Experience Annapolis, Md., without the crowds
By WP BrandStudio
The historic city has taken steps to reduce crowding, from restaurants to the waterfront, to help ensure safe and stress-free fall visits.
The hallmarks of autumn—colorful foliage, crisp air—still make hitting the road desirable for Americans, more than half of whom are equally or more likely to travel this fall compared to previous years. But this time around, travel will be about more than just adventure and escape. About a third of U.S. tourists said their destination must be uncrowded, and they’re not willing to compromise on safety.
That means attractions and activity providers will have to “make it easy for [visitors] to social distance,” said Nancy McGehee, head of the Hospitality and Tourism Management graduate program at Virginia Tech Falls Church.
Annapolis, Md., fits the bill, especially for people in the D.C. area, which is just 45 minutes outside of the city. The area’s historic waterfront setting and open-air activities let travelers relax and feel transported away from their everyday lives, largely because locals and businesses have been making consistent efforts to limit crowds and protect each other’s safety.
One such business is Schooner Woodwind Annapolis Sailing Cruises, which offers public and private cruises into the Chesapeake Bay aboard replicas of 18th-century wooden schooners. The family-owned business has been sailing from Annapolis since 1993, but according to captain Jennifer Kaye, the team has adapted to meet the moment. New safety protocols include mask-wearing until the sails go up, contactless beverage service (including local craft beers) and frequent sanitizing of boat surfaces. To make social distancing easier, boats are operating at reduced capacity and feature clearly marked two- , four-, and six-person zones that are each six feet apart. According to Kaye, the safety measures have actually enhanced the experience for guests.
“They’re really enjoying much more space on board,” she said.
Guests who want even more room can reserve zones just for themselves, like the area at the bow of the ship with unobstructed views of the water. They can also get an inside perspective on local maritime culture by joining specialty cruises this fall, including the classic wooden boat regatta, and a cruise to several lighthouses accompanied by an expert on Chesapeake lighthouse history. Depending on the time of day, guests on any given cruise might see an osprey catching fish or witness a spectacular sunset, according to Kaye.
Visitors can also experience Annapolis during walking tours with Watermark, a local company that “celebrates the history, culture and fun of the Chesapeake area,” according to owner Debbie Gosselin. The Historic Ghost tour in October, for example, is an evening walk by candlelight featuring tales of haunted Annapolis buildings. Other tours explore the city’s architecture or colonial-era historic district, and guests can expect enthusiastic guides in period dress with thorough knowledge of Annapolis’s past and present.
After a tour, whether it be on water or on land, travelers can stroll to the iconic City Dock to watch boats bobbing in the harbor. Nearby is the city’s walkable Main Street and historic district, including State Circle and the Maryland State House—the oldest state house in continuous legislative use and once the nation’s capitol, according to Carrie Kiewitt, the senior vice president for membership, communications and engagement at Historic Annapolis. It’s also where George Washington resigned his commission from the continental army and the Treaty of Paris was ratified, officially ending the Revolutionary War. While the building is currently closed to visitors, the grounds are open and “it’s a beautiful place to walk around and take in the history from the outside,” said Kiewitt. Before visiting, travelers can download a brochure with information on monuments, memorials and plaques both inside and outside the State House. Face coverings are required around the grounds when social distancing isn’t possible.
Continuing on foot toward Main Street, visitors can consider the fact that “if George Washington or Thomas Jefferson were to come back today, they would recognize much of the town,” Kiewitt said. “It’s still laid out exactly as it was when they were here.”
Main Street itself is lined with restaurants, including Red Red Wine Bar, which serves dozens of wines by the glass and more than 100 by the bottle, as well as food—the crab melt sandwich with cheddar and smoked bacon is a crowd favorite. Just next door is Dry 85, which specializes in bourbon and gourmet comfort food, like the fried chicken sandwich with chipotle mayo, and the warm skirt steak salad with goat cheese croutons. Both concepts are owned by Brian Bolter, who spearheaded efforts to limit car traffic around the city to allow for expanded, outdoor restaurant seating. That had never been done before in Annapolis’s historic downtown, but Bolter felt strongly that the measure would be essential to local restaurants’ survival.
“Throughout Annapolis now, because of us pushing this idea and getting it passed [by city government], there are lots of pockets of street dining, seven days a week,” he said.
Main Street and others, such as West Street and Maryland Avenue, are included in Annapolis’s new “Recovery Zones,” or areas where road closures allow for outdoor dining on different days and at different times. Diners should check the Visit Annapolis website for updates before heading out for a meal, and consider meandering from one zone to another for various happenings, like live music or outdoor art classes. Among the city’s numerous eateries are Chick and Ruth’s Delly, a landmark since 1965, known for its jumbo lump crab cakes. Reynolds Tavern, the city’s oldest tavern, features an original 1737 stairwell and an outdoor beer garden serving Maryland craft brews and casual pub fare, like shepherd’s pie and fish and chips.
Main street also boasts ample shops and bars, which are open with limited capacity, allowing visitors to enjoy quaint local spots while remaining distant from others. Indoor gatherings at restaurants and bars are limited to 25 people and must stop at 10 p.m., while outdoor gatherings are being capped at 50 people. Retail stores have limited customer capacity to 50 percent of normal, and shoppers and employees are required to wear face coverings. Kiewitt notes that many shops on Main Street are inside repurposed historic buildings, often flanked by more modern architecture.
“Take some time to look up at the buildings,” she advised. “It is pretty spectacular, because you can see that range of architecture over the centuries.”
The city’s cozy dining, shopping scenes and compact size are part of its charm: Bolter appreciates that Annapolis provides “an escape from the hustle and bustle of big cities.” While that may be true no matter the circumstances, Annapolis feels especially escape-worthy now, as people seek a break from “the new normal”—but a safe one. Amid the crowd-free streets, said Kaye, “there are nooks and crannies to find and call your own.”
Learn more about visiting Annapolis, Maryland
Source List:
https://www.ustravel.org/sites/default/files/media_root/document/
https://www.destinationanalysts.com/insights-updates/
https://www.schoonerwoodwind.com/
https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdstatehouse/html/about.html
https://www.annapolis.org/contact/william-paca-house-garden
https://www.visitannapolis.org/discover/articles/shop-and-dine-under-the-stars