DORCHESTER COUNTY & CAMBRIDGE

V I S I T O R G U I D E

DORCHESTER COUNTY &

C A M B R I D G E HEART OF THE CHESAPEAKE

Dorchester County, Maryland

TourDorchester.org 800.522.TOUR

START HERE.With its sail soaring 100 feet in the air, the Dorchester County Visitors Center is easy to find. Come for information about the area, exhibits, restrooms, a playground overlooking the river, and a boardwalk. Open daily, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. at 2 Rose Hill Place in Cambridge, near the Malkus Bridge over the Choptank River. Also visit us online at TourDorchester.org.

Welcome!

INSIDE

Fun on the Water 4 Outdoor Adventure 6 History & Culture 8 Homegrown Goodness 12

Look for this symbol for free guides. To order guides, email [email protected] or download them from TourDorchester.org.

FREE GUIDESv

In Dorchester County on Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay, delight in beautiful views of the water. Go on an outdoor adventure and savor fresh seafood. Discover the legends who lived here, and enjoy our Eastern Shore charm. We think you’ll find a lot to love in the Heart of the Chesapeake.


Hoopers Island

Explore Our Towns 14 Things to Do 16 Lodging & Dining 18 Map 22

JOIN A PUBLIC SAIL OR CRUISENo boat? No problem. Join a sail on the skipjack Nathan of Dorchester, a traditional oystering vessel. Or try dinner on a paddlewheeler, a sunset cruise on a converted workboat, or a tour of area Chesapeake Bay light-houses. See more at TourDorchester.org (click on “Outdoors”).

VISIT A LIGHTHOUSEOffering beautiful views at Long Wharf in Cambridge, the Choptank River Lighthouse (pictured on the cover) is a replica of a historic structure. It’s open for visits with a mini-museum. You can also see Hoopers Island Light-house, which is undergoing restoration, three miles off the western edge of Middle Hooper Island.

LOTS TO EXPLORE With more than 1,700 miles of shoreline—more than any other Maryland county—Dorchester offers a range of beautiful waterways to discover, from the mighty Chesapeake Bay to meandering creeks.

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Fun on the Water

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BRING YOUR BOATDorchester County offers more than a dozen marinas and 20 free boat ramps. The largest marina is the Municipal Yacht Basin in Cambridge; it’s a short walk from the historic downtown. See a list of marinas at TourDorchester.org.

FIND THE BEST FISHING SPOTSAnglers find rockfish, croaker, white perch, and more in our waters. For fishing charters and info, go to TourDorchester.org.

PADDLE THROUGH BEAUTYWith pristine waterways and dramatic marshland, Dorchester offers great paddling, whether you’re steering a kayak, a canoe, or a stand-up paddleboard. For outfitters, go to TourDorchester.org.

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v BOATING & WATER TRAILS GUIDE

v BOATING & WATER TRAILS GUIDE


Sailing on the Choptank River

CYCLE ON FLAT, QUIET ROADSFlat terrain, quiet roads, and spectacular scenery make for terrific bicycling throughout the county. A growing number of cycling events and triathlons draw thousands each year, but cyclists of all ages and skill levels enjoy the ride. Bring your own bicycle or rent one here. Our cycling guide includes suggested rides from five to 80 miles. Visit TourDorchester.org for details.

WATCH THE BIRDSHome to a major stop on the Atlantic Flyway, Dorchester is host to more than 250 species of birds, including bald eagles (Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge has one of the nation’s largest breeding populations), ospreys, hawks, herons, egrets, and 20 species of ducks.

v CYCLING GUIDE

v BIRDING GUIDE

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‘NATURE ON THE THRONE OF HER GLORY’ That’s what Time magazine called Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. No wonder. The refuge’s 27,000 acres offer stunning vistas and incredible sunsets, as well as excellent cycling, paddling, and birdwatching. Eagles, herons, egrets, and endangered Delmarva fox squirrels all make their homes here.

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

Outdoor Adventure

SWING A GOLF CLUBDorchester’s golf courses include River Marsh at the Hyatt, which made Golf Magazine’s list of the 10 best public golf courses in Maryland.

GO HUNTINGFor hunters, there’s duck, goose, turkey, and white-tailed and sika deer. See a list of outfitters at TourDorchester.org.

FIND FARM FUNDorchester’s farms mean fun. Pick your own strawberries or pumpkins. Try the corn maze. Bring your group for a tour of a bison farm. Or go behind the scenes at the winery.


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Layton’s Chance Winery

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WALK IN TUBMAN’S FOOTSTEPSUnderground Railroad “conductor” Harriet Tubman was born and grew up in Dorchester County. It was from here that she escaped from slavery in 1849. She returned more than a dozen times to lead others to freedom through a secret network of people, places, and routes known as the Underground Railroad.

To experience the Tubman story, take the self-guided driving tour along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway. Highlights include the Harriet Tubman Museum and Education Center and the Bucktown Village Store.

Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument

v TUBMAN BYWAY MAP & GUIDE

v TUBMAN BYWAY AUDIO GUIDE

DORCHESTER’S HEROINESSome remarkable heroines have called Dorchester County home, including famed Under-ground Railroad “conductor” Harriet Tubman, sharpshooter Annie Oakley, and 19th-century political pioneer Anna Ella Carroll, the secret member of President Lincoln’s cabinet who provided military strategy during the Civil War.

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History & CultureP

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Bucktown Village Store

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In 2013, President Obama designated Dorchester lands as the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument. Future plans include a state park and visitor center near Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.


DISCOVER CAPTIVATING MUSEUMS AND HISTORIC SITESEstablished in 1669, Dorchester is one of Maryland’s oldest counties. Over the past few hundred years, the lands here have been an agricultural, seafood, and canning powerhouse; a hub for boatbuilding; and home to thriving communities of Native Americans, African Americans, and colonial settlers.

Discover the stories through Dorchester’s museums and historic sites, including the 1760 Meredith House, a one-room schoolhouse, one of the oldest Episcopal churches around, and a Native American longhouse. Find out more at TourDorchester.org (click on “Heritage”) or pick up the series of Heritage Trails guides at the Visitor Center.

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History & Culture

v DORCHESTER HERITAGE TRAILS GUIDES

Choptank Heritage Skipjack Race

OF TALL SHIPS AND SKIPJACKSWe celebrate our maritime heritage throughout the year with a race of skipjacks (Maryland’s state boat) in September, the Tall Ship Schooner Rendezvous in October, and sails all season on the Nathan of Dorchester skipjack. And you’ll often see watermen heading in to harbor with their catch. Learn more about our maritime history at Ruark Boatworks and the Richardson Maritime Museum.


Handsell historic homePAGE 11

From seafood to produce to wineBe sure to enjoy the local bounty while you’re in Dorchester County. We’re known for our fresh and delicious Maryland blue crabs, oysters, and rockfish. Our local farmers bring us everything from sweet corn and tomatoes to wine and bison.

Enjoy the local tastes by dining out, by stopping at a produce stand, or by coming to an event such as the Seafood Feast-I-val, the Taste of Cambridge Crab Cook-Off, or the strawberry, peach, and apple festivals.

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Vintage sign artist Kevin Davidson, Country Store Gallery, Cambridge

Layton’s Chance Winery, Vienna

Local tomatoes

Sample Dorchester’s Homegrown Goodness

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Vintage sign artist Kevin Davidson, Country Store Gallery, Cambridge

Local tomatoes

Sample Dorchester’s Homegrown Goodness

Locally grown watermelon

Waterman with Maryland blue crabs

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Realerevival Brewing

TAKE A TOUREnjoy walking tours in historic communities, driving tours to quaint waterfront villages and islands, and tours by boat—all in the Heart of the Chesapeake. Tour themes range from watermen and crabbing to Harriet Tubman to historic churches. For details, go to TourDorchester.org and click on Tours. Tour guides are available to help you plan your itinerary; call 800.522.TOUR for details.

EXPLORE CHARMING TOWNSDorchester County is home to some wonderful towns that are great for scenic drives or leisurely exploration.

Cambridge: The county seat, Cambridge has the largest concentration of restaurants, shops, and galleries. Don’t miss the historic downtown, which is in the midst of an exciting renaissance.

Church Creek: Home to the 17th-century Old Trinity Church; many houses date back to the 1700s.

East New Market: The town’s entire historic district is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Hoopers Island: You’ll find working watermen villages and places for sport fishing.

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Explore Our Towns

Hurlock: The town is known for its railroading heritage and historic train station.

Secretary: Founded in 1661, the town was named in honor of the secretary of the Province of Maryland, Henry Sewall.

Taylors Island: This historic community has distinctive homes, schoolhouses, and churches on the National Historic Register.

Vienna: Explored by Captain John Smith in 1608, Vienna is one of Maryland’s oldest colonial settlements. Its lovely waterfront park is flanked by historic homes.

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Vienna waterfront

GROUP TOURSDorchester County welcomes all kinds of groups, from meet-ings to family reunions to day trippers. Bring your group on a paddlewheeler cruise, to a bison farm or winery, to the annual Seafood Feast-I-Val (a Top 100 American Bus Associa-tion event), and more. Find out more at 800.522.TOUR.


Elliott Island Road

A FULL CALENDARFrom Taste of Cambridge (with a crab-picking contest and a crab cook-off) to the National Outdoor Show (with muskrat skinning championships and the Miss Outdoors pageant), Dorchester comes together for fun events all year long. See our free events guide, or go to TourDorchester.org.

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Things to Do

FIND ONE-OF-A-KIND TREASURESIn Dorchester’s antique stores, boutiques, and country stores, you’ll find treasures old and new, traditional and contemporary. Many of our small businesses are independently owned and offer one-of-a-kind items created by area artists and artisans—not to mention old-fashioned, friendly customer service.

