicely paved streets with good shoulders," he said. In this part of Calvert County, the views aren't bad either.

The ride from Dares Beach Road to Wilson Road and onto Emmanuel Church Road takes bikers past the beautiful Emmanuel United Methodist Church, with its more than 100 years of history and a striking cemetery that beckons curious sightseers. After a right turn onto Plum Point Road and bearing north onto Route 261, there are a few challenging and fun hills on the straightaway that leads into the twin beach areas of Chesapeake Beach and North Beach - a perfect place to eat lunch, purchase a few baubles and stroll the boardwalk.

The course, which is mostly tree-lined and shady, also passes a number of Calvert County attractions that are ripe for side trips and exploration like the American Chestnut Land Trust, Breezy Point Park and the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum.

But this is only one of a number of quiet, tucked-away Southern Maryland routes that await bicyclists and motorcyclists.

Billy Robertson, owner of Robertson's Crab House in Pope's Creek, comes from a long line of watermen, but the experiences he's had on land riding his motorcycle on Southern Maryland's back roads provide some of his fondest memories.

"I really enjoy seeing the sights on a motorcycle," he said. "You can cruise at a slower pace and take in the scenery on a motorcycle. Sometimes we just let the traffic go by and explore the side roads in St. Mary's and Charles counties; there's really no particular route I like better than the others. There are so many beautiful places here." Robertson's wife, Candy, added, "Not only do we take wonderful trips through Southern Maryland on our motorcycle, but we also have the opportunity to stop along the way and eat at places we probably never would have heard about if it weren't for the ride."

As an avid outdoorsman, St. Mary's County resident Hans Welch is an enthusiastic biker as well, but he prefers the pedaled variety. He took up the sport several years ago as a way to stay in shape and has since become a dedicated club rider. "There are all different levels of bicyclers in Southern Maryland," he said. "Some people like to ride by themselves and I started out by myself but now ride several times a week with a group based in St. Mary's County. There are so many great places to ride here."

Welch rides about 100 miles per week, including longer weekend rides like the "Bridge to Bridge" that winds across the Thomas Johnson Bridge in Solomons, through St. Mary's and Charles counties and back into Calvert County via the Benedict Bridge, a 72-mile loop, all completed in one morning.

Serge Torres, owner of Serge Performance Cycles in Lexington Park, enjoys both bicycles and motorcycles. In fact, his shop specializes in servicing bicycles and motorcycles, and he sells bicycles and the associated gear. A former crew chief for a professional Harley-Davidson race team in Florida, Torres, like Welch, got into bicycling as a way to stay in shape.

"Most people get into cycling for health reasons," Torres said. "It's a good alternative to the gym. I've also discovered that it's not unusual to find cyclists who also have motorcycles. Southern Maryland is a nice rural place and both cycling and motorcycling are great ways to explore the area."

For those who are just starting out in the sport of bicycling, Torres recommends the Southern Maryland Bicycle Route map, which lays out itineraries in each county ranging from 11-mile jaunts to 58-mile loops. He and Welch also suggest clubs for those who want to get started in bicycling. "Club riding is especially good if you are new to the area and it gives you a way to meet people with different skill levels, learn how to ride safely and see the area while getting healthy," Torres said.

Welch said cycling is a great overall sport that can be enjoyed at any age. "We have a 70-year-old man in our club now who regularly beats me on our group rides," he said.

For additional help finding places to ride, the Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium offers unique driving itineraries for cyclists and motorcyclists including "Planters and Plantations" in St. Mary's County, "Savor Solomons" in Calvert County and the "Tobacco Trail" in Charles County. With driving directions, historical overviews, sightseeing stops, activities and even dining suggestions, the Southern Maryland Heritage Driving Tours guide is a must-have for anyone wanting a self-packaged motorcycling or biking tour.

Southern Maryland Trails, produced by the Southern Maryland Agricultural Commission, also includes numerous ideas for seeing local sights. From the "Fossils and Farmscapes Ramble" in Calvert County to "The Heron's Flight" in Charles County and the "Barnwood and Beach Glass Loop" in St. Mary's County, the Southern Maryland Trails book provides background information on the area; key stops along the way; and contact information for the shops, restaurants and attractions listed.

The book also contains useful maps and directions, insider information on Southern Maryland's history and the all-inclusive itineraries can be completed in a day on motorcycle or in segments over several weeks by cyclists. The research has already been done; all you need to do is follow the trail.

So what are you waiting for? Fall is a perfect time to venture out on two wheels and get an up close and intimate view of all that makes Southern Maryland special - at a slightly different pace.

Local contacts

For free trail guides and maps:

Southern Maryland Trails: www.somdtrails.com
Southern Maryland Bicycle and Heritage
Driving Tours: www.southernmdisfun.com

For accommodations, restaurants and key places to visit:

Calvert County Tourism: www.ecalvert.com
Charles County Tourism: www.visitcharlescounty.com
St. Mary's County Tourism: www.stmarysmd.com