We went to the Bay Bridge Boat Show in Stevensville, MD. It is only about 1.5 hours from Washington DC. When we grew up with my dad working at the Pentagon, it was our go-to for a day trip or weekend vacation. If you live there, you are surrounded by the Chesapeake Bay with most homes being on the water or within a half mile. Coming back for the boat show brought back many fond memories of family vacations.
We have moved to southern Virginia to a waterfront community, so we have been considering whether we want to get a boat to enjoy the Chesapeake. Our trip to the boat show was to help us figure out what kind of boat we want. There are two types of boat shows – one has boats with motors and the other has boats with sails. We wanted to see the boats with motors. I’m always a bit of an early buyer of electronics, and boats to me are just a big package of electronics that float on the water. Cars are going electric so I figure boats will do the same. I wanted to see if the boat industry was going in the same direction – that is, from gas to electric.
It was really easy to buy tickets online for the boat show, at https://www.annapolisboatshows.com/bay-bridge-boat-show. They email the electronic tickets to you and also text them to you, so it’s hard to go wrong. The tickets were $20 each and parking was $5. There were easily a couple hundred different boats to see. It’s interesting how many of the boats look the same, not unlike cars, where many brands have vehicles that are the same shape and style. I’m glad I left my checkbook at home, boating is an expensive hobby. There were many more accessory vendors there than boat vendors. Do you want foldable bikes to take on your boat, a hammock, special floors, insurance? The number of options seemed endless.
Just like any good show, you will find any number of food options. You may want to take advantage of eating there, because this time of year every restaurant on the island has a two hour wait. I had a chance to talk with a few of the boat show attendees – I wanted to find out about the experience of boating life. All told me the happiest day of their life was when they purchased their boat, and the second happiest day was when they sold their boat. I will say hearing all of this gives me pause in the idea of purchasing a boat. Maybe I will just rent a boat a couple of times a year to take my family out on the Chesapeake.
We stayed at the SpringHill Suites in Annapolis (189 Admiral Cochrane Dr, Annapolis, MD 21401, 443-321-2500). Our room slept 6 with a kitchenette, plus the hotel had free breakfast and an indoor pool. There are hundreds of restaurants within a couple miles. Previously, we had stayed near the boat show in Stevensville, just across the Bay Bridge. While that is a nice option, the dining and hotels there are very limited. It is worth the extra 30 minutes of driving to be able to stay in Annapolis and drive across the Bay Bridge for the boat show.
We spent a day walking around historic Annapolis. Our first stop was at the Visitors Center (https://www.visitannapolis.org/plan/visitors-center, 26 West St, Annapolis, MD 410-280-0445). Very helpful folks that can give you good advice on how to spend your tourist day. If you want to visit the State House, here is the website: https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdstatehouse/html/visitor.html
Old Annapolis is a very compact town and very walkable. All the brick roads and narrow streets give you the real feel of colonial living. I also picked up on the “hippy” vibe of the city – there are dozens of art, book, vintage record and vintage clothing shops. If you want something different from typical suburban shopping, you will find it in Annapolis. There are several homes that have been turned into museums and are worth a visit, if historical piques your interest. If you would like to tour the Naval Academy, visit this website here: https://navalacademytourism.com/tours
Dining Options
Double T Diner Address: 12 Defense St, Annapolis, MD 21401 Phone: 410-571-9070 Website: doubletdiner.com
Mikes Restaurant and Crab House
We got there at 3:30pm on a Friday. I thought it would be a bit of a down time and that the lines would be short. They said 45 min. wait, so we went out on the deck to the waterside bar and immediately got seats. The menu was more limited there, but enough so we could have some calamari, coconut shrimp appetizers, steak and salmon entrees. The outside view of the South River is worth the whole meal. If you like eating on the water, this is the place.
Address: 3030 Riva Rd, Riva, MD 21140
Phone: 410-956-2784
Website:mikescrabhouse.com
Pho 5UP
Everyone loves Vietnamese food – fresh, light and tasty. We like the summer rolls with peanut sauce and the egg rolls. For a refreshing drink, try the various teas with Boba or a Vietnamese Iced Coffee. I especially like the PHO Soups. These are Vietnamese beef soups that you can customize with various vegetables and sweet, sour and hot sauces. I like mine with everything.
