You may not picture yourself in a shore town until summer. And you may think of the Bay Bridge as a conveyor of idling cars and brake lights. That’s why the chilly spring is a great time to visit Maryland’s Eastern Shore. You can zip across the bridge at the speed limit and have the place all to yourself.
My husband is from the Eastern Shore, along with his whole family “all the way back,” so I’ve spent a lot of time in the clustered towns the area. St. Michaels is better known as a tourist destination with its shop-lined streets and boat docks for sailboats. But Easton is my favorite. Easton is the less-flashier sister—the one with good bones that doesn’t need to be the center of attention.
Here’s my itinerary for a perfect spring overnight in Easton:
Book a room at the snug Bishop’s House Bed & Breakfast or stay at the newly renovated, posh Tidewater Inn.
You won’t need your car once you’re settled in. Take a minute to download and print the self-guided walking tour (click here) that points out interesting architecture and historically significant spots in town.
Pinpoint your weekend by checking out the Avalon Theatre’s calendar for upcoming shows. The Avalon is an intimate, art deco performance space located downtown and Rosanne Cash, Kinky Friedman and Randy Newman are a few upcoming acts that caught my middle-aged eye. The breathtaking “The Met: Live in HD” series is also broadcast there.
On Saturday morning you can prowl for antiques and shop at the cute boutiques on Goldsborough Road and Washington Street. I especially love Lizzy Dee. Even though I am too short for the chic and casual clothing there, earrings always fit and so do purses and printed scarves. Stop into Crackerjacks for a toy-laden nostalgia trip and leave with a yo-yo or 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle.
Make sure to order onion rings and a shake at the soda fountain at Hill’s Drug Store to reinforce the Mayberry-feel of the place. (Believe me, there’s a lunch counter; just keep walking straight past the shelves stocked with aspirin bottles and ice packs…)
The attractive Academy Art Museum closes at 3 p.m. on Saturday afternoons so go after lunch and amble through. Afterwards, you can rent bikes for the trails around town. Another great feature of the Eastern Shore—no hills!
Have dinner at the artsy Out of the Fire restaurant, where you can tuck into a plate of crispy polenta with wild mushroom ragout.
Head home right after Sunday breakfast. Like many small towns, Easton closes up tight to fill its 38 churches.
Maybe I’ll move to Easton and open a rollicking Sunday coffee shop and feed muffins to all the visitors who find nothing but locked doors elsewhere in town; or maybe a tattoo parlor to get people ready for the beach come summertime…