ENJOY ARTS AND MUSICThere’s a vibrant community of creative folks in Dorchester County. Browse art galleries featuring work from contemporary multimedia to folk art to traditional Chesapeake landscapes. Every weekend offers up live music or entertainment in downtown Cambridge. For the latest, visit CambridgeMainStreet.com.

v DORCHESTER EVENTS GUIDE

Downtown Cambridge PAGE 17


Taste of Cambridge

WHERE TO STAYWith its natural beauty and friendly pace of life, Dorchester County makes a great getaway. You’ll find cozy bed and breakfasts, a four-diamond waterfront resort, hotels, campgrounds, and vacation rentals. For full descriptions, visit TourDorchester.org.

HOTELS & RESORTS Best Value Inn2831 Ocean Gateway, Cambridge; 410.221.0800; americasbestvalueinn.comReasonable rates.

Comfort Inn & Suites2936 Ocean Gateway, Cambridge; 410.901.0926; comfortinn.com Free breakfast, wifi. Indoor pool, fitness room.

Days Inn & Suites2917 Ocean Gateway, Cambridge; 888.735.2980; daysinn.com Free breakfast, wifi. Indoor pool.

Holiday Inn Express2715 Ocean Gaterway, Cambridge; 410.221.9900; ihg.comFree breakfast, wifi. Indoor pool, fitness room. Event facilities available.

Lodging & Dining

Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort

SPECIAL DEALS: Find deals on lodging, dining, and more at TourDorchester.org.

Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort100 Heron Blvd., Cambridge; 410.901.1234; chesapeakebay.hyatt.comA four-diamond resort on 400 acres on the Choptank River with marina, golf course, and spa. Maryland Green Travel Partner.

BED & BREAKFASTS Cambridge House Bed & Breakfast112 High St., Cambridge; 410.221.7700; cambridge housebandb.comFormer sea captain’s manor close to marina, downtown. Eco-friendly.

Island House B & B513 Taylors Island Rd., Taylors Island; 410.228.2184Quiet B&B with access to boating, paddling, fishing, cycling. About 17 miles from Cambridge.

Killarney B Inn B102 Killarney Road Cambridge; 410.901.9899; killarneybinnb.com Along the shores of the Choptank River.

Kindred Spirits Family Massage & Cottage Retreat102 Hiawatha Rd., Cambridge; 410.221.7575; kindredspiritscottage retreat.com Private, peaceful atmosphere plus holistic health services.

Lodgecliffe on the Choptank103 Choptank Terrace, Cambridge; 410.228.1760; lodgecliffe.com Serene setting with spectacular views of the Choptank River. Maryland Green Travel Partner.

Mill Street Inn114 Mill St., Cambridge; 410.901.9144; millstinn.com Queen Anne Victorian in the heart of the historic district; one block from the Choptank River and public marina.

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Mill Street Inn


Lodging & Dining

Marvels on the Creek Bed & Breakfast6230 Beverly Road, East New Market; 410.943.4723; marvelsonthecreek.com Country living on Cabin Creek, about 10 miles from Cambridge.

The Tavern House111 Water St., Vienna; 410.376.3347; tavernhouse.com On the banks of the Nanticoke River in a 300-year-old small town. About 15 miles from Cambridge.

Victoria Gardens Inn Bed & Breakfast101 Oakley St., Cambridge; 410.901.2292; victoriagardensinn.com Restored Victorian in the historic district with views of the Choptank River.

CAMPGROUNDS Madison Bay Campground4814 Canning House Rd., Madison; 410.228.1108 Campsites, boat slips, showers, restaurant. About 12 miles from Cambridge.

Taylor’s Island Family Campground4362 Bay Shore Rd., Taylors Island; 410.397.3275On the Chesapeake Bay. Camp and RV sites, store, laundry, bath houses. About 20 miles from Cambridge.

VACATION RENTALS Dorchester County offers a range of vacation homes for rental. For a listing, go to TourDorchester.org and click on “Lodging.”

Jimmie & Sook’s Raw Bar and Grill

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WHERE TO WINE & DINEDorchester County is known for its fresh, delicious local sea-food, especially crabs, oysters, and rockfish. We’re home to several waterside restaurants, some accessible by land and by boat. Discover both down-home meals and sophisticated cuisine tucked away in our friendly restaurants. Our restaurants’ crab cakes have garnered raves in Southern Living and USA Today. Sip on locally produced wine at our winery and craft brews at our brewery.

Browse descriptions of the dining options in our free Dorchester Dining Guide. View it online at TourDorchester.org (click on “Dining”) or pick one up at the Visitor Center.

v DORCHESTER DINING GUIDE

Published by Dorchester County Tourism, 2 Rose Hill Place, Cambridge, MD 21613. TourDorchester.org. 800.522.TOUR, 410.228.1000. Uncredited photos courtesy of Dorchester County Tourism. Designed by Jill Jasuta, [email protected]. Printed by Economy Printing. © Dorchester County Tourism

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DORCHESTER COUNTY & CAMBRIDGE

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