Address: 2625 Riva Rd, Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: 410-224-6000
Website: pho5up.com
Carrols Creek Café
Some very tasty appetizers are oysters and clam chowder. My wife, Liz, had a Greek Salad with seafood and I had a steak. For dessert bread pudding with coffee ice cream. It had a picturesque view overlooking the marina. We sat on the deck and watched the ships go through when they raised the bridge. Address: 410 Severn Ave, Annapolis, MD 21403 Phone: 410-263-8102 Website: carrolscreek.com
Yellowfin Steak & Fish House
The portions are large, and so are the prices. Very fresh seafood appetizers – calamari and shrimp. I had lamb ribs, my wife had crab cakes and sweet potato fries, my son Matt had seafood linguine and my daughter-in-law Kate had Chicken Marsala. Address: 2840 Solomons Island Rd, Edgewater, MD 21037 Phone: 410-573-1333 Website: yellowfinedgewater.com
Things to do
Third Eye Comics Store
Wow – old school retail. From the moment you step in you will be mesmerized by the selection. The staff is very knowledgeable about comics, games, toys and associated media. Worth the visit, especially if you have some younger folks in your family. Address: 209 Chinquapin Round Rd, Suite 200, Annapolis, MD 21401 Phone: 410-897-0322 Website: thirdeyecomics.com
Boat Rentals & Sailing Classes
Carr Creek Marina – Annapolis MWR Carr Creek Marina rents canoes, kayaks, powerboats (15′-21′), sailboats (12′, 22′, 24′, 25′), and stand-up paddle boards (half day, full day, weekend, or weekly rental). Reservations must be made 5 days in advance. Sailing lessons start Memorial Day Weekend and run through Labor Day. Details, fees and rules can be found on the MWR websites listed below! Address: 338 Halligan Rd, Annapolis, MD 21402 Phone: 410-293-3731 Boat Rental: https://www.navymwrannapolis.com/programs/5a2eb0e7-49d2-4f10-a1b5-f4f76411d85e Sailing & Boating Classes: https://www.navymwrannapolis.com/programs/b8c2b86f-4b0a-479c-aa6d-7f7d4a0a7a03 Carr Creek Marina & Mill Creek Pier: https://www.navymwrannapolis.com/programs/f3bcb3aa-35fe-4c74-869f-ba906510c753
Military Lodging/Camping Options
Navy Lodge – Annapolis Naval Support Activity Address: 347 Kinkaid Road, Annapolis, MD 21402. Phone: C-1-800-NAVY-INN, C-410-757-7900, Fax C-410-757-9394. Reservation Website: https://www.navy-lodge.com/annapolis
Navy Getaways Annapolis at the US Naval Academy
Address: 2 Truxtun Road, Annapolis, MD 21402. Phone: C-1-877-NAVY-BED, C-410-293-3906, DSN-312-281-3906, Fax C-410-293-2444. Reservation Website: http://get.dodlodging.net/propertys/annapolis More Info Website: https://www.navymwrannapolis.com/programs/a58036d6-2bc8-4c32-a62e-cd5a86b60269
A hotel with 16 one-bedroom suites – Standard Suites, Deluxe Suites, Pet Friendly Suites, Grand Suite available. Hotel/Suite Check-In is at Building 2 at the US. Naval Academy. Address for Building 2 is 2 Truxtun Rd, Annapolis MD 21402.
Annapolis Campground at Annapolis Naval Support Activity
Address: Check-in: Community Recreation Center, Bldg. 46, 46 Bennion Road. Annapolis, MD 21402. After-house check-in at Site 11 Camp Host. Phone: C-410-293-3906, C-1-877-NAVY-BED. Reservation Website: https://get.dodlodging.net/propertys/Annapolis More Info Website: http://www.navymwrannapolis.com/programs/ddaaad0e-8b94-4e6b-8aab-796b571b801b
The Navy Getaways Campground is located across the Severn River at NSA Annapolis and offers 14 RV sites and 12 tent camping Sites. The Campground is a short drive from the Academy, downtown Annapolis and is within walking distance to the Navy Exchange and the Commissary. The RV sites have concrete pads that accommodate RV’s from 30 to 50 feet long and have water and 30-amp service with one additional 20-amp outlet. A bathhouse and a central dump station are also available. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and a charcoal grill. The RV sites are open year round and the tent campsites are open from April 1 to October 31.
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